The UK Healthy Universities Self-Review Tool: Whole System Impact

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Higher Education Studies

Background:

• Growing global interest in the Healthy Universities initiative, marked by increased networks and international conferences.
• The 2015 International Conference on Health Promoting Universities and Colleges launched the Okanagan Charter, signifying a global commitment.
• Universities are increasingly focused on embedding health and wellbeing within their institutional frameworks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the utilization and impact of the UK Healthy Universities Network's self-review tool.
• To assess the tool's effectiveness in helping universities adopt a whole-system approach to health and wellbeing.
• To identify benefits, challenges, and areas for improvement in the self-review process.

Main Methods:

• A two-stage research study was conducted.
• Stage one involved an online questionnaire distributed to network participants.
• Stage two utilized focus groups to gather in-depth qualitative data.

Main Results:

• The self-review tool was highly valued, offering significant benefits when fully utilized.
• Benefits included internal benchmarking, clear reporting of strengths/weaknesses, and enhanced understanding of the whole-system approach.
• The tool facilitated cross-university and cross-sectoral partnerships and highlighted areas for future enhancement.

Conclusions:

• The self-review tool is a valuable asset for universities committed to improving community health and wellbeing.
• It effectively supports the adoption of a whole-system Healthy Universities approach.
• Further enhancements can increase the tool's utility and contribute to the global Healthy Universities movement.