Suche
Mein Konto
Thuringia is fighting for healthy universities: A network on the move!
TU Ilmenau strengthens health promotion in Thuringia through network building and sustainable projects. Meetings and workshops promote exchange.
Thuringia is fighting for healthy universities: A network on the move!
On March 8, 2025, it will be shown that Thuringian universities benefit from a structured health promotion network. The exchange forum “From University to University”, which was launched in 2017, facilitates non-competitive exchange between institutions. Members of university management, health management coordinators and health promotion actors are active in this context and confirm the high value of learning and exchanging experiences. The Techniker Krankenkasse supports the initiative both financially and professionally.
Regular working meetings and thematic working groups provide a platform for exchange on health topics. Particularly noteworthy is the sub-working group for managers on the topic of “healthy leadership”. The focus here is on cross-university exchange with the aim of attracting health multipliers. A highlight of last year was the digital “Mental Health Week”, which took place around Mental Health Day.
Linking health and sustainability
A central theme of the 5th conference was the connection between health and sustainability. As the TU Ilmenau reports, these areas are closely interwoven and influence each other. Universities have a responsibility to create healthy learning and work environments while promoting sustainable solutions. Sustainability is integrated into the strategic development goals of TU Ilmenau, with the aim of contributing to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.
Prof. Müller from the TU Ilmenau emphasizes the need to anchor sustainability in the minds of university members. As part of the conference, workshops on the Inner Development Goals (IDGs), which address personal development, were also offered. These consist of the categories being, thinking, relationships, collaboration and action.
Health promotion in higher education
The Prevention Act, which came into force in July 2015, aimed to encourage social insurance providers to support health promotion at universities. Despite the legal framework, reports show that many of the law's requirements could not be implemented at universities. There are 424 universities nationwide with a total of 2,948,695 students enrolled in the 2020/21 winter semester, and the 57 student unions play an important role in health promotion.
In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the situation at universities is becoming increasingly precarious, especially when it comes to psychosocial support for students. According to the article by NCBI This requires the establishment of new regional networks to ensure more effective health promotion. The recommendations for action are aimed at federal politicians, the federal states, the social insurance providers as well as the universities and student unions.