The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe has opened applications for its 2027 summer school on systems thinking, public health innovation, noncommunicable disease (NCD) prevention, and healthy ageing. The programme will take place in Nice, France, from July 20 to July 23, 2027, bringing together researchers, health professionals, postgraduate students, and policymakers interested in improving public health strategies.
Applications must be submitted by November 23, 2026. The summer school will be offered free of charge, although participants must cover their travel, accommodation, and other personal expenses.
The initiative aims to strengthen practical skills in systems thinking and help participants develop innovative approaches to preventing noncommunicable diseases and promoting healthy ageing across the WHO European Region.
WHO Summer School 2027: Key Details
The WHO summer school will combine expert presentations, interactive workshops, practical exercises, and project-based learning. Participants will explore how systems thinking can help address complex public health challenges and translate research evidence into effective policies.
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Here are the essential details applicants need to know:
- Programme: Systems thinking and innovation for NCD prevention and healthy ageing
- Location: Nice, France
- Dates: July 20–23, 2027
- Application deadline: November 23, 2026
- Delivery format: In-person
- Language: English
- Available places: 30 participants
- Programme fee: Free of charge
- Selection notification: By December 18, 2026
- Certificate: Certificate of participation provided
The programme is organized by the Division of Prevention and Health Promotion at WHO/Europe, the WHO Collaborating Centre at Université Côte d’Azur, and Ulysseus European University.
Who Can Apply for the WHO Summer School?
The WHO summer school is designed for PhD students and early- and mid-career professionals working in or interested in public health, disease prevention, innovation, and healthy ageing.
Potential applicants include researchers, postgraduate students, healthcare practitioners, and policymakers seeking to improve their understanding of complex health challenges.
Applicants with relevant professional experience in public health, noncommunicable disease prevention, NCD risk factors, healthy ageing, or innovation may be particularly well positioned for consideration.
The selection panel will assess applicants based on their education, professional experience, personal statement, and potential for future collaboration.
Because only 30 participants will be admitted, interested candidates should prepare their applications carefully and submit them before the November 23, 2026 deadline.
What Will Participants Learn?
The WHO summer school will focus on developing practical systems-thinking skills that can be applied to real-world public health challenges.
The curriculum is being finalized but is expected to cover several important topics.
1. Systems thinking for NCD prevention
Participants will explore systems-thinking concepts and methods to understand the interconnected factors contributing to noncommunicable diseases. This approach considers how policies, behaviours, institutions, economic conditions, and social environments influence health outcomes.
2. Identifying complex public health challenges
The programme will help participants identify key problems affecting NCD prevention and healthy ageing. They will learn to examine underlying causes, recognize patterns, and develop solutions that respond to people’s needs.
3. Systems tools and policy scenarios
Participants will explore systems archetypes, practical analytical tools, and policy scenarios. These methods can help policymakers understand potential consequences before implementing public health interventions.
4. Research and evidence-based policymaking
The summer school will emphasize translating research findings into practical policies. Participants will examine how evidence can inform decisions, strengthen collaboration, and improve the implementation of public health strategies.
5. Public health innovation and artificial intelligence
Other expected topics include innovation ecosystems, decision-making tools, systems-informed studies, and opportunities for artificial intelligence in public health.
Through practical training and project-based exercises, participants will have opportunities to apply systems thinking to challenges relevant to their professional work.
Why Systems Thinking Matters for Public Health
Noncommunicable diseases remain a major public health challenge across the WHO European Region. According to the information provided by WHO/Europe, NCDs account for more than 80% of deaths in the Region.
Cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes, and chronic respiratory diseases contribute substantially to premature mortality and disability.
Many of these conditions are associated with preventable risk factors, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, and overweight or obesity.
However, these risk factors cannot always be addressed effectively through isolated interventions.
For example, dietary habits can be influenced by food prices, advertising, household income, school environments, commercial practices, and government regulations. These factors interact and can affect long-term health outcomes.
Systems thinking helps researchers and policymakers examine these connections rather than treating each factor independently.
By understanding how different parts of society influence health, public health professionals can design more coordinated interventions, improve policy implementation, and identify opportunities for sustainable change.
The WHO summer school aims to build these skills and encourage broader use of systems-based approaches in NCD prevention.
Programme Costs and Financial Support
The WHO summer school will be provided free of charge. The programme fee includes lunch and coffee breaks each day, as well as a welcome dinner scheduled for July 21, 2027.
However, participants must pay for their own travel to Nice, accommodation, and any additional expenses associated with their stay.
Applicants should therefore consider their travel arrangements and accommodation costs before accepting a place.
The absence of a programme fee may make the opportunity attractive to eligible researchers, health practitioners, and policymakers seeking specialized training in systems thinking and public health innovation.
How to Apply for the WHO Summer School 2027
Interested candidates should consult the official WHO/Europe announcement and follow the application instructions provided through the programme’s application link.
Applicants should ensure that their educational background, relevant professional experience, and personal statement clearly demonstrate their interest in systems thinking, NCD prevention, or healthy ageing.
The application deadline is November 23, 2026, and successful applicants are expected to be notified by December 18, 2026.
Since the programme is limited to 30 participants, candidates should avoid waiting until the final day to submit their applications.
Applicants should also verify the official application requirements and any supporting documents requested before completing the process.
WHO Summer School 2027: Why This Opportunity Matters
The WHO summer school offers an opportunity to develop practical expertise in systems thinking, public health innovation, and evidence-based policymaking.
As populations age and health systems face increasing pressure, public health professionals need approaches that account for the connections between healthcare, economic conditions, social environments, and government policies.
By bringing together participants from relevant professional backgrounds, the programme seeks to strengthen collaboration and encourage innovative solutions to complex health challenges.
For researchers, postgraduate students, healthcare practitioners, and policymakers, the training could provide useful tools for improving NCD prevention strategies and supporting healthier ageing.
Eligible candidates interested in the WHO summer school should review the official announcement, prepare their applications, and submit them before November 23, 2026.
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