Starting from 23 March, colourful events will welcome the colleagues of the University of Pécs Medical School on the occasion of the fifth anniversary of the Well-Being programme. Everyone will be able to find something to enjoy throughout the week, while embracing the opportunity to enjoy the sense of well-being both as a community and as individuals. The leadership of the faculty started to support the idea of the physical and mental well-being of the community in 2020, and by early 2021 it was included in the strategic programme of the Medical School, PotePillars, as one of its core pillars. The goal has not changed since then; it is to study and work at the faculty with joy and pride. Dr. Zsuzsanna Varga, head of the Well-Being concept, has been involved since the very beginning and has considered the coordination and development of the programme as a personal mission.
Written by Rita Schweier
„We started the programme by collecting previously existed and successful initiatives and we included them in the framework of the concept. It was clear how we could reach more people and, at the same time, how we could provide the most support to the students and colleagues of the faculty. At the beginning, we focused on mental health and stress management, physical activity and social connection. Later, feedback from the members of the faculty, survey results, focus group discussions, and experiences of the existing programmes provided guidance for introducing new activities and services. Professional workshops and international best practices also contributed to the process. The strategic plan of the leadership served as a guidance when it came to decision-making and the specific elements were developed in cooperation with multiple stakeholders based on shared ideas, lecturers, professional partners, student organizations and several colleagues helped. This approach, the commitment of the leadership combined with the shared ideas of the stakeholders made it possible to flexibly develop the programme and respond to real needs” – she stated.
She proudly mentioned that a large team had been committed to promote well-being. She believes that it is moving that more and more people dedicate their time and energy to designing and implementing the programmes, even beyond working hours.
Thousands of students and colleagues have participated in the activities
„The continuous development of the services related to well-being is a key part of the concept, so questioning participants about their experiences and potential changes needed is essential. We prepared questionnaires related to services such as massage, health and dental screenings, and dining, especially the services offered by the Umami restaurant” – she emphasized.
She mentioned that massage had been the most popular service on the list, providing both physical and mental refreshment for the colleagues. She also highlighted the mentor programme, which enables more direct and meaningful connections between students and their lecturers. Several thousand students and colleagues have participated in activities over the past five years, such as screening programs, services regarding mental health and sports events, as well. The organizational part involves several hundred people, including members of the faculty, professionals, students and colleagues from the administrational sector, who have contributed to implementation in different ways with varying intensity.
Well-being at the level of research and professional dialogue
„To develop the programme on an international level and to expand it to a scientific focus was a conscious step. We aimed to elevate the concept of well-being to the level of research and professional dialogue. The Visegrad Fund grant provided an opportunity for medical schools in the region having similar challenges to collaborate, collect comparable data, and share best practices with each another. We discussed our experiences not only at institutional level, but also in front of the wider professional community at the international conference and expo in 2024. The event included plenary sessions with international experts, demonstrations about various aspects of well-being and mental health, poster sessions, and roundtable discussions, as well. The V4 well-being research network has begun to develop at a scientific level. Today, joint work takes place in multiple countries, and we aim to open to other European partners, as well. Our objective is that the practical development of the programme becomes increasingly linked to research through long-term impact assessments, comparable data collection, and joint publications” – she added.
Reagrding the tasks for the upcoming period, the aim is to embed the Well-Being concept into the institutional operation, organizational culture, education plan, decision-making of the leadership, and human resource management. Therefore, the emphasis will be on the institutionalization of the concept, regarding planning, feedback, and development decisions. In terms of content elements, they plan to focus more on a preventive approach to mental health, the development of community spaces and different forms of connection, and the stronger integration of physical activities and recreation into everyday organizational culture. She also said that consciously simplifying, coordinating, and ensuring the sustainable operation of existing programmes had been important.
Fifth anniversary of the programme: there is something for everyone
The organizing team prepares a week-long birthday series of events kicking off on March 23, including a vibrant variety of programmes.
„We are planning a week where participants can engage a little differently than on any other day of the year. The goal is not that everyone will engage in every single programme, but to find at least one activity that adds a little more, whether it is a bit of exercise, a good conversation, or simply an experience that takes us out of our everyday routine. We would like to achieve that participants pause for a moment, refresh, and connect with each other. In addition to activities promoting physical and mental well-being, we also prepare a few surprises” – she said.
Dr. Zsuzsanna Varga is most looking forward to the atmosphere that fills the aula during this week, since the aula does not only serve as a passageway, but it becomes a real meeting point, and it will be filled with life and energy. The members of the faculty and students will have the chance to play ping-pong, take photos, and engage in conversations, which activities will create a unique atmosphere. Roles between lecturers and students will disappear, replaced by presence and togetherness, which will bring space to life and create a close-knit and joyful community.
Photo:
Kerekes Fotó és Film
Lajos Kalmár