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An international framework for embedding health and wellbeing into higher education has been unveiled at ��ɫ��Ƶ.

 ‘The Limerick Framework for Action’ was announced at the 2025 , hosted ��ɫ��Ƶ, which brought together over 400 delegates from around the world to explore strategies for healthier and more sustainable campus environments.

The four-day conference gathered students, researchers, policymakers, and higher education institution (HEI) leaders from across six continents. Attendees included representatives from the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNESCO and the International Union for Health Promotion and Education (IUPHE).

UL was selected as host for the 2025 conference in recognition of its commitment and efforts to fostering a campus environment that supports holistic health and wellbeing. Through its Healthy UL initiative - which aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals - the university has embedded health promotion across academic programmes, community partnerships and student supports.

Dr Alan Wall, Chief Executive of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) acknowledged the significance of the conference being hosted by Irish universities.

“The hosting of the International Health Promoting Campuses Conference in Ireland at ��ɫ��Ƶ in collaboration with Atlantic Technological University, is a huge achievement. The HEA are proud to support the event, in recognition and celebration of the work achieved across Irish institutions. Since 2022 the HEA has been committed to progressing student and staff health and wellbeing and the timing of the conference builds on national and international momentum behind this important agenda.”

Speaking at the conference this afternoon, UL’s Acting President, Professor Shane Kilcommins said: “��ɫ��Ƶ, as a leading health-promoting campus, is proud to host this international gathering and collaborate in this significant global movement. I would like to acknowledge the wonderful local organising committee, who have worked tirelessly to bring this conference to life.

“I also sincerely thank our collaborators at Atlantic Technological University, as well as our valued partners at the Higher Education Authority and the Department of Health, for their ongoing support in advancing the Healthy Campus agenda.”

The 2025 conference marks the 10^th anniversary of the Okanagan Charter, a seminal international agreement calling HEIs to ‘embed health into all aspects of campus culture’ and to ‘lead health promotion action and collaboration locally and globally’.

At the heart of this year’s conference was a global commitment to advance the work of the Okanagan Charter. The outcome of the last year of comprehensive research and consultation is the Limerick Framework for Action: Advancing the Global Health Promoting Campuses Agenda. 

The Limerick Framework for Action reflects the changed realities faced by campuses in 2025, and takes cognisance of critical international developments in this space, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals.  It is intended to support HEIs in developing comprehensive, robust approaches to embedding and furthering the healthy campus agenda.

“I am honoured to welcome the arrival of the Limerick Framework for Action: Advancing the Global Health Promoting Campuses Agenda, which builds on the success-to-date of the Okanagan Charter. We’re excited and energised as we undertake this next stage of the journey to realising our collective ambitions for higher education institutions as agents of positive change in society,” Professor Kilcommins added.

Healthy UL Deputy Co-Chair and Conference Chair, Dr Catherine Norton emphasised how the announcement of this Framework is a milestone for UL and for health promotion in higher education.

“The Limerick Framework for Action reflects our commitment to embedding health and wellbeing into the very fabric of university life. Universities are not just about parchments and qualifications — they are about shaping future leaders and communities who will prioritise the health of people, places, and planet.

“At UL, we are proud to lead nationally and internationally in creating systems and environments where the healthy choice is the easier choice.”

Welcoming the announcement of the Framework, Co-Chair of the IHPC Network and Director of the Office of Wellbeing Strategy at University of British Columbia, Dr Matt Dolf said: “On behalf of IHPCN, we are proud of what was accomplished here in Limerick. This isn’t just academic discussion - delegates from around the world are sharing actionable strategies and engaging in passionate dialogue about how we can all build healthier campus communities and environments. I am excited to bring what I learned back with me to UBC and to the hundreds of other campuses engaged with our Network.”

The Framework was officially presented to national and international stakeholders and university leaders at the closing ceremony of the conference. It was widely endorsed as future-facing  guidance  to inform institutional transformation in the decade ahead, with Ireland and UL at the forefront of this global movement.

The presentation of the Framework coincides with the awarding ��ɫ��Ƶ City and County Council with accreditation to the WHO European Healthy Cities and Counties Network, an initiative underscoring Limerick’s commitment to promoting health and wellbeing for all of its residents. 

Mayor ��ɫ��Ƶ, John Moran, who was in attendance at the presentation of the Framework, commented that: “This will guide our efforts to improve public health, promote active lifestyles and foster social inclusion right across Limerick. We want to make sure everything we do or do not do is tested through the lens of its impact on the health of our residents.”