University of Erfurt receives "Thuringian Seal for Healthy Work"

The seal is awarded to companies and public service organisations that voluntarily undergo an examination of their health-promoting measures based on defined criteria. After successfully completing the certification process, the University of Erfurt achieved the highest "Gold" level at the first attempt. "This is a strong achievement and it is well deserved," said Professor Heike Kraußlach, head of the network, in recognition of the result at the presentation of the seal. The University of Erfurt has had a health officer and a health promotion steering group since 2015, which developed the "Healthy University of Erfurt" concept. For more than five years now, the university has been working on the sustainable implementation of the concept with the support of AOK PLUS, focussing on holistic health management for students and employees.

The "health ambassadors", who work in various areas of the university and support the health team, are an important pillar of this. Dr Yvonne Müller from the subject area of Sports Science was present at the award ceremony in Jena as a deputy for them. Project manager Jens Panse thanks his colleague Vivien Kretschmer and all university members involved who have supported health promotion at the university in recent years. "Our mindful lecturers, the University Sports Club, Health Communications, University Communications and the Health Ambassadors have all contributed to us achieving the ‘Gold Seal’ with their commitment." It is "both an incentive and an obligation", because with the award, the University of Erfurt has also received recommendations for action for the continuous improvement of health management and for the recertification required after three years.