Students participating in the IGHI Global Health Summer School
Last week, the Institute of Global Health Innovation (IGHI) hosted its first Global Health Summer School for 22 Year-13 students from London schools
The week-long programme was devised and organised by Sophie Pieters (IGHI Operations Officer), Holly Merton (Julia Anderson Trainee - Cohort 6) and Steve McAteer (IGHI Director of Operations and Global Health), and held at the South Kensington campus, offering an exciting range of employability-based workshops, career talks, project work, and social activities.
The Global Health Summer School had the aim of widening participation and increasing awareness of a wide range of careers in global health.
Moreover, the programme aimed to increase accessibility, particularly for students from Black, Asian and Ethnic Minority backgrounds, those living in areas with lower progression to higher education, students with caring responsibilities, and those whose grades might not meet the criteria of traditional summer schools.
To increase accessibility, the Summer School was free of charge to the students, transport costs were refunded, and lunch was provided.
Project Work
Throughout the week, students worked in groups on a bespoke project covering a Global Health challenge with support from staff members across IGHI. Project themes were reflective of the ongoing research within the Institute, including artificial intelligence, healthy ageing, behavioural science, patient safety, climate change and mental health.
Two IGHI staff members and a student working on the Healthy Ageing Project
Behavioural Science group’s final presentation
Each project encouraged innovation and creativity of the students, concluding with a Dragon’s Den style presentation in front of a panel of judges.