KHDA’s Adults@School Wellbeing Survey Puts Staff at the Centre of School Culture
At the heart of every school are the people who make it run — teachers, support staff, leaders, and administrators. That’s why the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) launched the Adults@School Wellbeing Survey, a powerful initiative in partnership with The Wellbeing Lab, to give every adult working in a Dubai school a voice in shaping a culture of wellbeing.
Since its debut in 2018, the survey has become a foundational part of how KHDA tracks and improves workplace wellbeing across the emirate’s education sector.
Through two groundbreaking initiatives — the Adults@School Wellbeing Survey as well as the Dubai Student Wellbeing Census — KHDA is building a complete picture of how students and staff are really doing, in and beyond the classroom.
Together, they are forming the backbone of Dubai’s whole-school wellbeing movement.
The Science Behind It
This isn’t just a survey — it’s a scientifically grounded tool built on the PERMAH model of human flourishing, inspired by the work of Professor Martin Seligman, a pioneer in positive psychology.
- P – Positive Emotion
- E – Engagement
- R – Relationships
- M – Meaning
- A – Accomplishment
- H – Health
When schools invest in these areas for adults, research shows the impact ripples directly into the classroom — through better teaching, stronger relationships, and healthier learning environments.
In Numbers: What We’ve Learned So Far
- In 2020, over 10,000 adults from 171 Dubai private schools took part in the survey.
- Participants included teachers, principals, support staff, and administrators — anyone who interacts with students.
- The survey takes just 15 minutes to complete and can be done from any device.
- All responses are 100% confidential.
What’s Next?
The next round of the Adults@School Wellbeing Survey is scheduled for 31 October to 30 November, running in parallel with the Dubai Student Wellbeing Census.
Schools that wish to participate need to opt in, and individuals can take the survey on their phone, tablet, or laptop. KHDA encourages all school-based adults to take part — not only to improve their own wellbeing, but also to contribute to whole-school improvement strategies.
Once complete, the data supports school leaders in identifying wellbeing trends, areas for action, and how to better support their staff.
Dubai Student Wellbeing Census: A Global First
The Dubai Student Wellbeing Census (DSWC) is the world’s largest cross-cultural study of student wellbeing. It runs every five years, with the last edition in 2021 and the next one launching alongside the 2025 Adults@School Survey.
🗣️ “What makes students feel happy, safe, connected, and hopeful about the future?”
The Census answers this — directly from the students themselves.
Why It Matters
- Improved morale → Stronger teaching outcomes
- Better data → Smarter school improvement planning
- Whole-school focus → Sustained cultural change
Staff who feel supported, seen, and equipped to flourish are far more likely to build those same conditions for their students.
Confidential, Accessible, and Insightful
The survey is:
- Fully confidential
- Open to all school-based adults
- Compatible with phones, tablets, and computers
- A critical input for school improvement plans
A Wellbeing-First Future for Dubai Schools
KHDA’s Adults@School Wellbeing Survey signals something vital: that education systems don’t just thrive on exam scores and rankings — they thrive on people. As Dubai sets the pace for holistic education across the region, initiatives like this show how deeply wellbeing is woven into the future of learning.
For more KHDA wellbeing tools and data, visit the website below:
Further Reading:
- Dubai’s KHDA‑guided 2025‑2026 Academic Calendar is Now Live
- KHDA Pauses Inspections for 2025–26 as Dubai Evolves Quality Assurance in Education
- Dubai Higher Education Sees Record-Breaking Growth in Student Enrolments in 2024-25
- KHDA Unveils Dubai Students Council for 2025–26 to Elevate Student Leadership