Uni-Tübingen

Wellbeing@Uni Tübingen

Wellbeing at the University of Tübingen

The well-being of employees and students is of great importance to the university. Wellbeing is influenced by many different factors. Nevertheless, there are some basic pillars that are essential for all of us. However, the specific form of what each person needs to find a healthy approach to themselves, others and the environment is very individual.

With the campaign '6 Ways to Wellbeing - what are yours?' we aim to highlight the diverse services and resources for mental, physical, and social health at the University of Tübingen and encourage members of the university to participate in workshops, counseling sessions, and health programs.

Here is an overview of the services related to health and university well-being

Students

Student Health Management 
(SGM BeTaBalance)

Employees

Employee Health Management
(BGM)

6 Ways to Wellbeing

What are yours?

Be Active

A walk with friends, stretch breaks, a workout at home, or trying a new sport in university sports – excercise not only keeps you fit but also promotes personal well-being and social interaction. The university offers a variety of exercise options.

Connect

Good social relationships are a cornerstone of our well-being and reduce the risk of mental illness. It is worth investing time in expanding social networks and deepening existing ties. The university offers numerous resources and opportunities for this: student councils, student initiatives, or coffee breaks with fellow students and colleagues.

Eat Well

A balanced diet has a significant impact on health and well-being. The canteens and cafeterias at the university offer a variety of options, including the daily MensaVital meal. There is also the RettIch shelf, a drop-off and take-away point for saved food. Cooking (together) at home can also help to create a conscious approach to food and establish healthy eating habits.

Be Relaxed

In order to face the challenges of everyday life, it is important to find ways to relax. Being mindful of what is happening around us and how we feel has a positive impact on our well-being. Taking deliberate breaks, practicing relaxation exercises, or visiting places of comfort – such as the arboretum in the botanical garden – can help with this.

Keep Learning

Lifelong learning is central to personal development and mental health. Regardless of age, learning is associated with increased life satisfaction and self-confidence. The university is a place of learning. In addition to lectures and seminars, there are many opportunities to learn new things and grow. For example, there are language, art and professional development courses as well as exciting projects to get involved in.

Get and give

Reciprocal giving and receiving promotes mutual support and strengthens social relationships, and thus also personal well-being. Community-oriented behavior - such as helping, sharing, and giving - can boost self-esteem and promote positive feelings. At the university, there are many opportunities to get involved but also to get help. For example, through counseling services or by participating in various initiatives.

The internationally recognized concept of the "Five Ways to Wellbeing" was developed in 2008 by the New Economics Foundation (NEF) on behalf of the UK Government’s Foresight Program as a tool to improve mental health and wellbeing across the population. Our campaign is based on these five ways and has been adapted and expanded to include the (wellbeing) services offered by the University of Tübingen, while also considering the Sustainable Development Goals.

Designing a Self-Experiment

Self-experiments are a great way to break out of established routines and gain new perspectives.

We invite you to try small changes in your (university) daily life, ideally over a period of four weeks. This is more about trying things out than about quick success, as growth often comes from experience, learning, and even failure. 

  • Week 1: Planning & Self-Observation
  • Weeks 2 & 3: Conducting the Experiment
  • Week 4: Evaluation & Transition to a "New Normal"

Enjoy experimenting!

Self- Experiment - Download instructions here

The Project: Wellbeing@Uni-Tübingen

Wellbeing and Sustainable Development

At a university-wide networking meeting in May 2023 on the topic of “Culture of sustainability at the University of Tübingen” - organized by the KuNaH research project and the Competence Center for Sustainable Development - the topic of “mental health” and the more comprehensively formulated topic of “wellbeing” were identified and addressed as particularly relevant by the participating university members. 

Sustainable development, as defined by the UN, is based on the idea of justice: intergenerational and intragenerational equity, as well as prioritizing the basic needs of the poorest without destroying the environment (see Brundtland Report, 1987, Agenda 21, 1992, SDGs/Agenda 2030, 2015). In this sense, maintaining and enabling health is also a central goal of sustainable development and, to a certain extent, a prerequisite for further sustainable action.

The project contributes to the UN's 17 Sustainable Development Goals: Good Health and Wellbeing. Promote Mental Health.

The Wellbeing@Uni-Tübingen project was initiated as a real-life experiment by the KuNaH project and implemented together with the cooperation partners listed below. This website was created within this framework. It is intended to facilitate access to needs-oriented offers and thus contribute to a culture of sustainability with regard to individual and collective well-being in everyday university practice.

A cooperation of

Contact

If you have any questions about the campaign, the offers or the project, please contact us:

Dr. Anja Scheu (BGM):
 bgmspam prevention@uni-tuebingen.de

Juliane Kloos (SGM):
 sgmbetabalance@ifs.uni-tuebingen.de

Carina Betz (KuNaH Project):
 carina.betzspam prevention@izew.uni-tuebingen.de