Individually Perceived Impact of a Life Design Intervention on Students: A Qualitative Approach

Abstract

This study examines the impact of the "Design Your Happy Life" course at Technische Universität Berlin on students' life strategies. Utilizing the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), eight course participants were engaged in in-depth semi-structured interviews. The Gioia methodology guided the qualitative data analysis, informing the development of standardized entry and exit questionnaires based on TPB constructs. Findings reveal significant improvements in perceived behavioural control and attitudes towards life planning among participants, with most reporting a clearer vision of their life and career trajectory. This research contributes to understanding how design thinking principles in life design courses can shape students' behavioural intentions. It offers a novel assessment tool for measuring course impact, providing valuable insights for educational practitioners and curriculum developers. The study paves the way for future research on the effectiveness of life design interventions in higher education.

Keywords

• Life design
• design thinking
• entrepreneurial life design
• educational strategies
• positive psychology