Health Communication students in Geneva: Participation in the WHO Simulation 2026

Students on the Master’s programme in Health Communication will take part in a simulation of the World Health Assembly of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in Geneva in November.

From November 9-13, 2026, nine students of the Master’s programme in Health Communication will be exploring global health issues – including the impact of plastic on health, commercial factors influencing health, and ethical considerations in the recruitment of international healthcare staff. Accompanied by Professor Dr Cornelia Betsch and Hellen Temme, a full delegation from the University of Erfurt will thus be taking part in the Global Model WHO in Geneva for the first time.

In addition to the simulation, the group will attend the Global Model WHO Extension Programme, which focuses on how the WHO operates beyond formal meetings and resolutions. The students will have the opportunity to engage in dialogue with experts, thereby gaining institutional perspectives, insights into career paths and a deeper understanding of global health policy.

Professor Ilona Kickbusch

In preparation for the trip, Professor Betsch organised a seminar on global health challenges and health diplomacy during the summer term of 2026. The students gained an initial insight into the work of the WHO through, amongst other things, a guest lecture by Professor Ilona Kickbusch. In addition,  the seminar participants practiced the simulation scenario and ran through various phases of a pandemic outbreak during an “Outbreak Dinner”, each playing assigned roles.

The trip will be documented on the programme’s Instagram channel in November.

"Outbreak Dinner" during the seminar Global Model WHO (summer term 2026)
What is the WHO Global Model?

The Global Model WHO is an international, student-led simulation of the World Health Assembly (WHA). It is organised by the World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO) and brings together school pupils and students from all over the world and from a variety of disciplines.

In the simulation, participants take on the roles of delegates, discuss global health issues, negotiate resolutions and work together to reach a consensus. The aim is to adopt their own resolution on a topic from the WHA agenda.

In doing so, participants gain insights into global health policy and multilateral decision-making processes, whilst developing key skills such as negotiation, debating, moderation, public speaking and scientific research.

The Global Model WHO sees itself as an inclusive and diverse format that gives young people worldwide access to the work of the WHO and an understanding of the importance of international cooperation.

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Contact

Cornelia Betsch
Prof. Dr. Cornelia Betsch
Professor of Health Communication
(Faculty of Philosophy)
C19 – research building "Weltbeziehungen" / C19.01.27
+49 361 737-1631
cornelia.betsch@uni-erfurt.de

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