How can health promotion be made a tangible part of everyday university life? Students in the Health Psychology course are exploring this question in collaboration with the Health Initiative. The result is a series of creative projects that focus on physical activity, relaxation, social interaction, and mental health.
“It was important to us not to make the course purely theoretical, but to give students the opportunity to put their own ideas into practice right away,” explains Prof. Dr. Viktoria Bachmann.
“At the same time, this creates opportunities that can enrich everyday campus life for many people.”
Prof. Dr. Viktoria Bachmann
Health Promotion for Everyone to Participate In
The projects that have emerged are based on the observation that many students experience stress, time pressure, and mental strain in their daily university life. The initiatives developed are therefore intentionally designed to be low-threshold and easily integrated into everyday life.
A total of eight projects were developed, six of them in cooperation with the Health Initiative. Some initiatives have already been successfully implemented, while others are currently still in the testing or planning phase. Among those already implemented are the “Mach Mal Pause” initiative, the “Power Paths” running event, and the “Walk and Talk” format.
For “Take a Break,” students could pick up mandalas in the B-Foyer, color them in, and use them for relaxation. About 20 completed mandalas have already been collected and will be displayed on a bulletin board until the end of June. The “Stress weg Wege” running event also received a positive response: About 40 people participated in the three available time slots. The running and walking routes developed around the university are intended to be permanently available in the future.
Promoting Encounters and Exchange
A central goal of many projects is to promote encounters on campus—not only among students, but also with staff and faculty.
“For us, health promotion means not only exercise or stress reduction, but also social connection. Joint activities in particular create spaces for exchange and strengthen the sense of community at the university.”
Prof. Dr. Cynthia Sende.
For example, the “Walk and Talk” project encourages people to consciously move meetings or breaks outdoors. An “active break” outdoors is also planned for June, designed to playfully integrate physical activity into everyday university life.
From Digital Detox to Campus Connect
The range of projects demonstrates how diverse health promotion can be:
- “Nudging” relies on small prompts like stickers or signs on campus to encourage healthier choices in daily life.
- “Campus Connect” aims to connect students via an analog bulletin board—for example, for shared breaks or leisure activities.
- A WhatsApp channel run by the Health Initiative provides regular updates on topics such as self-esteem and mental health.
- The “Digital Detox” project offers board games to facilitate intentional phone-free breaks.
- The “You Instead of Others” information program addresses social comparison pressure on social media.
Which ideas will stick?
Currently, we’re observing which formats are particularly well-received and what organizational challenges exist. The goal is to establish successful programs at the university in the long term. “The projects show just how much potential there is in the students’ ideas,” says Prof. Bachmann. “Many initiatives arose from the desire to make everyday campus life healthier, more open, and more communal.”
Whether it’s creative relaxation, exercise between lectures, or digital breaks—the collaboration between Health Psychology and the Health Initiative highlights how health promotion can be implemented in a practical way at the university.
You can participate in the hands-on activities at any time—for more information, visit:
health@hof-university.de
