Page 185 - GHES-3-2

Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Health awareness survey of university students

can serve as a foundation for developing bottom-up health promotion in universities (Bonse-Rohmann, 2023). These
promotion initiatives. However, it is crucial to ensure that factors could act as catalysts for implementing a unified
these student-led initiatives are supported by experts in policy framework across German universities.
health promotion, providing the necessary knowledge
and experience to ensure that interventions are rigorous, 6. Conclusion
safe, and effective. In practice, this would require a well- Addressing the health of German students through
accepted student-health-management concept that university policies can have broader societal impacts.
implements a holistic health promotion approach and By investing in preventive health measures and support
allocates sufficient staff resources to sustain and integrate systems, policymakers can promote resilience and reduce
health promotion activities on campus (Preuss et al., 2022; long-term healthcare costs associated with untreated mental
Stock, 2024). University leadership plays a crucial role in and physical health issues. Health initiatives in universities
prioritizing, initiating, and shaping the development of can also set a precedent for health-conscious habits
key topics within any institution. They are responsible that students carry forward into their professional lives,
for determining the significance of these issues for the ultimately benefiting the wider population. As the pressures
university’s growth and for allocating the necessary of academia grow, policies ensuring ongoing, adaptable
resources to support them. This decision-making process support for student health will be essential in addressing the
influences the institution’s strategic direction and ability to complex needs of Germany’s student population.
evolve in key areas (Meier & Steinke, 2023).
This article highlights a practice-oriented approach Acknowledgments
aimed at engaging and raising awareness among students We thank Professor Mathias Bonse-Rohmann, Dean of the
about health promotion in a university setting. The survey Department of Nursing and Health Care, for reading the
results demonstrated a strong demand for such initiatives, manuscript and providing feedback.
indicating that health promotion is a priority for students
and should be framed as a central issue on campus. Funding
There is no doubt that since the establishment of AGH None.
in 1995, the significance, scope, and funding for health
promotion have steadily grown in German universities Conflict of interest
(Arbeitskreis Gesundheitsfördernde Hochschulen, The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
2023). Despite this progress, health promotion remains
a voluntary responsibility rather than a legal requirement Author contributions
for universities. Policymakers in Germany may consider
adopting regulations that mandate universities to actively Conceptualization: Vasiliki Kolovou
promote health resources, ensuring all students are Formal analysis: Delphine Dierckens
informed of and have access to these services. A unified Investigation: All authors
policy framework across German universities could Methodology: Vasiliki Kolovou
help standardize health services, enhance consistency Writing – original draft: Delphine Dierckens
in student support, and bridge existing gaps between Writing – review & editing: Vasiliki Kolovou
institutions. In addition, it would facilitate the structural Ethics approval and consent to participate
integration of health-promoting measures into university
policies, ensuring the implementation of harmonized, Conducting the survey was approved by the Faculty V
resource-oriented initiatives. This would help ensure of Hannover University of Applied Sciences and Arts.
that students in all fields of study, regardless of their Participants provided their verbal consent to participate in
department, have access to comprehensive health the study voluntarily.
resources. Consent for publication
Notably, although funding for university-based
networks and projects has increased through contributions Participants were informed about the study’s purpose and
from statutory health insurance funds, particularly the collected data would be published in academic papers.
under the Prevention Act, there has been little strategic Availability of data
investment in university health promotion resources.
In addition, there is a lack of systematic exchange with The data used in this study are available upon request from
international developments or projects related to health the corresponding author.

Volume 3 Issue 2 (2025) 177 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.4290