UTeM Careconnect: Web-Based Emotional Wellbeing Monitoring for Higher Education

Abstract

In recent years, concerns related to student emotional wellbeing have become increasingly prominent in higher education. Many students face ongoing academic pressure, social expectations, and personal challenges, which can negatively affect both their academic performance and overall development. Despite this, support systems in many institutions still tend to operate in a reactive manner, where assistance is typically provided only after students actively seek help. This limits the potential for early detection and timely intervention. This study explores the development of UTeM CareConnect, an integrated web-based platform designed to support continuous emotional wellbeing monitoring and early intervention. The platform enables students to record their daily mood and complete self-assessments using instruments such as the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS). At the same time, Academic Advisors and counsellors are able to observe emotional trends through a centralized dashboard supported by learning analytics. In addition, the system incorporates alert notifications, data visualization features, and structured communication tools. These components allow advisors and counsellors to respond more effectively to students who may require support. By bringing these functionalities together within a single platform, the system aims to improve coordination and decision-making in student wellbeing management. The platform was developed using the System Development Life Cycle (SDLC) with a prototyping approach to support continuous refinement throughout the development process. Initial testing demonstrated that the system functions reliably and is capable of supporting the intended monitoring and communication processes. In addition, the usability evaluation showed positive user responses in terms of ease of use, usefulness, and overall user experience. The study also emphasizes the importance of balancing usability, emotional support functionality, and ethical considerations in the development of digital wellbeing platforms. Overall, the findings suggest that integrated digital platforms have strong potential to support a more proactive, coordinated, and structured approach to student wellbeing management in higher education environments.