Positive development for the entire university communityWith the signing of the Okanagan Charter, we reaffirm our strategic goals in the area of ‘Health and Sustainability.’

5 March 2025

Photo: UHH/Esfandiari

Our aim is to establish a health-promoting study and work environment, thereby supporting a positive development for the entire university community,” explained Birgitta Büsch. This also marks an important step towards a holistic university health management system, coordinated collaboratively by Birgitta Büsch and Anna Zerner. They will strengthen the connection between student and corporate health management to develop a comprehensive concept for the well-being of all UHH members.

The "Okanagan Charter" was adopted in 2015 at the VII International Conference on Health-Promoting Universities and Colleges in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada. The charter is the result of efforts from individuals in 45 countries and is named in recognition of the Indigenous Okanagan Nation, native to the area. It is now part of the quality criteria of the Working Group on Health-Promoting Universities.

We have great news for you: Universität Hamburg (UHH) signed the ‘Okanagan Charter’ on 5 March 2025 - and this means that we are working even more purposefully together for a healthy, sustainable and fit campus life.

The ‘Okanagan Charter’ is like a cool manifesto for everyone who wants to make a difference at universities. It calls for health to become not just a side project, but a real priority. We want everyone here not only to learn, but also to feel good and stay healthy! Light it up!

UHH is only the sixth university in Germany to commit to this vision - this shows that we are in the fast lane! We are part of this journey and every one of you counts!

Who signed the charter? Prof Natalia Filatkina (Vice President for Studies and Teaching) and Prof Laura Edinger-Schons (Chief Sustainability Officer). Birgitta Büsch, Head of Corporate Health Management, and Anna Zerner, new member of our University Sports Team and responsible for Student Health Management, were also there!

What does that mean for you? Quite simply: we create a healthy atmosphere for everyone at the university. Birgitta and Anna are working together to ensure that our student and company health management are properly linked. This way, all UHH members get the best for their well-being.

To the article in the UHH newsroom

Information about our Studentischen Gesundheitsmanagement BEAT!