Students create a healthy campus: Magdeburg's learning paradise in the countryside!

Students create a healthy campus: Magdeburg's learning paradise in the countryside!

What to do if the campus should focus not only on knowledge but also on well-being? This is exactly what is being realized in an exciting project at the Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences. The university, which is known for its park-like campus and is considered one of the most beautiful in Germany, attaches great importance to promoting the health of its students. The bachelor's students in the field of health promotion and management dig deep into their bag of tricks.

Three committed students, Anna Lea Degener, Julie Arndt and Mileen Kindermann, work under the direction of Professor Dr. Kateryna Fuks in the “Project Study” module. Your goal? Creating better learning conditions through health-promoting measures. During the two-semester project, they analyze the health challenges that influence everyday university life and divide into six groups to shed light on different aspects.

Focus on health-promoting measures

The students' research covers topics such as the use of outdoor learning areas, the exercise course and air quality on campus. Particular attention is also paid to the practical application of modern technologies. They use QR codes at tables to conduct surveys about the use of new seating options. The results of these surveys are intended to provide valuable insights into user behavior and show, for example, that the new places were occupied throughout the test phase.

The university aims to make its infrastructure modern and sustainable by the end of 2026. Facility management is required here because the implementation of the ideas could take several years due to bureaucratic regulations and ordinances. The project not only has a positive impact on the campus, but also forms an important basis for students to identify health-promoting measures and to develop them theoretically and scientifically.

A look at the background

When the Prevention Act came into force in July 2015, an essential basis for health promotion in higher education was created. But the reality is often different: five years after its introduction, the nationwide working group for health-promoting universities takes stock and found that many requirements have not been implemented. This particularly applies to the cooperation between the social insurance providers and the universities, which are often not anchored in the state framework agreements of the federal states.

Higher education institutions, including 213 technical colleges and 107 universities in Germany, play a central role in healthcare, with nearly 3 million students enrolled each year. A report on the health promotion strategy for universities makes it clear that increased measures are needed to improve the health conditions of students. The COVID-19 pandemic in particular has exacerbated the challenges and drawn increased attention to psychosocial support.

Ultimately, the Magdeburg-Stendal University initiative shows how important it is to use innovative approaches to promote the health and well-being of students. The combination of practical experience, theoretical foundation and the commitment of the students could not only be important for their own area of ​​life, but also serve as an example for other educational institutions in Germany.