UNESCO Chair GHE

Webinar: School is more than a place to learn - UNESCO Chair speaking
2025-10-22 14:00 - 15:00 (Europe/Amsterdam)
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

Chaired by: Professor Ingrid Wolfe OBE, Professor of Paediatrics and Child Population Health, Consultant Paediatric Population Medicine, Kings College, London

Speakers:

Dr. Nicola Gray, Co-Chair, UNESCO Chair ‘Global Health & Education’

Mary Cronin, Specialty Registrar in Public Health

Dr. Maximilian Limburg, Specialty Registrar in Public Health

A webinar supporting the development of a new WHO/UNICEF regional strategy for Child and Adolescent Health in Europe and Central Asia, as part of our Public Health in Practice Special Issue

This webinar will present a research study that examined changes in adolescent well-being across the WHO European Region following the Covid-19 pandemic. Adolescent well-being was assessed using the UN H6+ framework, which includes: 1) Good health and optimal nutrition, 2) Connectedness, positive values, and societal contribution, 3) Safety and a supportive environment, 4) Learning, competence, education, skills, and employability, and 5) Agency and resilience. Secondary analysis of data from two large datasets concerning adolescents, the Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) Survey and the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), revealed a decline in well-being across European countries from 2018 (pre-pandemic) to 2022 (post-pandemic). Additionally, the study highlighted a significant widening of educational inequalities in the aftermath of the pandemic.

Key Issues for Debate:

How can we prevent existing inequalities in educational attainment from widening?

How can we improve our data collection strategies about school closure impact for future health crises?

What would an intersectoral strategy on adolescent well-being look like, to minimize the impact of future emergency measures?

13th World Congress on Adolescent Health
2025-11-06 08:00 - 2025-11-08 17:00 | Montego Bay, Jamaica, Montego Bay, Jamaica
The IAAH World Congress brings people together from across the globe who work with and for young people, as well as young people themselves. At its heart, these meetings explore the opportunities, evidence-base, challenges and costs of services, programs and approaches for improving adolescent and young adult health that can be delivered by health services, schools, and communities.

The World Congress welcomes the diverse constituencies that form the field of adolescent health to explore new ideas, the latest research and promising interventions. The World Congress is an opportunity to explore specific health conditions (eg sexual and reproductive health including HIV/AIDS and pregnancy, mental health, NCDs, injuries) as well as common health risks and determinants that shape adolescents’ health and well-being (eg gender inequality, poverty, migration, violence, stigma, bullying, abuse). The World Congress is a time to be challenged and inspired, to meet the people and organizations shaping the field including young people, and to catch up with old friends. Health practitioners (public health, health promotion, clinicians) researchers, policy makers (eg UN agency staff), NGOs and youth health advocates are but some of the participants who attend the World Congress. All are welcome, including those new to adolescent health.
Early Bird Rate ends Monday, June 30, 2025!!!

18th European Public Health Conference 2025
2025-11-11 08:00 - 2025-11-14 17:00
The 18th EPH Conference will be held in Helsinki, Finland, from 11 – 14 November 2025. Pre-conferences will be held on Tuesday 11 November. The main conference is from 12 – 14 November. Theme of the EPH conference 2024 is: Investing for sustainable health and well-being. The conference will be held at the renovated Finlandia Hall. Read more here.

Abstract submission Helsinki 2025

Abstract submission for the 18th EPH Conference is open from 1 February until 1 May 2025. Abstracts are invited for workshops, oral, pitch and poster presentations. Do not miss the opportunity to share your work with colleagues at the largest public health event in Europe. In collaboration with EUPHAnxt we provide an abstract tutoring programme offering an opportunity for young and/or less experienced abstract submitters to receive feedback from experienced reviewers. Check our website for any updates.

From Awareness to Action: Making Every School a Health Promoting School
2025-12-02 09:00 - 16:00 | Online
Schools are more than places of learning; they are vital spaces for shaping the health, wellbeing, and lifelong equity of children and young people. On 2 December, join us for this Schools4Health conference to explore how the Health Promoting Schools approach can help schools become environments where students thrive both educationally and personally.
Programme highlights:

Learn how the Health Promoting School framework supports broader EU and WHO priorities
Hear real-life examples of schools across Europe successfully embedding well-being in daily school life.
Engage in interactive discussions with leading professionals from the health, education, and social sectors
Take away practical tools and strategies to scale up and sustain health-promoting practices in your own context

This conference, ‘From Awareness to Action: Making Every School a Health Promoting School,’ is being organised by EuroHealthNet and the Flanders Institute for Healthy Living (Gezond Leven) in the context of the Schools4Health initiative.
While in-person participation is now full, registration to follow the livestream is still open.

European Public Health Week - Investing for Sustainable Health and Well-being
2026-05-04 08:00 - 2026-05-08 17:00 | Online
One week. One shared focus. Numerous actions across Europe.
European Public Health Week (#EUPHW) is the moment when we bring the spirit and commitments of the European Public Health Conference statement to life across Europe, transforming the statement made at EPH into concrete dialogue, local action and shared mobilisation.
The overarching theme for EUPHW 2026 is Investing for sustainable health and well-being.
What is EUPHW?
EUPHW is an annual initiative led by EUPHA to shine a spotlight on public health. Each year, hundreds of organizations and thousands of individuals across Europe come together to host activities, share knowledge, and raise awareness of important public health challenges and solutions, promote collaboration and drive action on the most pressing health challenges.
EUPHW is open to everyone: from national health institutes and universities, to local communities, schools, and civil society groups. The week offers a unique opportunity to exchange experiences, inspire action, and highlight the value of public health to our societies.
Daily themes
European Public Health Week returns with five daily themes exploring the foundations of sustainable health systems and equitable societies:
Monday 4 May: Aligning all policies with public health
Health is shaped far beyond the health sector. This day focuses on embedding public health perspectives across all policy domains—from urban planning to fiscal policy—ensuring that every decision considers its impact on population health.
Tuesday 5 May: Prioritising equity through public health investments
Investments in health must reach those who need them most. This day examines how to direct resources toward reducing inequalities and ensuring that no community is left behind.
Wednesday 6 May: Mental health at the crossroads
Mental health stands at a critical juncture between recognition and action. This day brings together evidence and practice to address the growing mental health burden across Europe.
Thursday 7 May: Protecting public health and democracy
Public health depends on trust, transparency, and democratic governance. This day explores how to defend science and public health institutions against disinformation, polarisation, and political interference.
Friday 8 May: Strengthening the health workforce
Without a supported, skilled, and resilient workforce, health systems cannot deliver. This day focuses on training, retention, and working conditions for the professionals who keep public health running.
Get involved
Submissions for events are now open for EUPHW 2026. National Public Health Associations, universities, local authorities, NGOs, and civil society organisations are invited to organise activities and join the campaign.
Submit your event here.

Global Community Health Annual Workshop 2026
2026-06-09 08:00 - 2026-06-11 19:30 | Online
The sixth edition of the Global Community Health Annual Workshop will take place from 9 till 11 June 2026. The main theme of this year’s workshop is ‘Connecting planetary health, climate justice and community health: from knowledge to impact’. During the workshop we will explore the links between planetary health and community health and wellbeing. We will look into mobilising communities in climate action, including the involvement of young people, taking into account indigenous perspectives, and focusing on climate justice.
The Global Community Health Annual workshop provides a space where community health and health promotion practitioners, activists, policy makers and researchers can improve their skills.
Organisers are the UNESCO Chair Global Health & Education, University of Clermont Auvergne, University of Huddersfield, 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) and Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, UMC Utrecht.
Format of the workshop
The global workshop will run during 3 days, 3 1/2 contact hours per day. To accommodate participants from different time zones, 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

The workshop uses an interactive format ensuring active participation through a series of online lectures, combined with community heath hubs (small working groups).
Language
The presentations during the plenary sessions will be held in English, French and Spanish. 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.
Community Health hubs will be organised in different language groups. Participants can indicate their preferred language for the hubs. This year the hubs will be in English, French and Spanish, and other languages depending on the availability of facilitators.
Registration
You can register for the workshop using this registration link.
Registration will close on Thursday 4 June 2026, 16.00 CEST.
Participating in the workshop is free of charge. For questions please send an email to info@unescochair-ghe.org.

Foundations of Planetary Health - Summer School
2026-07-13 09:00 - 2026-07-17 17:00 | Utrecht, the Netherlands, Utrecht, Netherlands
This course explores how environmental degradation, social inequities, and disparities in political power drive the planetary health crisis. Participants will gain foundational knowledge of the key concepts, frameworks, and justice-oriented perspectives shaping the field.
Open to anyone with an interest in planetary health and climate justice – health professionals, policymakers, researchers, and master’s or PhD – level students from a wide range of relevant backgrounds.
For more information download course brochure.

Transforming Systems for Planetary Health
2026-07-20 09:00 - 2026-07-24 17:00 | Utrecht, the Netherlands, Utrecht, Netherlands
This advanced course dives deep into the structural forces shaping our planet’s health – power dynamics, decoloniality, the exposome, and the economic and governance structures driving the planetary crisis. Participants will develop perspectives on how to contribute to equitable and sustainable systems transformation.
Designed for individuals with a background in planetary health, sustainability, or systems thinking who are ready to explore these topics more critically.
New to the topic? The foundational course “Foundations of Planetary Health” (13–17 July) might be a better fit.
For more information download course brochure.

Stronger Together – For Better Health among Children, Adolescents and Young Adults
2026-09-24 08:00 - 2026-09-26 17:00 | Portorož, Slovenia, Portorož, Slovenia
The Joint International Paediatric, School and Adolescent Medicine and Health Congress “STRONGER TOGETHER – For Better Health among Children, Adolescents and Young Adults” will be held from 24 – 26 September 2026 in Portorož, Slovenia. This event will bring together experts from across Europe who are dedicated to supporting young people in their transition from childhood to adulthood.
This congress is being organized collaboratively by four leading associations in the fields of pediatric, school, and adolescent health:

ZZP (Slovenian Paediatric Association of the Slovenian Medical Association)
EUSUHM (European Union for School and University Health and Medicine)
IAAH (International Association for Adolescent Health)
SSSAM (Slovenian Association for School, Student and Adolescent Medicine of the Slovenian Medical Association)

Scientific program
The scientific program will address current issues in physical and mental health, prevention, health promotion, and the social determinants affecting youth development.
The congress will also provide an excellent opportunity for networking, sharing experiences, and strengthening interdisciplinary collaboration among professionals from diverse backgrounds.
Topics related to pediatrics, school, adolescent and student medicine and health

Preventive Medicine:
screening programs, health education, public health campaigns, preventive health examinations, health promotion, vaccination, risk factors, environmental impacts on health
Sports Medicine:
healthy athletic development, health risks for athletes, injury prevention, monitoring of physical performance, sports nutrition, rest and recovery
Chronic Diseases:
challenges and support programs in the management of chronic patients, transition of care, modern approaches and therapies, monitoring of chronic patients
Sexual Health:
education for healthy sexuality, contraception, sexual identity, sexually transmitted diseases
Emergency Medicine:
2025 resuscitation guidelines
Mental Health:
mental health care, recognition of mental health problems, support services, sources of help
Open Topics:
development of school, student, and adolescent health care, health system policies, health-related behaviors in adolescents, other relevant topics

Abstract submission and more information
Abstract submission is open until 31 March 2026.
For more information visit the conference website.

European Public Health Conference 2026
2026-11-10 08:00 - 2026-11-13 17:00 | Bilbao, Spain, Bilbao, Spain
The European Public Health (EPH) Conference 2026 will take place from 10-13 November in Bilbao, Spain.
The EPH Conference brings together researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and students to share evidence, debate ideas, and shape public health in Europe.
Theme and Subthemes
The conference theme is Urban and global synergies: shaping the future of public health with climate resilience, equity and innovation. The programme will explore how public health can respond to interconnected urban and global challenges—linking climate action, social equity, and innovation to improve population health and well-being.
Subthemes of the conference are:

How do we survive climate change?
Health systems and climate change
The city as a catalyst for change
Providing equity in urban and rural settings
Health by design

Abstract submission and registration
Abstract submission is open until 1 May 2026, 18.00 CET.
Registrations will open on 1 April 2026.
