Intensive and inspiring days about "Planetary Health"

From October 13–17, a total of 40 students and teachers from six institutions in six countries participated in intensive, but inspiring days at a week-long Blended Intensive Program (BIP) on "Planetary Health" in Helsinki, Finland. Among these were 10 students from VID, 4 students from the Bachelor in Social Sustainability (BASOB), and 6 students from the Master in Community Development and Social Innovation (MACOMM), both affiliated with the program area for Culture and Religion at the Faculty of Theology and Social Sciences at Campus Stavanger.

– One of the overarching purposes was to develop relationships, networks, knowledge, and reflection across experience and background on global issues, sustainability, and health, says Associate Professor Stian Sørlie Eriksen. He participated as a teacher from VID Stavanger, and adds that an intensive BIP week like this also provides opportunities for international experience and short-term exchange that would otherwise be difficult for many to complete.

Joy of reunion

The week showed the value and joy of international collaboration, both for the students and the staff who participated. The BIP had started digitally a couple of weeks in advance before the students met physically in Helsinki, so there was joy of reunion already on the first day. The week was very interactive, with lectures and a long series of learning activities both indoors, outdoors, and digitally on the learning platform Howspace, which was specially designed for the program. Among other things, students compared cases from Norway and the Philippines.

The BIP's theme and objective were comprehensive with the intention of exploring "the intersections between health care, social services and sustainability through the framework of Planetary Health". Among other things, we looked at intersections between the Anthropocene and health from various theoretical perspectives. There was a focus on both complexity and solutions, global and local perspectives, and the importance of transnational reflection and interaction and "imagining the future".

– One of the week's highlights was exhibitions that the students had created and reflections related to both learning processes and themes. The week ended with celebration and cake. VID students were active throughout the week and good ambassadors for VID, says Sørlie Eriksen. Students receive five credits for participating in the BIP.

Fifth year in the collaboration

The collaboration started five years ago during Covid, the first time fully digital, and this was the fifth year in the collaboration and the third time that Diaconia University of Applied Sciences (DIAK) hosted. In addition to DIAK, students and staff from the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS) in Germany, Carinthia University of Applied Sciences in Austria, University College Cork in Ireland, Palawan State University (PSU) in the Philippines, and VID participated. (PSU participated digitally).

Meg Sakilayan-Latvala from DIAK led the program locally together with colleague Paula Ropponen and well supported by Sally Bamford from the international office at DIAK. The teaching team had also collaborated over time on the academic program. The other teachers who participated were Sven Warnke from THWS, Andrea Stitzel from Kärnten University of Applied Sciences, Annalisa Setti from University College Cork, Rachel Santos from PSU, and Stian Sørlie Eriksen from VID.

– We are also very grateful for the support we received along the way from the section for internationalization at VID, says Sørlie Eriksen. He says that the plan and wish is that VID will host next year.