More Physical Activity, Sustainability, and Health in Everyday (Student) Life
  

The Poverty & Health Congress is an interdisciplinary platform that has been dedicated for years to the topic of social justice in the context of health, sustainability, and the environment. Under the motto “Social Justice: Health – Environment – Climate,” this year’s congress took place on March 5 and 6 at Freie Universität Berlin. A key focus of this year’s discussions was the connection between individual well-being and the consequences of ever-advancing climate change. Vulnerable population groups are disproportionately affected by this.

In this context, the General German University Sports Association (adh) and Techniker Krankenkasse (TK) presented the initiative “Active Studying – Studying Moves!”—aimed at promoting sustainable physical activity among students—in a joint presentation. Two participating universities—TU Clausthal (project: TUCmove) and the University of Paderborn (project: Campuswald)—presented their initiatives. In total, the initiative comprises 44 participating universities that, from 2020 to 2023, developed and successfully implemented participatory models for the sustainable promotion of physical activity among students within the university environment.

Clausthal University of Technology | TUCmove: We want to get you moving!

• More health, physical activity, and sustainability in everyday (student) life through new spaces for physical activity (campus, nature, virtual)
• Easily accessible exercise challenges
• Sustainable nature experiences (UNESCO World Heritage Site: Upper Harz Water Management)
• Healthy nutrition and work-life balance
• Free database: Developed by students for students

Link: https://www.sport.tu-clausthal.de/projekte/initiative-bewegt-studieren-20-2020-2023

University of Paderborn | Campus Forest: “I could plant trees today”

• Motivating and raising awareness among students and staff about a sustainable topic to encourage more physical activity and sports in everyday life
• Collected activity points are converted into newly planted trees
• A six-hectare area for the sustainable campus with around 25,000 trees

Link: https://www.uni-paderborn.de/universitaet/gesunde-hochschule/campuswald

The initiative “Active Studying – Studying Moves!” and the projects presented are thus much more than just a slogan; it is a vision for a healthier and more equitable future, built on the foundation of education and student participation.

Our conclusion: We have motivated students to exercise regularly (or more regularly), to get involved in health, physical activity, and sustainability, to reflect on their own behavior, to rediscover physical and mental fitness, and to strengthen their environmental awareness. Our success begins beyond the comfort zone and has a lasting impact, because an active and healthy student body contributes to a more productive and sustainable society in the long term.

A heartfelt thank you goes to all the individuals and institutions that made this possible, and especially to all the students who contributed creatively to the projects.

On behalf of the initiative “Active Studying – Studying Moves!” as representatives at the Poverty & Health Congress 2024: Dustin Rehder (adh, student board member), Dr. Brigitte Steinke (Project and Process Consulting in the Healthy Universities Initiative, TK), Dr. Sebastian Sdrenka (TU Clausthal, Project: TUCmove), and Dennis Kehne (University of Paderborn, Project: Campus Forest).