Health Promotion in the Academic Setting : International Experiences

The worldwide development of Health-Promoting Universities (HPUs) continues to advance steadily. Methods and tools for advocacy, implementation, and evaluation of pertinent Health Promotion strategies are being studied to assess their impact and effectiveness and international events are being conducted to exchange experiences and to gain insights on how best and most effectively proceed with this integrated approach to achieve and maintain healthy academic settings and surrounding communities. The Fourth International Conference on HPUs was carried out in Pamplona, Spain in 2009, which followed previous conferences in Chile (2003), Canada (2005), and in Mexico (2007). These events have resulted in the creation of the Iberoamerican and International Networks of Health-Promoting Universities; the formation of Working Groups to explore collaborative activities between and among universities worldwide; and the signing of a Declaration for Strengthening HPUs. The development of HPUs is an ambitious strategy and a challenge for multisectoral and multidisciplinary efforts. Resources aimed to the improvement of conditions of health and well-being, such as HPUs, increase the opportunities for better quality education, quality of life, well being, and for the creation of processes for sustainable human development for all people. Further, the promotion of effective mechanisms for sustainable growth and development contribute to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). This Panel will address the importance of Health Promotion strategies, social justice concepts as part of this integrated approach, the scientific bases for the development of HPUs, and will present case studies from universities worldwide.