# Designing Evidence-Based Exergaming Interventions Across Five European Countries in the NEXT-VET Project - Savonia AMK

> An overview of the NEXT-VET project's Work Package 2, focusing on the collaborative design of evidence-based exergaming interventions to improve student well-being in vocational education.

## Project Overview: NEXT-VET Work Package 2
Within the NEXT-VET Erasmus+ project, Work Package 2 (WP2) plays a crucial role in establishing the scientific and methodological foundation for future interventions aimed at improving student well-being in vocational education and training (VET). WP2 focuses on researching the current state of student well-being, motivation, physical activity, and learning-related challenges across five participating countries: the Netherlands, Finland, Germany, Spain, and Portugal.

A significant outcome of WP2 has been the collaborative planning of the project’s exergaming interventions. Through international cooperation, researchers, educators, health professionals, and vocational institutions have designed an intervention model that is scientifically robust and practically feasible across diverse educational contexts.

## Research and Data-Driven Design
One of the core objectives of NEXT-VET is to create data-driven solutions that support the mental and physical well-being of vocational students. The initial research conducted in WP2 includes:
* Literature reviews
* Focus groups
* Comparative analyses across partner countries

These activities help identify common challenges faced by VET students, including stress, reduced motivation, limited physical activity, and barriers to learning. The consortium aims to develop interventions that are flexible enough to accommodate national differences while maintaining a shared framework that enables meaningful comparison of outcomes.

## Intervention Study Design
A major milestone in WP2 has been the collaborative development of the intervention study design. The project team agreed that interventions must be realistic, easy to integrate into educational environments, and supported by reliable measurement methods available in all project languages.

The proposed research design follows the principles of a randomized controlled trial (RCT). The model compares an exergaming intervention group with a control group, enabling researchers to examine both immediate and long-term effects on student well-being. Current plans include a six-week intervention period during which vocational students participate in structured exergaming sessions.

## Outcome Measures and Evaluation
A unique feature of NEXT-VET is its ambition to investigate both the immediate and sustained impact of exergaming.

### Acute Outcome Measures
These are collected during or immediately after individual gaming sessions:
* Perceived mental and physical fatigue
* Affective responses
* Enjoyment of physical activity
* Remembered exertion
* Heart rate monitoring (potential)

### Long-term Evaluation
To evaluate longer-term effects on well-being, quality of life, and physical activity behavior, the consortium selected validated questionnaires available in Dutch, Finnish, German, Spanish, and Portuguese. This ensures methodological consistency while minimizing the burden on students and institutions.

## European Collaboration and Expertise
The design of the exergaming intervention demonstrates the strength of European collaboration. Savonia University of Applied Sciences has provided expertise related to health sciences, mental well-being, and questionnaire development. Project partners from each country contribute local knowledge about vocational education systems and student needs, ensuring the interventions are both scientifically credible and practically relevant.

The work completed during WP2 establishes the evidence base, methodological framework, and practical design requirements for the upcoming implementation and evaluation phases of the project.

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**Author:** Salla Lommi, NEXT-VET Neurofeedback and Exergaming Vocational Education, project manager in Savonia, Wellness Center service coordinator.

*This article was prepared with the help of AI.*