Crafting life purpose statements using ikigai framework among first-semester students in Malaysia

Abstract

Universities are urged to empower students to discover their life purpose during tertiary education, given the positive impact this can have for guiding a more meaningful life and emotional well-being. However, studies in the Asian context are limited. This article examined the extent to which first-semester students at a private university in Malaysia can craft their life purpose statements, guided by the ikigai framework and supported by Self-determination Theory. Purpose statements from 4,576 first-semester students across two intakes and 22 disciplines were analysed. The analysis revealed that 79% of students could craft their purpose satisfactorily with varying levels (76-97%) of ability across broad disciplines. Moreover, 69% of students’ purposes and academic disciplines were aligned, with a range between 64-81% across disciplines. This article suggested that the ikigai framework, supported by Self-determination Theory, could guide the purpose-crafting intervention. Hence, universities could support students to explore their life purpose within the undergraduate curriculum.