7 March 2025

On 4 March 2025, the 5th cross-university conference "Universities in Transition - Shaping Health and Sustainability Together" took place in Gera. Around 60 representatives from Thuringian universities, including participants from Nordhausen University of Applied Sciences, came together at the Gera-Eisenach Cooperative State University to discuss how the study and work environment can be made healthier and more climate-friendly.

The event was organised by the project "Healthy Universities in Thuringia - Exchange Forum 'From University to University'" and sponsored by Techniker Krankenkasse (TK). Employees from science and administration, teaching staff, professors and students took part.

"Universities play a key role in promoting a healthy and sustainable lifestyle. Around 164,000 people in Thuringia learn and work at universities - their health and well-being are therefore at the centre of attention," explained Andrea Krieg, head of the "Healthy Universities in Thuringia" project.

In workshops on topics such as climate-friendly nutrition, mental health and sustainable change through internal development, concrete approaches were developed on how universities can fulfil their responsibility with regard to health and the environment. The interdisciplinary exchange between the institutions was a particular focus.

"TK supports Thuringian universities in creating health-promoting and sustainable living environments. A healthy environment is the basis for healthy people," says Mike Römer, prevention consultant at TK.

The exchange forum "From university to university" is a network that was launched in 2017 and promotes the exchange of information on health-promoting and sustainable measures at universities.