Holistic Education: What It Is and How It Works
A special issue of Education Sciences (ISSN 2227-7102).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2026 | Viewed by 537
Special Issue Editors
Interests: university residential education/living-learning program; wellbeing and holistic development; experiential learning (design/implementation/evaluation); higher education policy, management, and practice
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
This edition highlights innovative research on the implementation and evaluation of experiential learning within higher education. Experiential learning emphasizes hands-on, real-world experiences that foster critical thinking, problem-solving, and personal growth, integral to holistic education. As universities increasingly recognize the importance of developing well-rounded individuals, this issue explores diverse approaches to engaging students beyond traditional classroom settings. Contributions examine how immersive activities—such as community projects, internships, service-learning, and fieldwork—integrate academic knowledge with practical application, promoting deeper understanding and skill development. Furthermore, the issue presents evidence-based evaluations of these experiential strategies, assessing their impact on students’ cognitive, emotional, and social development. By showcasing successful models and identifying best practices, this collection aims to guide educators in designing effective experiential programs that nurture holistic growth. Ultimately, this special issue underscores the vital role of experiential learning in cultivating adaptable, empathetic, and socially responsible graduates prepared to thrive in complex, real-world environments. We invite readers to explore these insights and consider how they can enhance holistic education in their own contexts.
Dr. Michelle W. T. Cheng
Dr. Huixuan Xu
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.
Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a double-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Education Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 1800 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- higher education
- university students
- holistic development
- experiential learning
- co-curriculum
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