Abstract:

This pilot study examines how the internationalisation of higher education influences the well-being of domestic students enrolled in teacher education programmes at the Faculty of Education, Comenius University Bratislava in Slovakia. The study employs a qualitative, participatory research design using the PhotoVoice method. PhotoVoice is generally regarded as an effective research tool that enables participants to reflect on and articulate their lived experiences. By placing cameras in the hands of participants, the method provides a “voice” to individuals who are often underrepresented in formal decision-making processes, allowing them to identify and communicate both strengths and challenges present in their communities.

A total of 40 bachelor’s degree students photographed how the international character of their university affects their well-being. The process was guided by a detailed ethical protocol addressing privacy, informed consent, and the responsible use of images. Each participant selected two photographs and provided brief narrative captions explaining their meaning and intended message. Group reflection activities, supported by structured worksheets, further deepened students’ understanding and facilitated a collective analysis of well-being within the university context. The 80 photographs and their accompanying explanations were subsequently analysed by the authors using a combination of inductive and deductive thematic analysis, which is a method for identifying, analysing, organising, and describing patterns and themes within a dataset. The photographs were analysed on two levels. First, a denotative analysis focused on the explicit content depicted in the images. The second level involved a connotative analysis, which examined the underlying symbolic meanings and socio-cultural interpretations conveyed by the photographs.

Preliminary results identified four main thematic clusters:
(1) Cultural diversity as a source of enrichment, where internationalisation broadens horizons and introduces alternative perspectives;
(2) Community support and a sense of belonging, emphasising shared spaces that nurture interpersonal connections;
(3) Personal motivation and self-development, viewing well-being within the university context is understood not as an ongoing process of growth; and
(4) Tension between comfort and uncertainty, requiring students to continuously negotiate balance between familiarity and challenge.

The findings confirm that PhotoVoice is an effective and low-cost method for participatory exploration of well-being, fostering student agency, intercultural dialogue, and institutional reflection. As a preliminary qualitative pilot, the study offers methodological and ethical insights for integrating participatory visual methods into broader research on internationalisation. The outcomes will inform subsequent project phases, which will combine visual data with quantitative well-being measures across multiple Slovak universities.

Acknowledgement:
This work was supported by the Slovak Research and Development Agency under the Contract no. APVV-24-0408.

Keywords:

PhotoVoice, student well-being, internationalisation, higher education, qualitative research, pilot study.