LUNEX Announces Partnership with Université dans la Nature

LUNEX University has announced it entered into a partnership with Université dans la Nature (UdN).

LUNEX University, the International University of Health, Exercise and Sport, announced it aims to expand its educational and research offerings while prioritising staff and student well-being. According to LUNEX University, the public remains largely unaware of the thousands of international studies which have consistently revealed the profound impact of nature on our mental and physical health over the past 40 years and medical and health education programmes often failed to integrate this knowledge into their practices.

Université dans la Nature is a non-profit organisation aiming to share the positive impacts of nature with the public through science-based programmes “that seek to reconnect humans and nature in a positive and experiential way”. LUNEX University reported that UdN’s ethos resonated with their goals, which made the organisation an “ideal” partner in their pursuit to integrate nature's benefits into education, research and internal HR policies.

UdN will henceforth conduct workshops for LUNEX University staff and management, focusing on team development through nature connections. These concepts will be incorporated into pertinent courses, enhancing the personal growth of students, LUNEX University added. Furthermore, the collaborators will collectively engage in interdisciplinary research endeavours, crafting innovative, best practice models that aim to work with emerging technology and problem-solving methods.

The partnership’s official announcement took place on Thursday 21 September 2023, during Healthcare Week Luxembourg. Prof Dr Roberto Meroni, Associate Professor in Physiotherapy at LUNEX University, alongside Raymond Schadeck and Julie Schadeck, President of the Board of Directors and General Coordinator of Université dans la Nature, respectively, unveiled this new alliance.

"We talk so much about the need to heal nature, but what if we started to focus on how nature can heal us, with positive benefits for individuals and a demand for health care?" asked Raymond Schadeck during the conference. Julie Schadeck added: "Governments, organisations, research institutes and others are failing to benefit from how connecting with nature enhances mental and physical health. Our partnership with LUNEX University is an important step towards correcting this imbalance."

Assoc Prof Dr Roberto Meroni expressed his enthusiasm for the partnership, saying: "Innovation is all about implementing new ideas to improve work processes, boost efficiency and increase the well-being of our societies. Working with the Université dans la Nature is providing us with a deeper understanding and greater knowledge to offer a truly holistic approach to these questions. Our Bachelor’s and Master’s students, as well as our staff, are benefitting. Everyone is."