Health promoting universities project : criteria and strategies for a new WHO european network : report on a WHO round table meeting, Lancaster, United Kingdom 24-25 July 1997

Abstract

The WHO Regional Office for Europe held a meeting to determine the scope, purpose, objectives and products of a project for health promoting universities. Topics of discussion included the concept of the project, its organizational development and management, and criteria and mechanisms for network membership. It was suggested that the guiding principles pay particular attention to equity, accountability and sustainability, and, to convince prospective members of the value of the network, it should be evidence based. To facilitate the management of the project, the participants agreed that guidelines for managers be collated, including an explanation of organizational development. They also debated three strategies for networking, favouring a network with a commitment to the project philosophy, products and infrastructure over looser affiliations that would yield higher membership but lower levels of commitment. Finally, a four-step strategy for launching the project, including future products, was summarized