The Rekhi Centre of Excellence for the Science of Happiness, an initiative by the Indian Institute of Management (IIM)-Lucknow, has been in operation since December 9, 2022. It serves as a happiness centre working towards identifying the root causes of stress and anxiety among students while promoting the positive emotions that bring about happiness.
The centre is planning to establish a Mind Lab which is going to be a sophisticated research lab. The vital purpose of this lab will be to comprehend and measure the students’ stress, anxiety levels, focus, and various other psychological conditions. The data gathered from here will be utilized to understand how improvements can be brought to the student’s performance while uplifting their well-being.
The happiness centre, the research lab, is also envisioned to work out strategies, dipping into evidence-based research to lessen stress and progress mental health. Realizing the escalating stress and depression among students, they have already initiated mindfulness and well-being courses. Notably, these courses employ a spectrum of simulations, activities, and case studies aiming at fostering self-awareness, resilience, and long-term well-being in students. This training prepares the students for excelling not only in their career but also in their personal lives.
The primary idea for establishing a happiness centre was promoting joy, research, education, and well-being practice among students and other associated entities. Simultaneously, it aims to grow scientific knowledge and execute practices dedicated towards achieving long-lasting comfort, happiness, and welfare, hence resulting in thriving individuals and communities.
In January 2025, IIM-Lucknow plans to conduct an annual international research conference tapping into the areas of mindfulness and happiness. The conference aims to encourage knowledge exchange among experts. Research papers shared here are intended to be compiled and open for publishing in corresponding journals or books. In addition, IIM-Lucknow is contemplating discussions with national and international associates for implementing action-based projects.
In their initial two years, students are taught core curriculum courses along with electives designed to help them develop mindfulness and well-being. First-year training focuses on sensitizing students to emotional intelligence, meaningfulness, stress, and well-being. Programmes fostering happiness, mindfulness, and positive psychology are offered for postgraduate and doctoral students during their second year.
Current research projects are aiming to determine the impact of mindfulness-based interventions and positive psychology on life satisfaction, academic performance, stress reduction, positive emotions, and student’s psychological well-being. As most of these projects are ongoing, the officials are optimistic about witnessing positive results and estimating the impact of these ventures.
The centre came into existence after an agreement was executed between the Rekhi Foundation and IIM-Lucknow. The centre organizes events to enhance the knowledge and practice of positive psychology and happiness science. Though there a few such institutes, what makes Rekhi Centre of Excellence at IIM-Lucknow exceptional is its unique vision. It aims at developing scientific knowledge and practices for fostering sustainable well-being and happiness at individual and community level. The creation of such a centre was done with an intent to foster emotional resilience and coping mechanisms and improve the quality of individuals, families, and communities’ lives.
The centre believes in cultivating long-term well-being by promoting mindfulness and positive psychology. As per officials, it envisions establishing a society where emotional, mental, and social well-being enable everyone to flourish. It also aims to develop empathy and social connectedness, strengthening communities, and fostering collective happiness.
