Didier

15
Sep
2025
Webinar 28 October 2025 – Health promotion in the education sector

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:

Posted by Didier in News
15
Sep
2025
News from IUHPE

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 26th 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

Posted by Didier in News
11
Sep
2025
Schools4Health Policy Brief: Health Promoting Schools as a lever for equity in education

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.

Posted by Didier in News
11
Sep
2025
25-26 September 2025: Launch of the ‘Social inequalities in health in Europe’ report

25-26 September 2025: Launch of the ‘Social inequalities in health in Europe’ report

Source: EuroHealthNet

On Thursday 25 September and Friday 26 September, EuroHealthNet will launch its landmark report, Social Inequalities in Health in the EU. The report has been developed in collaboration with the Centre for Health Equity Analytics (CHAIN).

This trend study, based on data from the European Social Survey in 2014 and 2024, provides the most detailed picture to date of social inequalities in health across Europe over the past ten years. It shows health and mental health outcomes across groups with different levels of education and occupation, and how these outcomes have changed over the past 10 years. The report also presents examples of promising actions from across Europe and provides recommendations for EU and national policymakers.

The findings are a call to action. Rising living costs, climate change, employment insecurity, and environmental degradation are widening social inequalities in health and undermining physical and mental wellbeing. 

Addressing these determinants of health is essential for protecting Europe’s social model, ensuring health as a human right, as well as fostering healthier, more resilient, and more productive societies.

The report will be launched in two parts: a live-streamed, high-level debate in the European Parliament on 25 September from 13.00 – 15.00 CEST and a webinar on country-level data and measures on 26 September from 10.00 – 12.30 CEST.

Agenda and registration for the high-level debate in the European Parliament

Agenda and registration for the launch webinar

Posted by Didier in News
08
Jul
2025
Recording available first webinar in series on future-proofing child and adolescent health in Europe and Central Asia 

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. 

Posted by Didier in News
26
Jun
2025
Register now for the 13th IAAH World Congress on Adolescent Health

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

Register before Monday 30 June for the 13th 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.

Posted by Didier in News
26
Jun
2025
School supported by Tarang Health Alliance shortlisted for the World’s Best School Prize

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.

Posted by Didier in News
19
Jun
2025
WHO Collaborating Centers back WHO in an open letter in The Lancet

WHO Collaborating Centers back WHO in an open letter in The Lancet

Current directors, past directors, and members of WHO Collaborating Centres sign an open letter in support of WHO which was published by the Lancet on 14 June 2025.

“As current directors, past directors, and members of WHO Collaborating Centres, we fully support WHO in carrying out the constitutional mandate, and call on everyone—including member states, donors, partners, and other stakeholders—to continue investing in WHO to promote health and safety while helping vulnerable populations worldwide.”

The abrupt cessation of global health funding has placed millions of lives at risk. The most severely affected areas include humanitarian aid, health emergency preparedness and response, public health surveillance, and basic health service delivery. Malaria and neglected tropical diseases; vaccination programmes; tuberculosis care; maternal and child health; family planning; occupational health; emergency, critical, and operative care; and outbreak detection are all undermined.

Read the open letter in support of WHO.

Posted by Didier in News
04
Jun
2025
Webinar series: Future proofing child and adolescent health in Europe and Central Asia

Webinar series: Future proofing child and adolescent health in Europe and Central Asia

Join the first webinar in a new series on future-proofing child and adolescent health in Europe and Central Asia.

This three-part series supports the development of the upcoming Regional Strategy on Child and Adolescent Health and Well-being (2026–2030), led by WHO and UNICEF Europe and Central Asia, and grounded in the latest data and evidence.

Webinar 1: Key Findings from WHO/UNICEF Fact Sheets

📅 Date: 17 June 2025
🕙 Time: 10:00–11:30 CET

💻 Platform: Zoom (registration required)

Languages: The webinar will be presented in English with simultaneous interpretation in Russian. Other languages may be added based on interest and country support.

Why attend?

Across the region, young children and adolescents face increasingly complex challenges: stagnating newborn survival rates, declining immunization coverage, rising rates of overweight and obesity, and setbacks in access to essential services. These trends—worsened by the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change, and socio-economic inequalities—underscore the need for renewed, coordinated action.

This webinar will:

  • Present key findings from new WHO/UNICEF fact sheets on child and adolescent health
  • Explore implications for early childhood health systems, services, and policies
  • Open a regional dialogue to inform the forthcoming strategy

Topics will include:

Child and adolescent mortality, immunization gaps, breastfeeding, early childhood development, overweight and obesity, digital environments, adolescent mental health, providing health services to children and adolescents, sexual and reproductive health, and the impact of COVID-19 on education and services.

Guided by five core principles—early investment, duty of care, protection from commercial harm, multisectoral governance, and accountability—this webinar sets the stage for a strategic, evidence-informed response across the region.

Stay tuned for more information about the speakers and upcoming webinars in the series.

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.

Stay engaged! Subscribe to the mailing list: https://issa.us8.list-manage.com/subscribe?

Posted by Didier in News
22
May
2025
5th edition Global Community Health Annual Workshop – Confirmed speakers

5th edition Global Community Health Annual Workshop – Confirmed speakers

On 10, 11 and 12 June 2025 the 5th edition of the Global Community Health Annual Workshop will take place as an online event. This year’s workshop theme is ‘Building healthy, fair and climate-smart communities: addressing commercial determinants of health’.

During the workshop the focus will be on the impact of the commercial determinants of health on community health and how public health actions can respond to them. Different initiatives with a special focus on participatory methods will be explored looking at conflict of interests and possible co-benefits of private sector action for better health on the community level. This will also be the capacity building focus for the participants.

The Global Community Health Annual Workshop provides a space where community health and health promotion practitioners and policy makers can improve their skills and where researchers can gain in capacities to conduct community-based participatory research.

Speakers

We are honoured to have excellent contributors from all over the world. A preview of the contributors:

  • Prof. Ilona Kickbusch PhD– Director and chair of the Global Health Centre, Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, Switzerland
  • Prof. Jason Corburn – University of California, Berkeley, Center for Global Healthy Cities, USA
  • Raúl Mercer – MD MSc, Coordinator of the Program of Social Sciences and Health, FLACSO, Argentina
  • Mariela Alderete – MD, Researcher, Program of Social Sciences and Health, FLACSO, Argentina
  • Nancy Neamtan – Former CEO of the Chantier de l’économie sociale, Canada
  • Prof. Alafia Samuels – Caribbean Institute for Health Research, University of the West Indies, Mona, Kingston, Jamaica
  • Khanitta Saeiew – National Health Commission Office (NHCO), Thailand 
  • Tanguy Bognon – Volunteer, Responsible of Monitoring, evaluation, accountability and learning at HIA, Health Access Initiative (HAI), Benin
  • Giulia Gasparri – Consultant

Format of the workshop

The global workshop will run during 3 days, 3,5 contact hours per day. To accommodate participants from all different time zones around the world, the workshop will be offered twice a day.

  • Block 1 will run from 10.00 – 13.30 Paris; 16.00 – 19.30 Beijing; 18.00 – 21.30 Melbourne.
  • Block 2 will run from 16.00 – 19.30 Paris; 7.00 – 10.30 Los Angeles; 11.00 – 14.30 Buenos Aires

It uses an interactive format ensuring active participation through a series of online lectures, combined with community heath hubs.

Community health hubs

These community health hubs (smaller working groups) acknowledge our diversity and cultural dimensions and are offered in different languages including English, French, Spanish and other languages depending on the availability of facilitators. During the community health hubs participants have the opportunity to share experiences, build their regional and global networks and work on their individual assignments.

We encourage participants to gather locally and organise their own local community health hubs. They can follow the central lectures online together and then continue their discussions live in the local community health hubs.

Assignment

Participants will be asked to submit an individual assignment, which can be a reflexion on their main learnings of the CHW or a description of a community health initiative they are involved in or know of. Each assignment will be assessed and published on the Chair website, for future reference. After approval of the assignment participants will receive a certificate of attendance.

Language

The online lectures are held in the English and French language. This year we will provide translation into 50+ languages, including English, French, Spanish, Persian, Arabic and Chinese. We will use a translation app based on AI during the plenary sessions.

Registration

This interactive workshop will take place online and is free of charge. Practitioners, students, policy makers and researcher from different backgrounds from all over the world are welcome to join. You can register by completing the online registration form. Registration will close on Tuesday 3 June 2025, 16.00 CEST.

Organisers

Organisers are the UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education, EHESP School of Public Health, International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE), Réseau Francophone International Pour la Promotion de la Sante (RÉFIPS), European Public Health Association (EUPHA), University of Clermont Auvergne and Huddersfield University.

For more information about the workshop, please visit the dedicated webpage.

Posted by Didier in News