What is the Occupational Health Management at the University?
Health in the context of the University Jena
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For us, a healthy university means a healthy system that includes healthy people, healthy interaction and health-orientated working conditions. Such a system can be positively influenced and supported by a living culture of prevention, which represents a kind of "health-orientated DNA" of the University of Jena.
The design dimensions of health include physical as well as psychological and social aspects. The health competence of employees is taken into account as well as the working conditions and organisational conditions at the University of Jena. Our four action fields result from this understanding:
vier bunte Sprechblasen mit verschiedenen Icons
Graphic: Universität Jena
bunte Sprechblase
Graphic: Uni JenaEquivalent to OHM, Student Health Management (SHM) de focusses on the well-being and performance of students. OHM and SHM are to be embedded in an overarching health strategy at the University of Jena as part of University Health Management (UHM) de. In addition, the UHM will coordinate activities that encompass both target groups equally. The umbrella around SHM and OHM as well as the holistic and integrative orientation of health at the university - these aspects are therefore hidden behind the abbreviation UHM. All three subject areas are funded by AOK PLUS until February 2025.
OHM is the systematic and sustainable effort to design health-promoting structures and processes and the competence of employees to adopt responsible, health-conscious behaviour.
At the university, OHM is based on three pillars.
1. occupational health and safety de, in addition to compliance with legal health protection requirements, also addresses issues such as screen glasses, noise and light as well as ergonomic aids.
2. company integration management (BEM) de provides support in returning to work after a long period of absence due to illness. BEM also aims to prevent renewed incapacity for work and to maintain the job or avoid incapacity for work.
3) Workplace health promotion (WHP de) at the University of Jena works to optimise the general health conditions, both in terms of behavioural and relationship prevention. From further training programmes and action days to ergonomic advisory consultations, the University of Jena offers employees various opportunities to promote their health.
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Systematic approach
Our activities to strengthen a healthy University of Jena are based on what we know. On the one hand, this includes the latest scientific findings on work and health. On the other hand, we want to regularly understand exactly what the situation is like at our university. To this end, a health survey of all employees at the University of Jena is conducted every three years. This project is led by the (university) chair of Work, Industrial and Organisational Psychology. It takes into account factors that influence health and the current state of health of the respondents. Based on the results, we derive measures together with target groups and co-operation areas, which are then implemented and evaluated. This process represents a permanent optimisation cycle that guides our OHM activities.
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Guidelines and networks
The University of Jena is part of the "Healthy Institutions of Higher Education Thuringia"External link exchange forum, which has developed 10 guiding principles for the university's health management. These include shaping a diversity-orientated health policy and culture, networking the key players of a healthy institution of higher education and a sustainable approach. The complete code can be found hereExternal link.
The OHM is also a member of the External linkworking group for health-promoting institutions of higher education External linkof the nationwide competence centre. The quality criteria and strategic papers developed and used can be found hereExternal link.
We have also established international contacts as part of the co-operation between Health Management and the European University Alliance EC2U de.
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Communication
Transparency, information and dialogue are of great importance to us. We therefore endeavour to always identify the appropriate communication channels, formats and content for our topics. In cooperation with Student Health Management, we have developed a OHM-specific communication strategy. Examples of channels and formats include Newsletters (e.g. internal news, staff council newsletters), presentations, publications/reports, emails, print media, social media (e.g. YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn), websites and merchandise.
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Regular and ongoing activities
In addition to needs-based measures, the OHM is active in many areas that are of more or less permanent importance. These tasks include
- Planning, implementing and reviewing measures in our four action fields
- Co-operation with company integration management, occupational safety and the Occupational Health Service
- Organising our own action days
- Management of the OHM steering committee, membership of the student health management steering committee and various working groups/groups
- Health-specific programme coordination for tenders in the Qualifications Portal External link and in employee sports de
- Provision of at least 100 starting places for the Jena company run
- Co-operation within and outside the University of Jena: functional areas, teaching, research, networks (regional, national and international)
- Advisory consultations for university members with health-related enquiries
- Controlling: permanent formative and summative review, preparation of health reports
- Participation in other action days/events
- Application for health-related awards/seals
- Supervision of internships in OHM/ UHM
Occupational Health Management