Reports & Other Resources

Reports, publications and resources on Healthy Universities and related themes.

Healthy Universities – General

Okanagan Charter: An International Charter for Health Promoting Universities and Colleges, 2015 This exciting charter is a key outcome of the 2015 International Conference on Health Promoting Universities and Colleges / VII International Congress, attended by 375 participants from over 30 different countries. The Charter sets out this bold and integrated vision: “Health Promoting Universities and Colleges transform the health and sustainability of our current and future societies, strengthen communities and contribute to the wellbeing of people, places and the planet.”

Developing Leadership and Governance for Healthy Universities Final Report, 2012 Final Report of the HEFCE-funded ‘Developing Leadership and Governance for Healthy Universities’ Project

Developing Leadership and Governance for Healthy Universities Final Report, 2012: Executive Summary Executive Summary Report of the HEFCE-funded ‘Developing Leadership and Governance for Healthy Universities’ Projec

WHO Health Promoting Universities Document, 1998 This World Health Organisation working document provides conceptual and practical guidance on how to set up and develop a health-promoting university project.

Health Promoting Campuses International Symposium, May 2022

This one-day event aimed to activate the Okanagan Charter on higher education campuses around the world. The Okanagan Charter was an outcome of the 2015 International Conference on Health Promoting Universities and Colleges; calling on Higher Education settings to embed health into all aspects of campus culture and lead health promotion action and collaboration locally and globally.

Alcohol, Tobacco & Substance Use/Misuse

Food

Mental Wellbeing

Stepchange: Mentally Healthy Universities

Stepchange: Mentally Healthy Universities, published by Universities UK in 2020, is a refreshed strategic framework for a whole university approach to mental health and wellbeing at universities. It calls on universities to see mental health as foundational to all aspects of university life, for all students and all staff. This refreshed version is informed by the Okanagan Charter for Health Promoting Universities & Colleges and the UK Healthy Universities Network’s vision and approach. It builds on the 2017 Stepchange Framework, which was launched alongside associated research conducted by Institute for Public Policy Research.

University Mental Health Charter

The University Mental Health Charter, published by Student Minds in 2019, was created by thousands of staff and students to shape a future in which everyone in higher education can thrive. The Charter advocates a whole university approach and provides a set of principles to support universities across the UK in making mental health a university-wide priority. It forms the basis of the Charter Award Scheme, which will recognise and reward universities that promote good mental health and demonstrate good practice.

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Sudent Wellbeing in Purpose Built Student Accommodation Guide

This booklet, published by the British Property Federation in 2019, is the product of the hard work and dedication of individuals and organisations including the UK Healthy Universities Network. Highlighting the value of a whole university approach, it recognises that supporting students’ mental health and wellbeing is both the right and the logical thing to do for accommodation providers. Right, because university offers a real opportunity to promote positive wellbeing and if we can alleviate ill health and suffering within our sphere of influence then we should. Logical, because businesses become successful by meeting and exceeding the needs of all their stakeholders, not just their investors.

Transitions and Know Before You Go, 2018 This Student Minds resource focuses on the challenge of transitioning from school to university and contains lots of useful tips for students ranging from paying bills, study skills and flatmate issues to identity questions, embedded throughout is how to maintain good mental health and seek help as needed.

Minding Our Future: Starting a Conversation about the Support of Student Mental Health, 2018 This Universities UK report contains new guidance to improve the coordination of care between the NHS and universities, so that all students can access the care they need.

Guidance for Universities on Preventing Student Suicides, 2018 The guide includes advice on developing a strategy focused specifically on suicide prevention, covering the following areas:

Steps to prevent student suicide
Intervening when students get into difficulties
Best practice for responding to student suicides
Case studies on approaches to suicide prevention through partnership working
Checklist highlighting steps university leaders can take to make their communities safer

Health Education England: ‘We Need to Talk About Suicide’, 2018 ‘We need to talk about suicide: helping everyone to feel more confident to talk about suicide’, is an eLearning programme that has been developed for the wider public health workforce, informed by people who have attempted to take their own lives and those bereaved and affected by suicide.

Thriving at Work: The Stevenson / Farmer Review of Mental Health and Employers, 2017 This report provides an independent review of mental health and employers by Lord Dennis Stevenson and Paul Farmer. It sets out what employers can do to better support all employees, including those with mental health problems to remain in and thrive through work. It also includes a detailed analysis that explores the significant cost of poor mental health to UK businesses and the economy as a whole.

The Mental Health of Children and Young People in England, 2016 This Public Health England report describes the importance of mental health and wellbeing among children and young people and the case for investment in mental health. It also summarises the evidence of what works to improve mental health among children and young people in order to inform local transformation of services.

Student Mental Wellbeing in Higher Education: Good Practice Guide, 2015 Universities UK commissioned the Mental Wellbeing in Higher Education Working Group to update existing guidance, drawing on evidence and practice from within the higher education sector and reports from government and the health and voluntary sectors. This guidance – which profiles the Healthy Universities approach – has been written for senior leaders and managers, and aims to support institutions in their promotion of mental wellbeing and in the support they provide for students experiencing mental health difficulties.

Mental Health of Students in Higher Education, 2011 Second edition of Report published by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, which champions the Healthy Universities approach.

Staff Wellbeing

Workplace Wellbeing Tool, 2013 Health, Work and Well-being’s Workplace Wellbeing Tool – a free resource to help employers estimate the business cost of poor health.

Workplace Wellbeing Charter, 2012 The Charter is a health, safety and wellbeing award. This provides organisations of all sizes with best practice advice, guidance and support to improve workplace health and wellbeing..

Sustainability, Corporate Responsibility & Social Value

Green Gown Awards 2019 Case Studies:

Green Gown Awards 2018 Case Studies:

Degrees of value, 2011 How universities benefit society.

Education for Sustainable Development The Higher Education Academy, QAA, NUS and HEFCE have all sought to encourage and support institutions and subject communities to develop curricula and pedagogy that will give students the skills and knowledge to live and work sustainably. These web pages provide information and further links to relevant reports and publications.

Education for Sustainable Development (Unesco) Education for Sustainable Development allows every human being to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values necessary to shape a sustainable future. Education for Sustainable Development means including key sustainable development issues into teaching and learning.

How Can Universities Support Disadvantaged Communities? 2012 A report from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation (research by Fred Robinson, Ian Zass-Ogilvie and Ray Hudson) exploring what universities can do to help disadvantaged people by providing access to opportunities and facilities, resources and expertise.

Learning in Future Environments (LiFE) Learning in Future Environments (LiFE) is a comprehensive performance improvement system developed specifically to help colleges and universities to manage, measure, improve and promote their social responsibility and sustainability performance. It has been developed and delivered by the Environmental Association for Universities and Colleges with generous support from its partners.

Sustainable development in higher education: HEFCE’s role to date and a framework for its future actions This document sets out some of the ways in which higher education contributes to sustainable development, and proposes a framework for HEFCE’s support for the sector. It encompasses our earlier policy statements on sustainable development and carbon reduction, and will influence our future funding.

Universities and the green economy: graduates for the future, 2012 The HEA held its first Policy ‘Think Tank’ in February 2012 to investigate how the HE sector can contribute to ‘greening the economy’. The think tank was a stimulating event packed with illuminating discussions, innovative ideas, and valuable contributions from inspirational speakers and delegates from across HE, student bodies, and industry.

Universities that Count: A Report on Benchmarking Environmental and Corporate Responsibility in Higher Education, 2007 Report published by Business in the Community.

University Challenge: Towards a Well-Being Approach to Quality in Higher Education, 2009 Report published by the New Economics Foundation (commissioned by QAA).

Sustainability Leadership Scorecard EAUC, partnering with AUDE and Arup, have launched the Sustainability Leadership Scorecard, which enables a single, engaging indicator of performance and gaps that is easy to understand and communicate. Focusing on Leadership & Governance, Partnership & Engagement, Learning, Teaching & Research, and Estates & Operations, it includes a focus on health and wellbeing with reference to being a Healthy University.

Green Gown Awards 2018 Winners/Case Studies:

Videos & Other Resources

Designing Healthy Campus Communities Short animated video produced by Simon Fraser University in collaboration with the Canadian Mental Health Association.

Meningitis

Meningitis Aware Recognition Mark for Universities, 2018 Meningitis Now is committed to raising awareness of meningitis and provides a number of useful resources and guides. It has also launched a recognition mark for universities.

Violence, Harassment and Consent

Changing the culture: Report of the Universities UK Taskforce examining violence against women, harassment and hate crime affecting university students, 2016 This report summarises the evidence considered by the Universities UK Taskforce to examine violence against women, harassment and hate crime affecting university students, and makes a series of recommendations for universities and UUK. These recommendations cover both prevention activities and how universities can respond to these issues more effectively in future.