2030 Agenda: SDG 3 Good health and well-being

The International Association of Universities (IAU) chose the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) to lead Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, within its Global Cluster on Higher Education and Research for Sustainable Development (HESD). To carry out this assignment, the UOC put together a team from universities around the world that work together to foster understanding and use of the SDG to ensure good health and well-being in higher education. The activities undertaken by the SDG 3 good health and well-being cluster are based on an international and multidisciplinary approach.

Mission

The SDG3 cluster is a global open knowledge network that champions an inclusive, multi-disciplinary and action-focused approach to university teaching and research in health sciences.

Vision

The SDG3 Cluster on health and wellbeing aspires to leverage university members’ commitment, passion, unique strengths, resources and networks as a higher education champion for an integrated approach to health in support of equity and wellbeing worldwide.

Priority areas

Bridging the knowledge/policy gap by informing policy dialogues on the cluster priorities related to the SDGs.

Harnessing the power of online working and e-health methodologies and tools to encourage learning, and leverage knowledge and resources across the network. 

Promoting the consideration of local needs and voices in university research, teaching and public policy.

Promoting informed academic research and policymaking by all relevant stakeholders. 

Encouraging the inclusion of the concepts of equity and integrated, patient-centred approaches to health in university curricula.Encouraging the inclusion of the concepts of equity and integrated, patient-centred approaches to health in university curricula.

Fomenting cross-sector collaboration and a systematic approach to advancing SDG3. 

Aims

The SDG 3 cluster aims to contribute to:

 

  • Determinants of health now guide policymaking in health and inform teaching and research. 

     

  • The healthcare workforce has a better understanding of integrated health and wellbeing and patient-centred service.

     

  • Academic research related to health and wellbeing is more widely accessible and can be put into practice.

     

  • Higher education teaching integrates student-centred and active learning approaches as key aspects in advancing their education and future impact on the world. 

     

  • The development and dissemination of knowledge draws on and benefits the local community.

     

  • Higher education now has a voice in global governance in relation to public health, and in particular, SDG3.

     

  • Systematic thinking and cross-sector collaboration has been integrated in the way healthcare is planned, taught and delivered.  

     


     
Areas of activity
  • Health promotion 

     

  • Higher education and competencies of health professionals  

     

  • Public policies 

     

  • Technology and health 

     

  • Sustainable development 

     

Team members

Marta Aymerich, Vice President for Strategic Planning and Research and President of the Executive Board of the UOC eHealth Center.

Carme Carrion, eHealth Center researcher and director of the University Master's Degree in E-Health (UOC). 

Nadja Gmelch, director of Open Knowledge projects in Globalization and Cooperation (UOC).

Marc Graells, project assistant at the eHealth Center (UOC).

Kathrine Raleigh, external consultant.

Liv Raphael, SDG 3 Cluster Lead (UOC)

Cluster member institutions

Activities

Knowledge dissemination

Strengthen research activity and the knowledge base, participation in conferences, forums and outreach journals related to the field of activity.

 

Research and innovation

Carry out research and development projects with the collaboration of master's degree and doctoral students and of professionals with an interest in scientific output.

Reflections on health, equity and gender

What we learned from the Exploring the nexus between health, equity and gender webinar held by the global cluster of universities for Sustainable Development Goal 3, led by the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (UOC) through the eHealth Center, and the International Association of Universities (IAU).  

Health, equity and gender: can digitization narrow the gaps in access to healthcare?

 

Higher education under examination: are we ready to train the future healthcare workforce?