Building Systems Thinking Capacity for NCD Prevention and Healthy Ageing: Reflections from the WHO Summer School in Nice

This summer, Dahdaleh global health graduate scholar Naeema Hassan had the privilege of participating in the WHO Summer School on Systems Thinking and Innovation for the Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and the Promotion of Healthy Ageing in the WHO European Region. Held in Nice, France, from July 15 to 18, this four-day immersive program brought together a global cohort of learners and practitioners dedicated to strengthening health systems through innovation and systems-based approaches.

The summer school was co-organized by the WHO Regional Office for Europe, Université Côte d’Azur, and Ulysseus European University, with technical support from WHO Collaborating Centres at Queen’s University Belfast and York University. These institutions fostered a multidisciplinary learning environment focused on building capacity in systems thinking, participatory research, and human-centered innovation for public health.

Over the course of the program, participants engaged in lectures, workshops, and collaborative exercises that introduced foundational systems thinking tools such as causal loop diagrams, group model building, and design thinking. These methods allowed everyone to map complex public health challenges, including the rise of NCDs across the life course, and to explore how feedback loops, structural delays, and interconnected systems contribute to persistent health inequities.

Participants explored how systems thinking can be applied to real-world policy and practice, learning how to design and test interventions that are context-sensitive, inclusive, and sustainable. Activities involved analyzing health systems data, identifying systemic patterns, conducting user research, and working in teams to prototype interventions. A central focus of the program was applying these approaches to our individual areas of research and professional practice, encouraging deep reflection and integration into our work.

The summer school created an inspiring space for knowledge exchange with a diverse group of participants and experts from across the WHO European Region and beyond. As a PhD student researching equitable global health partnerships at the institutional level, this experience deepened Naeema's understanding of how systems thinking can support more collaborative, innovative, and equity-driven approaches to global health challenges.

"I am deeply grateful to the Dahdaleh Institute for Global Health Research for making this experience possible. Their support allowed me to participate in a transformative program that has strengthened both my academic and practical understanding of systems thinking in global health. This opportunity not only aligned with my current research on equitable health systems but also allowed me to build lasting connections with global peers and mentors. I look forward to bringing back these learnings and contributing to the Dahdaleh Institute’s mission through the continued application of systems-based methods in research, teaching, and global health engagement."

— Naeema Hassan, Dahdaleh Global Health Graduate Scholar

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