UCD’s College of Health and Agricultural Science, in collaboration with One Health UCD, hosted the Universitas21 2025 SDG Student Workshop from 12 - 13 June, on the topic of ‘One Health for Global Health’.
The aim of the workshop was to bring together undergraduate and postgraduate students studying at U21 Health Sciences Group member universities to learn about the UN Sustainable Development Goals and stimulate interprofessional problem-solving on global health case studies.
Over 80 staff and students from UCD and U21 institutions registered to attend, including the Universities of Nottingham, Glasgow and Lund. A range of disciplines were represented, including medicine, nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, public health, biomedical sciences, veterinary medicine, clinical and translational research, radiography, human nutrition, food and agri-business.
The students engaged in group-based case-studies and delivered group presentations on their second day of the workshop.
A number of keynote speakers also presented. UCD’s Prof Jonathan McNulty, Vice-Principal for Teaching and Learning College of Health and Agricultural Sciences, delivered opening remarks, followed by a presentation on ‘Cervial Cancer Elimination’ by Professor Patricia Fitzpatrick, Full Professor of Epidemiology and Biomedical Statistics.
Dr Virginie Gautier, Associate Professor in Virology, covered the topic of ‘Global HIV epidemic: Achievements and Current Challenges in Treatment, Prevention and Cure’. Associate Professor Deirdre O’Connor, Vice-Principal for Equality Diversity and Inclusion, College of Health and Agricultural Science, and Professor Paul Harpur, University of Queensland, presented on the topic ‘Disability as an Issue in the University Sector - Insights from U21 Partners’.
‘A One Health mindset’ was covered by Dr Gerald Barry, Assistant Professor of Virology, Deputy Director of the UCD One Health Centre. Professor Patrick Paul Walsh, UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) Vice President of Education, Director-SDG Academy, Full Professor of Global Affairs and Sustainable Futures UCD, presented on ‘One Health and Sustainable Development’.
Associate Professor Barry McMahon, Associate Professor of Wildlife Conservation & Zoonotic Epidemiology School of Agriculture, delivered a presentation on the topic of ‘Biodiversity and Human Health’ and Associate Professor Mary Codd, Associate Professor of Epidemiology & Biostatistics School of Public Health and Physiotherapy and Sports Science, presented on ‘Educating Public Health Leaders of the Future: A Global Health perspective through a One Health lens’.
The second day of the workshop focused on group work, with students working together in both interprofessional and international groups. Two tasks were allocated to each group: to review a case study developed previously to provide learning experiences around the SDGs, and to develop an outline of the content of a new case study to support learning about the SDGs.
A plenary feedback session completed the day, with the groups reflecting on the relevance of the previous SDG case studies and presenting the new SDG case outlines.