From Knowledge to Impact: Transformational Learning in Global Health

Education is central to translating knowledge into real-world impact. As global health challenges evolve, so must the way we teach and learn. New competencies, innovative formats, and relevant content are needed to prepare the next generation of global health professionals and leaders.

Through dialogue and co-creation, this symposium offers a space to reflect on the future of global health education and how knowledge can translate into tangible improvements in health systems and communities.

The event also celebrates the 30th anniversary of the tropEd network, a pioneering global learning community that has shaped international standards in global health education and strengthened collaboration across institutions worldwide.

Education and health professionals, students, and alumni will come together to explore how learning must adapt to meet today’s challenges. Participants will exchange ideas and best practices on:

Transformational learning approaches
innovative teaching and learning methods
international collaboration in education
AI and experiential learning

Information

When and where

Date	9 September 2026
Time	09:00- 17:00 CEST
Venue	Swiss TPH Kreuzstrasse 2 4123 Allschwil Switzerland

08:30

On-site Registration (8:55 virtual check-in)

Opening and Inspirational Talks

Moderator: Karin Gross, Swiss TPH

09:00

Welcome and Setting the Stage, Julia Bohlius, Head of Education, Swiss TPH, and Bruno Broucker, Head of Education, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp, and tropEd President

Transformation in Global Health – Transformational Learning for Global Health

09:30	Beyond the Classroom: Understanding the Field of Practice, Georgina Yeboah, Executive Director AFREhealth, Ghana
09:50	Transformational Learning in the Age of AI: Preparing Humans for an Uncertain Future, Ulf-Daniel Ehlers, Vice-President, Quality and Academic Affairs, Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University, Germany
10:10	Global Health Education: Reflections on three decades of transformation, Núria Casamitjana Badia, IS Global, Spain
10:30	Coffee Break (30 minutes)

Learning Labs

11:00 Parallel Sessions

LL1: Designing Global Health Teaching with AI: From Syllabus to Lesson Plan, Nina Bach, hanketeachertraining - Sem. Room 4

LL2: Immersive Reality Simulations in Global Health Training: Transformative Tool or Expensive Hype? Dewi Jani Puradiredja, BNITM; Christoph Pimmer, Swiss TPH; Jennifer Chipps, University of the Western Cape - Sem. Room 5 + 6

LL3: Fostering 21st-Century Attitudes in Higher Education, Kimon Schneider, ksc consulting; Irenka Krone, CINFO - Sem. Room 2

LL4: Teaching Global Health in the Age of GenAI: Centering Access and Equity, Miroslava Rosenbergerova and Charlotte Krawczyk, Swiss TPH; Barsha Mishra, LMU Münich - Sem. Room 1

12:30 Lunch Break (60 minutes)

30 Years of Networking for Education in International Health - tropEd

Moderator: Dewi Jani Puradiredja, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine

13:30	The Beginning and History of tropEd, Marcel Tanner and Axel Hoffmann, Swiss TPH emeritus
14:10	TropEd Today and in the Future: A Panel Discussion: Simon Overland, University of Bergen; Tatiana Gusti, Universidad Central de Venezuela; Judith Boegli, University of Basel, Institute for Nursing Science; Kaushik Srinivasan, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin; Bruno Broucker, Institute of Tropical Medicine Antwerp
14:45	Coffee Break (30 minutes)

The Future of International/Global Health Education and Learning

Moderator: Christoph Pimmer, Swiss TPH

15:15	Group Discussions
16:00	Moderated Fishbowl / Open Panel
16:45	Closing Words, Markus Eigenmann, Governing Council Member, Canton Baselland, Switzerland; Günter Fröschl, Ludwig Maximilians University Clinic Munich, and tropEd Secretariate; Jürg Utzinger, Director, Swiss TPH
17:00	End of Symposium / Reception in Café Belo