A call for collective ownership of campus health is being brought to the FISU World Forum 2026 in Östersund, where international speakers will press universities to embed health and physical activity into institutional strategy rather than treat them as optional add‑ons.
From projects to institution‑wide commitment
Michelle Tanner, Director of Sport and Physical Activity at Trinity College Dublin and Vice Chair of the FISU Gender Equality Committee, told FISU organisers that while sport and activity programmes can improve student wellbeing, the greater challenge is securing institutional commitment to a shared vision for health across campuses. The forum opens on 24 August, where Tanner is scheduled to present on the role of sport in creating healthier and more inclusive university environments, according to FISU reporting.
"I hope that the participants will appreciate the impact and importance of a Healthy Campus on University Life at institutional, national and global levels," Tanner said.
Tanner, who helped found Trinity’s Healthy Trinity initiative, emphasised that the work requires more than enthusiasm from isolated champions. She argued that without a formal, resourced institutional approach, efforts to promote physical activity and mental wellbeing are likely to remain fragmented and short‑lived, according to FISU.
Funding, resources and the political will
While acknowledging that funding and resources are obvious constraints, Tanner identified the core obstacle as the difficulty in achieving a campus‑wide, shared strategy. She described the process as often complex and time‑consuming, demanding resilience and persistence from those pushing for change.
Her remarks reflect broader debates in higher education and public health: whether universities should treat student wellbeing as a cross‑cutting institutional responsibility, integrated into academic, residential and administrative planning, or as a set of separate services run by student affairs or sport departments.
- Institutional leadership — securing buy‑in from senior managers and governing bodies
- Resourcing — aligning budgets and facilities to health priorities
- Cross‑sectoral action — connecting sport, counselling, housing, food services and academics
These elements, Tanner suggests, are necessary for a Healthy Campus approach that lasts beyond one‑off campaigns.
What a Healthy Campus involves
Tanner’s work at Trinity College Dublin includes strategic development of sport facilities, programmes and services for students and the wider community, and she has led international projects on the links between physical activity and mental wellbeing, according to FISU. Her dual roles in university sport management and gender equality policy allow her to stress inclusion as central to any campus health strategy.
| Role | Institution |
|---|---|
| Director of Sport and Physical Activity | Trinity College Dublin |
| Vice Chair | FISU Gender Equality Committee |
| Board member | Sport Ireland |
Those responsibilities, Tanner told FISU, inform her view that healthier campuses benefit not only students’ physical fitness but also their mental health and overall capacity to succeed academically and socially.
Implications for South African universities
South African institutions face similar tensions: competing budget priorities, high demand for student support services, and pressing concerns about mental health and safety on campuses. The Healthy Campus framing urges vice‑chancellors and governing councils to consider health promotion as a strategic, whole‑institution task that touches academic policy, residence life, catering, sport and student health services.
Public health stakeholders and campus leaders may find Tanner’s emphasis on persistence and institutional ownership useful as they design long‑term plans. Embedding health targets into institutional planning cycles and monitoring progress could support more sustained outcomes than ad hoc programming.
Finally, while the dialogue at international fora can inspire new approaches, universities should remember to base interventions on local evidence and to consult health professionals when designing services. Readers with concerns about physical or mental health are reminded to consult a doctor, clinic or campus health service rather than rely on self‑diagnosis.
This report draws on FISU’s coverage of the World Forum and Tanner’s commentary as published by FISU.
