The mounting pressure of human activities on ecosystems, the escalation of global warming, and the spread of tropical diseases and zoonoses into Europe, alongside the challenges posed by rapid urbanization, has underscored the critical need for experts who can operate at the science, policy, and society interface, offering solutions to safeguard planetary health. 

Since it is also crucial to delve into the study of various factors influencing health impacts, such as societal norms and healthcare systems, six universities, including Eötvös Loránd University (Hungary), Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), Utrecht University (The Netherlands), Åbo Akademi University (Finland), Julius Maximilian University of Würzburg (Germany) and University of Bergen (Norway), have united to develop a two-year transnational Planetary Health Transdisciplinary Master’s programme.

This programme aims to train experts with a holistic approach, enabling them to better understand the interconnections of environment and health and to collaborate across disciplines, fostering effective solutions to complex challenges. 

Project overview and main goals

Our main objective of the project is to foster the development of a new, innovative, high-level integrated transnational two-year joint degree study programme on Planetary Health at a master level. The envisaged master’s programme will be accessible to all interested students from the EU and beyond holding an undergraduate degree in any discipline. To be able to create the envisaged joint master’s programme, a fully integrated, joint curriculum on planetary health will be developed. Joint mechanisms, such as joint admission procedures, integrated teaching/training activities, joint promotion, common services offered, accreditation, recognition of degrees and credits, will be elaborated during the present EMDM using and adapting the framework developed by the CHARM-EU Alliance and exploring the opportunities offered by the European Approach for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes. The project also seeks to be aligned with the priorities of the Erasmus+ programme as well as to promote shared EU values. We will bring European dimensions and intercultural aspects to Planetary Health as a topic managed at a national level. We advocate for transdisciplinary education, which is essential for preparing students to develop a holistic understanding of complex issues. This approach enables them to integrate knowledge from various disciplines and equips them to collaborate across fields, fostering effective solutions. Additionally, we aim to create a broad network of higher educational and non-educational partners, including potential partners from underrepresented countries.