TRANSFORM member Dr Berit Follong won a Research Development Fund (RDF) Research Fellowship.
Project title: Co-designing a campus-based intervention to support tertiary student nutrition and food security
Summary: Starting university is a major life change that often disrupts eating habits and increases students’ risk of food insecurity. These issues can seriously affect students’ physical and mental health, academic performance, and overall wellbeing. Dr Follong’s postdoctoral research has revealed that nearly 1 in 2 University of Auckland students experience food insecurity, and there is a strong need for better student information and support around healthy eating and budgeting. Qualitative research currently underway is exploring the kinds of support that would be most effective. Building on this, the proposed Fellowship will co-design and pilot a campus-based intervention to help students improve their nutrition and food security. Two working groups, students and other university interest-holders, will guide the development of practical, student-informed solutions. The intervention will be piloted in the FMHS, with potential to extend to other Faculties and, eventually, other universities across Aotearoa to benefit thousands of tertiary students.