Didier

Oct

2025

Schools4Health Policy Brief Published: Creating Green and Healthy Schools for a Sustainable Future

How can schools respond to the challenges of climate change, declining child wellbeing, and growing inequalities? The Schools4Health project argues that the answer lies in bringing health promotion and sustainability together under one whole-school approach.

Across Europe, nine in ten young people believe that tackling climate change will improve their wellbeing. Their voices remind us that health and sustainability are deeply connected — and that schools are uniquely placed to link these agendas.

While many schools already run health or environmental projects, they are often treated as separate initiatives. This fragmented approach risks missing opportunities to create a stronger, collective impact. The new Schools4Health Policy Brief Creating green and healthy schools for a sustainable future explores how schools can align these efforts, and how the Health Promoting Schools (HPS) framework can provide the foundation for this integration.

What does this mean in practice?

School gardens, green play areas, and outdoor learning that support both physical activity and environmental awareness.
Healthy eating programmes that also reduce food waste and promote sustainable choices.
Whole-school strategies that embed both wellbeing and sustainability into curricula, policies, and partnerships.
Student-led initiatives that empower young people to take action for their own health and the planet.

Lessons from Europe

The brief showcases examples of how countries are already moving in this direction:

Finland integrates wellbeing and sustainability as cross-cutting themes in its National Core Curriculum.
Italy has legislated for climate and sustainability education across all school levels.
The Netherlands is expanding its Healthy School Programme to cover environmental and sustainability issues.
Greece supports teachers with sustainability coordinators at district level.
Hungary promotes environmental awareness from an early age through its Green Kindergarten Network.

Why Schools4Health?

Schools4Health is an EU-funded project bringing together partners from 11 countries to strengthen the Health Promoting Schools approach across Europe. By supporting local pilots, cross-country exchanges, and policy work, the project shows how schools can be catalysts for healthier, fairer, and more sustainable societies.

Our third policy brief, Creating green and healthy schools for a sustainable future, sets out recommendations for policymakers, educators, and communities — from embedding health and sustainability in curricula to building cross-sector structures and empowering students as agents of change.

Read the full brief here.

Access the second brief here: Health Promoting Schools as a Lever for Equity in Education and the first one at: Why Invest in Health Promoting Schools.

Find out more at www.schools4health.eu

Oct

2025

International Round Table Explores Global Perspectives on Good Healthy Schools

On 9 April 2025, the Good Healthy Schools Initiative (GHSI) convened its first international Round Table, bringing together experts from across Europe, Africa, Asia, and North America to discuss how health can be systematically embedded into education systems. The online event, organized by Leuphana University of Lüneburg and funded by the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV), marked a pivotal step in the Initiative’s ambition to promote “Good Healthy Schools” through international dialogue and cooperation.

Linking education and health

Moderated by Goof Buijs, manager of the UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education, the Round Table opened with a keynote by Prof. Dr. Peter Paulus, Director of the Center for Applied Health Sciences at Leuphana University and Head of the GHSI project. Paulus outlined the German model of the Good Healthy School and highlighted the strategic importance of linking education and health as mutually reinforcing dimensions of school development. His remarks set the stage for the international perspectives that followed.

Contributions came from representatives in Botswana, Hong Kong, Spain, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, and the United States, as well as from UNESCO’s Sections of Education Policy and Health and Education. The presentations highlighted innovative strategies ranging from UNESCO’s Happy Schools framework and the Icelandic Prevention Model to regional school health programs in Andalusia and cross-sectoral partnerships in Africa.

Health as a core dimension of educational quality

A recurring theme throughout the Round Table was the need to move beyond isolated initiatives and instead pursue systemic, policy-anchored approaches that view health as a core dimension of educational quality. Participants emphasized that sustainable progress requires intersectoral collaboration, cultural sensitivity, and above all, meaningful participation of children and young people. As Buijs stressed: “Don’t talk about them – talk with them.”

Breakout sessions provided space for in-depth dialogue on embedding health into school quality frameworks, financing strategies, and innovative partnerships. Across all contexts, participants highlighted funding challenges but also underlined the opportunities of global networks such as UNESCO, European Network Education and Training in Occupational Safety and Health (ENETOSH), and World Health Organisation (WHO) in creating shared platforms for learning and advocacy.

Call for international collaboration

The event concluded with a clear call for stronger international collaboration and the development of long-term alliances.

Feedback from participants confirmed the event’s value as a unique forum for exchange and co-creation. Preparations are already underway for a second international Round Table in December 2025, with even broader participation from UNESCO partners and organizations such as WHO, European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE), and European Federation of Education Employers (EFEE).

The Round Table demonstrated the growing momentum of the Good Healthy Schools Initiative and reaffirmed the global relevance of embedding health and well-being at the heart of education systems.

Sep

2025

Research shows multiple impacts of COVID-19 school closures on adolescents

Source: University of Huddersfield

Research into the multiple impacts of COVID-19 school closures on adolescent well-being has been published in a key journal. The international study was led by the UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education. Co-chair holder and University of Huddersfield academic, Dr Nicola Gray, who is renowned for her work on adolescent health, is the lead author of the study now published in the Journal of Adolescent Health.

Entitled Multiple Impacts on Adolescent Well-Being During COVID-19 School Closures: Insights From Professionals for Future Policy Using a Conceptual Framework, the research included notable academics in the field of adolescent health, including UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education co-chair holder Professor Didier Jourdan.

A consortium of partners composed of various research teams had input into the survey with data drawn from 60 interviews conducted in six languages with education and health professionals across 28 countries during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic amid school closures and re-openings in 2021.

Multiple impacts found

It found multiple, intersecting impacts of the pandemic on adolescent well-being and the potential for widening inequalities, making a case for caution regarding school closures in future health crises.

School closures were found to have impacted all five UN H6+ domains of adolescent well-being, which comprise good health and nutrition; connectedness; safety; learning; and agency/resilience.

The professionals reported that closures also widened inequalities for certain groups of students, disproportionately impacting the most vulnerable.

The study concluded that education policies need to see schools as infrastructure that supports multiple aspects of adolescent well-being, not just as a teaching-learning system.

In addition, the authors asserted that during recovery from a pandemic, holistic strategies related to adolescent well-being, not just a focus on educational catch-up, are needed to mitigate the long-term consequences of any closures.

More than a place to learn

Dr Gray, Reader in Medicines and Health at the University of Huddersfield, commented:

“Schools are more than a place to learn. They provide welfare and connection for many students, as well as the means to a bright future. Policymakers must recognise multiple impacts of school closures on adolescent well-being and the potential for widening inequalities. The decision to close schools in any future crisis must be balanced against the damage it could do to young lives.”

On the back of the study, Dr Gray was asked by the World Health Organisation Regional Office for Europe to develop a factsheet detailing the impact of COVID-19 on education in the region, which she presented in June at a WHO/UNICEF webinar.

Dr Gray is also working on another paper on the same topic, to be published in a special issue of Public Health in Practice in the autumn. The paper was facilitated by WHO/Europe to support the development of a new WHO/UNICEF strategy on child and adolescent well-being for Europe and Central Asia. She will speak about this research at a webinar hosted by The Royal Society for Public Health on 22 October. The webinar is titled School is more than a place to learn: An intersectoral assessment of adolescent well-being prior to and after the COVID-19 pandemic in the WHO European Region.

Sep

2025

Webinar 28 October 2025 – Health promotion in the education sector

Time: 8.00 – 9.30 Mexico, 9.00 – 10.30 Colombia, 10.00 – 11.30 Puerto Rico, 11.00 – 12.30 Brazil, 15.00 – 16.30 France

Language: The webinar will be held in Spanish and Portuguese. Translation will be available in 50+ languages, including English, French, Portuguese and Spanish. We will use a translation app based on AI.

Registration: Register here. Registration is free. The link to the webinar will be sent to you after registration.

Información en español, Informações em português

Speakers

Moderator

Prof. Dr. Fernando Peñaranda Correa. He is a doctor, holds a master’s degree in public health, a master’s degree in education and social development, and a doctorate in social sciences, childhood and youth. He is a full professor and senior researcher in the Health and Society Research Group at the National School of Public Health at the University of Antioquia. He is the coordinator of the health education emphasis in the Master’s in Public Health programme. He has taught undergraduate and postgraduate programmes at the Faculty and other universities in the country on the following topics: epistemology, qualitative research, ethics and social justice, public health, health promotion, and health education. He has written numerous articles, book chapters, and books in the areas of health education, qualitative research, ethics, public health, and social justice.

Bibiana E. Castro Franco. Psychologist, specialising in social psychology, Master’s degree in Public Health and Doctorate in Human Sciences. Lecturer at the University of Cauca. Department of Education and Pedagogy. Researcher with the Popular and Community Education Group. Member of the Colombian Network for Health Education. CLACSO Working Group on International Health and Health Sovereignty.

Kátia Souto, National Coordinator of the School Health Programme, Ministry of Health, Brazil

Goof Buijs. Manager of the UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education. After finishing his Master study in Human Nutrition his first job was teaching health science at the Amsterdam teacher trainer institute. Next he moved into the field of health promotion, as health promotion officer in Amsterdam. At the Netherlands Institute for Health Promotion NIGZ he specialized in school health promotion, first on the Dutch level to introduce the national health promoting school programme and leading several European projects. In 2007 he became the manager of the Schools for Health (SHE) network until 2017. In 2018, with prof Didier Jourdan, he set up the UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education, also the WHO Collaborating Centre. His specialisation is bringing health and education sectors together. He is an experienced networker, expert in co-creation, trainer, and organizer of local and global events. He supports cooperation among people, focusing on everyone’s talents and uniqueness. He is an environmental activist for most of his life.

Summary

During this webinar the speakers will analyse experiences with health promotion in the education sector in various countries to identify achievements, challenges and opportunities. Each speaker will share their respective experiences, identifying the progress, strengths, difficulties and challenges involved in coordinating the education and health sectors to promote health promotion and health education in schools. This will be followed by time for attendees to ask questions and make comments on the presentations given by the speakers.

Latin American Network for the Revitalisation of Health Education

This webinar is a part of the “Latin American Network for the Revitalisation of Health Education”. This initiative is being promoted with the participation of the UNESCO Chair on Global Health and Education, the Inter-American Consortium of Universities and Training Centers for Health Education and Health Promotion (CIUEPS), the Brazilian Network of Popular Health Education, the Colombian Network of Health Education and the Regional Office for Latin America of the International Union of Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE/ORLA), with the following objectives:

Promote health education at national and international levels, as a fundamental dimension of the health disciplines, the educational sciences and the social and human sciences.
To recuperate the Latin American production and position it in the regional level, which implies promoting its critical and decolonial approaches. A health education that advocates for social transformation towards a more just and equitable society that guarantees well-being and a life with dignity.
Promote the articulation of the education and health sectors to strengthen the actions of each of these sectors to promote health education, by recognizing education and health as two inalienable, synergistic and interdependent human rights.
Strengthen the theoretical, political and ethical foundations of health education as a requirement for a responsible, productive and ethical pedagogical practice.
To generate a setting for the articulation of academia and civil society that allows Latin American integration in order to share experiences, knowledge and aspirations framed in a collective purpose.
To promote national and international integration with respect to health education as a means for mutual learning and solidarity, and to facilitate cooperative actions in the development of academic-scientific events, research and training processes.

The webinars, open to all interested stakeholders, are a component of the program. They are experiential sessions, lasting 60-90 minutes, with guest speakers who present their reflections on two or three problematic questions to encourage audience participation. Five webinars have been scheduled for this first stage of the program, with an interval of 2 months between each one.

Watch the recordings of previous webinars:

Sep

2025

News from IUHPE

The International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) recently published their Flash-Info. The IUPHE is a worldwide, independent and professional association of individuals and organisations committed to improving the health and wellbeing of the people through education, community action and the development of healthy public policy. Their newsletter is relevant for all working in the field of health promotion and education. While the newsletter is typically a member benefit, it is shared here with IUHPE’s permission because it includes an important call to action for the health promotion community at large. The information is available in English, French and Spanish.

In the Flash-Info August 2025 you can read amongst others about the need for health promotion in our current world, read an account of the 26^th IUHPE World Conference on Health Promotion, access the Global Health Promotion (GHP) call for papers on sustainable development goals (SDGs) and find a call to action to secure the position of health promotion within the World Health Organization (WHO).

Access the IUHPE Flash-Info August 2025

Sep

2025

Schools4Health Policy Brief: Health Promoting Schools as a lever for equity in education

Source: Schools4Health

How can we reduce health and learning disparities that put millions of children and young people at a disadvantage? The answer may begin in schools—but not with schools alone.

The latest policy brief from the Schools4Health project makes a strong case for why Health Promoting Schools (HPS) are a vital part of creating more equitable education systems. It highlights how embedding health, inclusion and wellbeing across school environments—not just within isolated lessons—can improve both student outcomes and overall school climates.

A call for “proportionate universalism”

The brief argues for a shift toward “proportionate universalism”: an approach that combines universal support for all schools with tailored resources for those with the highest need. Schools in underserved communities often face greater health and learning challenges, but they are also powerful agents of change—if given the tools and support.

From practice to policy

Drawing on examples from Finland, Scotland, Greece, Spain, and others, the policy brief illustrates how real-world implementation of the HPS approach can promote inclusion and equity. Whether through school-wide campaigns, social-emotional learning, healthier food environments or better coordination with local services, the impact is clear: when students feel safe, supported, and well, they’re better equipped to learn and succeed.

What’s needed next?

To unlock the full potential of the HPS model, the brief outlines a number of practical recommendations for governments, school leaders, and local authorities. These include:

Investing in coordinated school health policies and local partnerships
Integrating wellbeing into education and social policy
Providing training and support for teachers
Ensuring access to health-promoting activities for all students

Explore the brief

This is the second in a series of policy briefs from the Schools4Health project. It builds on the first brief, Why Invest in Health Promoting Schools, by delving deeper into how the HPS model supports equity as both a value and a practical pathway toward healthier education systems.

Read the brief and learn how we can make every school a Health Promoting School.

Missed the first one? Why Invest in Health Promoting Schools

For more information, visit www.schools4health.eu or reach out to us on LinkedIn.

The UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education is a partner in the Schools4Health project.

Jul

2025

Recording available first webinar in series on future-proofing child and adolescent health in Europe and Central Asia

The first webinar in the webinar series on future-proofing child and adolescent health took place on 17 June 2025.
The webinar presented key findings from the new WHO/UNICEF fact sheets, which highlight urgent trends and emerging priorities for child and adolescent health and well-being in Europe and Central Asia. These evidence-based insights are informing the development of the forthcoming Regional Strategy on Child and Adolescent Health and Well-being (2026–2030).

In case you missed it—or would like to revisit the discussion—the full recording of the webinar is now available in English and Russian on the Health Systems for Early Childhood Development YouTube channel.

🎥 Watch the webinar here
🔎 You may view the PowerPoint slides here
💡 View the WHO/UNICEF fact sheets here

Upcoming webinars

The conversation continues with the next two webinars in the series:

Thursday 10 July, 10.00 CEST — A healthy start for a healthy life: orientation on the forth-coming WHO/UNICEF strategy for child and adolescent health and wellbeing in the European Region, and experiences from countries tackling child and adolescent health challenges
Tuesday 16 September, 10.00 CEST — Implementation challenges and approaches

This webinar is organised by UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO), WHO Regional Office for Europe (WHO/Europe), and the International Step by Step Association (ISSA) under the auspices of the Health Systems for Early Childhood Development initiative.

Jun

2025

Register now for the 13th IAAH World Congress on Adolescent Health

Register before Monday 30 June for the 13^th IAAH World Congress on Adolescent Health and take advantage of the exclusive Early Bird Rate.

Join the 13th IAAH World Congress on Adolescent Health, a premier gathering of health practitioners (public health, health promotion, clinicians) researchers, policy makers, NGOs, youth health advocates and others from across the Caribbean and Latin America, the Pacific, Africa, Asia, Europe, the Americas and Oceania!

This year’s event promises to be an unforgettable experience, with thought-provoking discussions, insightful presentations, and unparalleled networking opportunities. The theme of the Congress “Beyond Awareness… Working for Change, with the subtheme “Taking Action for Adolescent Health in our Changing World”, emphasizes the urgency of moving from dialogue to tangible action at a time like this.

Don’t miss out:

Engage with global thought leaders and experts
Stay ahead of the curve with the latest trends and innovations
Network with like-minded professionals and forge meaningful connections
Showcase your work and expertise to a global audience
Experience the warmth and hospitality of Jamaica

UNESCO Chair’s contribution

Didier Jourdan and Nicola Gray, chairholders of the UNESCO Chair on Global Health & Education, Adesola Olumide from Nigeria and Silja Kosola from Finland will be running a workshop entitled “Surfing or Drowning? Digital media and adolescent health, well-being and education”.

For more information and registration visit the conference website.

Jun

2025

School supported by Tarang Health Alliance shortlisted for the World’s Best School Prize

One of the government schools where Tarang Health Alliance is implementing their comprehensive school health education, NIT-5 School Faridabad, has been shortlisted for the World’s Best School Prize in the category of “Supporting healthy lives”. Only ten schools were selected across the globe and it is the only one from India in this category.

Tarang Health Alliance‘s mission is to implement a comprehensive school health program in schools, train teachers, develop innovative health education materials and influence policy to make health education mandatory in Indian schools.

The World’s Best School Prize is conducted by T4 Education in the UK. These most prestigious global schools prizes celebrate the schools that are changing lives in their classrooms and far beyond their walls. They share the best practices of institutions that are going above and beyond to transform learning and are having a real impact on their communities and society at large.

The winners of each of the five World’s Best School Prizes will be decided by expert Judging Academy based on rigorous criteria and revealed in December.

All the Top 10 finalists will also enter into a Public Vote to determine the winner of the Community Choice Award. Learn about the schools’ stories and vote for your favourite.

Didier

Schools4Health Policy Brief Published: Creating Green and Healthy Schools for a Sustainable Future

What does this mean in practice?

Lessons from Europe

Why Schools4Health?

International Round Table Explores Global Perspectives on Good Healthy Schools

Linking education and health

Health as a core dimension of educational quality

Call for international collaboration

Research shows multiple impacts of COVID-19 school closures on adolescents

Multiple impacts found

More than a place to learn

Webinar 28 October 2025 – Health promotion in the education sector

Speakers

Moderator

Summary

Latin American Network for the Revitalisation of Health Education

News from IUHPE

Schools4Health Policy Brief: Health Promoting Schools as a lever for equity in education

A call for “proportionate universalism”

From practice to policy

What’s needed next?

Explore the brief

Recording available first webinar in series on future-proofing child and adolescent health in Europe and Central Asia

Upcoming webinars

Register now for the 13th IAAH World Congress on Adolescent Health

School supported by Tarang Health Alliance shortlisted for the World’s Best School Prize

- What is a UNESCO chair

- Values and principles

- Activities

- An open community

- Organization

To go further