
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.
Promote 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.
- 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.
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Systematic thinking and cross-sector collaboration has been integrated in the way healthcare is planned, taught and delivered.
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Health promotion
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Higher education and competencies of health professionals
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Public policies
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Technology and health
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Sustainable development
Albert Barberà, director of the eHealth Center (UOC).
Carme Carrion, eHealth Center researcher and director of the University Master's Degree in E-Health (UOC).
Israel Conejero, project leader at the eHealth Center (UOC).
Nadja Gmelch, director of Open Knowledge projects in Globalization and Cooperation (UOC).
Kathrine Raleigh, external consultant.
Liv Raphael, external consultant.
Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (Spain)
Universidad de Caldas (Colombia)
University College Dublin (Ireland)
Universitas Gadjah Mada (Indonesia)
Karolinska Institutet (Sweden)
University of Public Health - Makerere (Uganda)
Western Sydney University (Australia)
Activities
Strengthen research activity and the knowledge base, participation in conferences, forums and outreach journals related to the field of activity.
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.