11.9.2024

Transdisciplinary Master’s on Planetary Health: A New Initiative by CHARM-EU Universities

An innovative project of six CHARM-EU universities have won funding to develop a two-year transnational Master’s program on Planetary Health.

Six universities within the CHARM-EU alliance, including Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE), Åbo Akademi University, Julius Maximilians University, Trinity College Dublin, the University of Bergen, and the University of Utrecht, will develop a two-year transnational Master’s program on Planetary Health. Led by ELTE, the collaborating partners will work on an innovative program to train experts equipped with the skills and knowledge necessary to tackle the intricate connections between environmental and human health, fostering solutions to pressing global challenges.

Addressing Urgent Global Challenges
The urgency of this program stems from the escalating pressures on ecosystems due to human activities, global warming, the spread of tropical diseases and zoonoses in Europe, and the rapid pace of urbanization. The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the need for professionals who can operate effectively at the intersection of science, policy, and society to address these complex issues. The proposed Master’s program on Planetary Health is designed to meet this need, training experts who can approach these challenges holistically and collaborate across disciplines.

“Our faculty is proud that ÅUA is now involved in the planning of a new Erasmus Mundus Master’s program in Planetary Health. The programme is particularly well aligned with our strategy to increase the internationalization, quality and interdisciplinarity of our education. Global sustainability issues are at the heart of this program, and we will carry out the planning together with our colleagues from the CHARM-EU university alliance,” says Patrik Henelius, dean at the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

This collaborative effort represents a significant step forward in addressing the pressing need for transdisciplinary expertise in planetary health, with the potential to make a lasting impact on global health and environmental sustainability.