A strong alliance for health

The University of Jena and AOK PLUS are continuing to expand their successful collaboration in health promotion. Yesterday, Wednesday (4 June), the President of the University, Prof. Dr Andreas Marx, and the CEO of AOK PLUS, Dr Stefan Knupfer, represented by Regional Manager Igor Kästel, signed what is now the third joint cooperation agreement.

With the new agreement, both partners are pursuing an ambitious goal: the establishment of a comprehensive, university-wide health management that benefits both students and employees. AOK PLUS is supporting this forward-looking project at the University of Jena with a total of 580,000 euros over the next three years.

With the new agreement, the cooperation partners are taking their collaboration, which has been ongoing since 2016, to a new level: following the successful establishment of workplace health promotion for employees (2016-2020) and the student health management (2020-2025), the next development phase is now underway. "In the third funding period that is now beginning, the previously separate structures will be merged and an integrated, holistic health management will be established at our University on a sustainable basis," explains Julia Hoppe, Health Management Officer. "Our aim is to bundle all activities and measures under one roof and to address all target groups individually and in line with their needs at the same time." University health management is now a permanent part of the Occupational Safety Office and will continue to be funded beyond the end of the new funding phase.

New university culture takes health into account

"Health-promoting conditions are a basic prerequisite for excellent research, good teaching and successful studying," emphasizes University President Prof. Marx. "Our goal is to develop solutions for stress together with the members of the University and to create a university culture in which health is taken into account. We want to help employees and students to realize their full potential."

Dr Stefan Knupfer, CEO of AOK PLUS, emphasizes the joint successes: "The long-standing and trusting cooperation between the University of Jena and AOK PLUS impressively demonstrates how sustainable health promotion can succeed at a university. Together, we have realized innovative projects in occupational and student health management such as drinking fountains, exercise trails, cargo bikes and Walkolution treadmills. With the new university-wide health management system, we are pooling our experience and expertise to further strengthen the health and well-being of all members of the University. As a health insurance company, we look forward to continuing on this successful path together and supporting the University of Jena as a healthy, attractive place to work, learn and research."

Head of Administration and Finance Dr Thoralf Held adds: "Sustainable and comprehensive health management is also a key element in further developing the University as a responsible and attractive employer. The additional funding from AOK PLUS enables us to see health management not as a one-off measure, but as a continuous development process—for a University where people enjoy being involved and where they feel good".

University members can help shape health promotion at the University

Over the next three years, students and employees will not only benefit from established and ongoing health programmes such as the Pausenexpress, courses on stress management and healthy eating as part of the university-wide health management programme. They are also expressly invited to play an active role in the further health-promoting development of their University. Among other things, programmes are planned for active teaching and break design, healthy leadership and strengthening mental health. The offer is supplemented by the expansion of continuing education and dialogue formats on health topics as well as regular health days that focus on a wide range of health topics.