Universities and doctoral schools across Europe recognise the importance of supporting doctoral students and equipping them with skills to help manage their stress and improve their mental and physical well-being as well as to encourage sustainable lifestyle patterns.
The Doctoral School at the University of Malta has embarked on a Healthy Work and Lifestyle Programme together with Drs Barbera Schoemaker (Pim Mulier Organisation, the Netherlands), Dr Miriam van Ittersum (Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, the Netherlands) and Drs Theo Koning (Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, the Netherlands).
Twenty doctoral students chosen at random will be invited to participate between September 2019 and December 2019 in a programme which will include workshops, activity tracking and coaching, and training in the areas of nutrition, sleep, activity (including walking), recovery and active working behaviour. Local and international experts will be involved in the training sessions.
In related research activities, other doctoral students will be invited to use activity trackers and gamification software to be able to assess outcomes on healthy and sustainable lifestyle choices both at home and at work, including the increased uptake of walking as a substitute to driving.
All Doctoral School students will be invited to participate in a keynote talk in September.