Significance and Potential of the International Certification System ‘Healthy Campus’

Abstract

  In Japan, laws such as the School Health and Safety Act and the School Environmental Health Standards have been established concerning the health management of students. These regulations set standards for health management operations, health examinations, prevention of infectious diseases, school doctors, hygiene environments, and other aspects, ensuring a certain level is maintained at all universities. However, there are few universities in Japan that engage in awareness-raising and promotion activities for the local community beyond the universityʼs boundaries. On the other hand, overseas, initiatives that consider not only improving the physical and mental health of university students and staff but also strengthening the sustainability of the local community and the broader societal ecosystem and economy have become increasingly popular since around 2015. Since 2020, the International University Sports Federation has launched the Healthy Campus certification system. However, Japanese universities have not been actively involved or participated in the global trends, and there isnʼt much information available. In this roundtable discussion, we will assess the current situation and then discuss the significance and potential of the Healthy Campus certification system for Japanese universities.