The World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Europe is inviting applications for its 2027 Summer School on Systems Thinking and Innovation for the Prevention of Noncommunicable Diseases and a Healthy Ageing Population in the WHO European Region. This specialised summer school will bring together PhD students and early- and mid-career professionals to explore innovative approaches to public health challenges, strengthen their systems-thinking skills, and learn how to translate research into effective health policies.
Taking place in Nice, France, from 20 to 23 July 2027, the programme will combine expert presentations, lectures, workshops, practical exercises and project-based learning. Participants will explore how interconnected social, economic, environmental, institutional and behavioural factors influence noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and healthy ageing.
The summer school is organised by the Division of Prevention and Health Promotion of the WHO Regional Office for Europe, the WHO Collaborating Centre at Université Côte d’Azur, and Ulysseus European University.
Application deadline: 23 November 2026.
The programme is free of charge and includes lunches, daily coffee breaks and a welcome dinner. However, participants must cover their own travel, accommodation and other personal expenses associated with staying in Nice.
WHO Summer School 2027: Key Details
- Programme: 2027 Summer School on Systems Thinking and Innovation for NCD Prevention and Healthy Ageing
- Organisers: WHO Regional Office for Europe, the WHO Collaborating Centre at Université Côte d’Azur, and Ulysseus European University
- Location: Nice, France
- Dates: 20–23 July 2027
- Schedule: 09:00 on 20 July to 14:00 on 23 July 2027
- Format: In-person
- Language: English
- Number of participants: 30
- Target audience: PhD students and early- and mid-career professionals, including researchers, postgraduate students, health practitioners and policymakers
- Main themes: Systems thinking, public health innovation, NCD prevention and control, healthy ageing, policy development and implementation
- Programme fee: Free of charge
- What is covered: Lunch, coffee breaks each day and a welcome dinner on 21 July 2027
- What participants must pay for: Travel, accommodation and other expenses associated with their stay in Nice
- Application deadline: 23 November 2026
- Expected notification of successful applicants: By 18 December 2026
- Certificate: A certificate of participation will be provided
Applicants should review the official announcement for the complete application instructions and any additional requirements.
About the WHO Summer School on Systems Thinking and Innovation
The summer school focuses on a central challenge in public health: understanding why complex health problems persist and how coordinated, evidence-based interventions can address them.
Noncommunicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases, are influenced by more than individual lifestyle choices or the availability of medical treatment. Their causes and consequences are connected to wider systems involving public policy, healthcare, food production and distribution, commercial activities, urban planning, education, employment, social conditions and the physical environment.
For example, obesity cannot be understood solely by examining an individual’s diet or exercise habits. Food prices, advertising, access to nutritious food, opportunities for physical activity, working conditions, household income, social norms and government regulations can all influence behaviour and health outcomes.
These factors interact with one another, sometimes reinforcing existing problems and sometimes creating opportunities for improvement. The summer school will introduce participants to systems-thinking concepts and methods that help make these relationships more visible and support more effective public health responses.
The programme is intended to help participants move beyond examining health challenges in isolation. Instead, participants will learn how to identify relationships between different factors, analyse complex problems, develop innovative responses and consider how research can inform policies that produce sustainable improvements.
An important feature of the summer school is its practical orientation. Participants will engage in hands-on exercises and project-based work, with opportunities to apply systems-thinking approaches to their own projects and professional contexts.
Why Is the Programme Important? Understanding the Challenge of Noncommunicable Diseases
The WHO Regional Office for Europe identifies NCDs as a major cause of death and disability across the Region. Although progress has been made in reducing mortality from some diseases and risk factors, the pace of improvement remains insufficient to meet several agreed global health targets.
The WHO announcement highlights several reasons why stronger prevention strategies and more innovative approaches are needed.
1. Noncommunicable diseases remain a major public health burden
According to the announcement, NCDs account for more than 80% of deaths in the WHO European Region. Cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases contribute substantially to premature mortality and long-term disability.
The announcement also reports that one in five men and one in ten women in the Region die before the age of 70 from major NCDs.
These figures demonstrate why prevention, early intervention, effective health policies and access to quality health services remain important priorities.
2. Many avoidable deaths require stronger prevention and treatment
The WHO announcement estimates that approximately 1.8 million avoidable deaths from NCDs occur annually in the Region.
It states that around 60% of these deaths are associated with preventable risk factors and could be avoided through effective public health interventions. A further 40% are considered treatable through timely access to high-quality health services.
This highlights the importance of combining prevention with effective diagnosis, treatment and healthcare delivery. It also raises questions about how health systems, governments and other sectors can work together to improve outcomes.
3. Overweight and obesity are influenced by interconnected factors
The announcement estimates that almost 60% of adults in the Region live with overweight or obesity. Approximately one in three school-aged children is also affected.
These patterns are influenced by a range of interconnected factors, including food availability, marketing, household resources, economic conditions, social environments and opportunities for physical activity.
Public health interventions may therefore need to address not only individual behaviour but also the environments and systems that influence everyday choices.
Systems thinking can help researchers and policymakers examine these relationships and identify interventions that address several contributing factors together.
4. Tobacco, alcohol and physical inactivity remain important concerns
Insufficient physical activity, tobacco use and alcohol consumption continue to contribute to preventable illness and premature mortality.
Addressing these risk factors may require coordination across health services, education, workplaces, communities, public communication, commercial regulation and other areas of policy.
The summer school will provide a learning environment for considering how such interconnected challenges can be analysed and addressed through systems-based approaches.
5. NCDs also have significant economic consequences
The WHO announcement estimates that productivity losses associated with avoidable NCD mortality amount to approximately US$514 billion annually in the Region.
The impact extends beyond health services. NCDs affect workplaces, household finances, social protection systems, communities, economic productivity and sustainable development.
Prevention is therefore relevant to policymakers and professionals working in public health, economics, social policy, urban development, education and other related fields.
6. Population ageing and wider societal changes create new challenges
Population ageing, demographic change, urbanisation, technological developments, environmental pressures, changing food and commercial environments, and economic uncertainty are reshaping public health needs.
These changes do not occur independently. For example, population ageing can influence demand for healthcare and social support, while urban design can affect mobility and opportunities for physical activity. Technological developments can create new public health tools but may also introduce challenges relating to access, governance and implementation.
Understanding these interactions is important when developing policies that can adapt to changing circumstances and support healthier populations.
What Is Systems Thinking, and Why Does It Matter in Public Health?
Systems thinking is an approach to understanding how different elements interact within a larger system and how those relationships influence outcomes over time.
Instead of examining a single problem or factor in isolation, systems thinking considers the relationships between people, institutions, policies, organisations, resources, technologies, environments and behaviours.
This approach is especially relevant to public health because many health challenges have multiple causes and involve actors with different responsibilities, interests and resources.
An example: Understanding the systems behind obesity
Consider the relationship between food environments and obesity:
- Food availability and prices: The types of food available in a community, their prices and their accessibility can influence purchasing decisions.
- Consumer choices: Individuals make food choices within the economic and social conditions in which they live.
- Dietary patterns: Repeated choices contribute to longer-term dietary patterns.
- Health outcomes: Dietary patterns can influence the risk of obesity and other health conditions.
- Healthcare demand: Increased levels of obesity-related illness can place additional demands on health services.
- Economic consequences: Illness can affect productivity, household resources and public expenditure.
However, this relationship is influenced by other factors. Commercial marketing can affect consumer preferences, government policies can shape food regulation, household income can influence affordability, and urban design can affect opportunities for physical activity.
A systems-thinking approach helps researchers and policymakers consider these relationships together rather than treating each factor as an unrelated problem.
How systems thinking can improve policy decisions
Systems thinking can help professionals:
- Identify relationships between health outcomes and their wider determinants.
- Recognise patterns that contribute to persistent public health problems.
- Understand how interventions in one area may affect other parts of a system.
- Identify opportunities for collaboration between sectors.
- Develop policy scenarios and consider their potential consequences.
- Design interventions that respond to underlying causes rather than symptoms alone.
- Improve the translation of research into practical policies.
- Consider how public health strategies can be implemented and sustained over time.
The WHO summer school is designed to strengthen participants’ ability to apply these principles to NCD prevention, healthy ageing and public health innovation.
What Will Participants Learn?
The summer school aims to build participants’ understanding of systems-thinking theory and develop their ability to use systems-based approaches in practical settings.
Its stated learning objectives include the following.
1. Understand systems-thinking theory, techniques and tools
Participants will explore the main concepts and methods used to understand complex systems. They will learn how systems-based approaches can be applied to public health challenges and how relationships between different factors influence outcomes.
This foundation is intended to help participants assess complex problems more systematically and identify relevant opportunities for intervention.
2. Identify and analyse problems in NCD prevention and healthy ageing
Participants will develop skills in identifying and analysing key problems associated with NCD prevention and healthy ageing.
The programme emphasises the importance of understanding user needs and aspirations when developing solutions. This means considering the experiences and requirements of the people affected by a problem, alongside the wider structures and conditions that shape it.
Such an approach can help professionals develop responses that are more relevant to the communities and populations they serve.
3. Innovate to address public health challenges
The summer school will explore how systems thinking can support innovation in NCD prevention and healthy ageing.
Participants will consider how established approaches can be reviewed, adapted or supplemented by new ideas. The emphasis is on using a clearer understanding of complex problems to develop practical responses.
4. Recognise recurring patterns in complex systems
Complex systems can display recurring patterns that make problems difficult to resolve. Systems thinking offers methods for identifying such patterns and examining how they develop.
Participants will explore systems archetypes and policy scenarios as part of the curriculum. These approaches can help professionals understand why certain problems persist and consider strategies for improving policy design and implementation.
5. Develop skills in translating research into policy
Research findings do not automatically lead to effective public policy. Evidence must be communicated, interpreted and incorporated into decision-making processes, often involving multiple institutions and competing priorities.
The summer school will help participants develop skills for connecting research with policy development and implementation.
This is particularly relevant to researchers and practitioners who want their work to inform public health strategies, strengthen collaboration or contribute to measurable improvements in population health.
Curriculum: Topics Covered During the Summer School
The curriculum is being finalised. The WHO announcement identifies the following areas as topics expected to be covered.
Systems-thinking concepts and methods for NCD prevention and control
Participants will explore concepts and methods for applying systems thinking to the prevention and control of noncommunicable diseases. This will provide a foundation for analysing the interconnected factors that influence health outcomes and public health interventions.
Identifying systems archetypes and developing policy scenarios
Systems archetypes help describe recurring patterns in complex systems. Policy scenarios allow professionals to examine possible courses of action and consider how different decisions may affect outcomes.
These methods can support more systematic planning and help decision-makers anticipate the wider implications of proposed interventions.
Systems-thinking tools in practice
The programme will include practical engagement with systems-thinking tools. This element is intended to help participants move from conceptual understanding towards using relevant methods in real-world public health contexts.
Creating systems-thinking-informed studies
Participants will explore approaches to developing studies informed by systems thinking. This can be useful for researchers seeking to examine relationships between multiple factors rather than focusing exclusively on isolated variables.
Practical training in decision-making tools
The curriculum will include practical training using decision-making tools. Such tools can help professionals organise evidence, assess potential options and support decisions in complex situations.
The specific tools to be used have not yet been confirmed in the announcement.
Policy innovation in public health
This topic will examine innovation in public health policy and how systems-based approaches can contribute to the development and implementation of more effective strategies.
Artificial intelligence opportunities for public health
The curriculum is expected to address opportunities associated with artificial intelligence in public health. The announcement does not specify the particular AI applications, platforms or technical skills that will be covered.
Innovation ecosystems
Participants will also explore innovation ecosystems, which involve the relationships between organisations, professionals, institutions and other actors that contribute to developing and implementing new ideas.
Understanding these relationships can help public health professionals identify opportunities for collaboration and support innovation across sectors.
Because the curriculum is still being finalised, applicants should treat these as planned subject areas rather than a confirmed session-by-session timetable.
Who Should Apply for the WHO Summer School 2027?
The programme is designed for PhD students and early- and mid-career professionals who are interested in systems thinking, public health innovation, NCD prevention and healthy ageing.
The WHO announcement specifically identifies the following groups:
- Researchers.
- PhD students.
- Postgraduate students.
- Health practitioners.
- Policymakers.
- Early-career professionals.
- Mid-career professionals.
Applicants should have an interest in applying systems-thinking and systems-based approaches to strengthen evidence-based policies, improve collaboration across sectors and support more effective policy implementation.
Professionals working in public health, innovation, healthy ageing, NCD prevention or NCD risk factors may be particularly relevant candidates.
The selection process will consider relevant professional experience, education, the applicant’s personal statement and their potential for future collaboration.
The announcement does not provide a detailed list of eligible nationalities, a formal age range, a minimum number of years of work experience or a specific degree requirement for every applicant category. Prospective applicants should consult the official application instructions to establish whether any additional conditions apply.
Location, Dates and Delivery Format
The summer school will be held in person in Nice, France, over four days in July 2027.
The programme is scheduled to begin at 09:00 on 20 July 2027 and conclude at 14:00 on 23 July 2027.
English will be the language of instruction. Applicants should therefore be prepared to participate in English-language presentations, discussions, workshops and practical exercises. The announcement does not specify a formal English-language test or minimum language score.
The programme will accommodate 30 participants, making the selection process important for those who wish to attend.
The in-person format will provide opportunities to engage directly with WHO experts, international specialists and other participants working on related public health challenges. However, the announcement does not confirm that remote participation will be available.
Who Will Teach the Summer School?
The faculty will include WHO experts and leading international experts in areas such as:
- Systems thinking.
- Noncommunicable disease prevention and control.
- Healthy ageing.
- Public health innovation.
- Multistakeholder engagement.
The combination of expertise is intended to connect systems-thinking concepts with practical public health challenges, policy development and collaboration across different sectors.
The announcement does not provide a complete list of individual faculty members. Applicants should consult official programme updates for any further information about speakers, instructors or facilitators.
Is the WHO Summer School 2027 Fully Funded?
The summer school is free of charge, but it is not described as a fully funded programme.
The organisers will provide:
- Participation in the summer school without a programme fee.
- Lunch each day.
- Coffee breaks each day.
- A welcome dinner on 21 July 2027.
Participants must pay for their own:
- Travel to and from Nice, France.
- Accommodation.
- Other costs associated with their stay in Nice.
The announcement does not confirm the availability of travel grants, accommodation assistance, stipends, visa support or reimbursement of other expenses.
Applicants should calculate the likely cost of attending before accepting a place, particularly if they will be travelling internationally. They should also independently check any applicable visa and entry requirements.
How Will Applications Be Selected?
Applications will be reviewed by a selection panel. The announcement identifies several criteria that will inform the selection process.
1. Relevant professional experience
The panel will consider relevant experience in public health, innovation, healthy ageing, NCD prevention or NCD risk factors.
Applicants should clearly describe how their work, research or professional activities relate to the programme’s subject areas.
2. Education
Educational background is also part of the selection criteria. Applicants should accurately present their academic qualifications and relevant studies.
Although the programme is designed for PhD students and early- and mid-career professionals, the announcement does not set out a universal minimum degree requirement beyond describing its intended audience.
3. Experience
The selection panel will consider applicants’ experience in relation to the programme’s aims. Relevant research, professional responsibilities or involvement in public health and related fields may help demonstrate the connection between an applicant’s background and the summer school.
The announcement does not specify a required number of years of experience.
4. Personal statement
The personal statement is one of the stated selection criteria. Applicants should use it to explain their motivation for participating, their interests in systems thinking and public health, and how the programme relates to their current or future work.
A strong statement should be specific and supported by the applicant’s actual experience and goals.
5. Potential for future collaboration
The selection panel will also consider applicants’ potential for future collaboration.
Applicants may wish to explain how they could use the knowledge gained through the summer school in their research, professional activities, institutional work or collaboration with others. They should be realistic and specific rather than making promises they cannot substantiate.
How to Apply for the WHO Summer School 2027
Interested applicants should use the official WHO announcement and its application link to access the application process.
Step 1: Read the official announcement
Review the programme objectives, intended audience, curriculum, dates, location, financial arrangements and selection criteria.
Step 2: Assess your suitability
Consider whether your academic background, research interests or professional experience relate to public health, NCD prevention, healthy ageing, innovation or systems thinking.
The programme is designed for PhD students and early- and mid-career professionals, including researchers, postgraduate students, health practitioners and policymakers.
Step 3: Prepare your application
Pay attention to the selection criteria, particularly relevant professional experience, education, experience, your personal statement and potential for future collaboration.
The supplied announcement does not provide a complete list of required documents or a detailed breakdown of the application form. Follow the requirements displayed in the official application process rather than assuming that a particular document is mandatory.
Step 4: Explain your motivation clearly
In your personal statement, explain why the programme is relevant to your work or research. Describe the public health challenges you are interested in and how systems-thinking approaches could support your goals.
Where possible, connect your motivation to practical questions involving NCD prevention, healthy ageing, public health innovation or policy implementation.
Step 5: Submit before the deadline
Submit your application no later than 23 November 2026. Avoid waiting until the final day, and check the official application instructions for the applicable submission time and any additional requirements.
Step 6: Monitor the outcome
Successful applicants are expected to be informed by 18 December 2026. Monitor the email address used in your application and check for any communication from the organisers.
Start Your Application HERE
Important Dates to Remember
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Application deadline | 23 November 2026 |
| Expected notification to successful applicants | By 18 December 2026 |
| Summer school begins | 20 July 2027, at 09:00 |
| Welcome dinner | 21 July 2027 |
| Summer school concludes | 23 July 2027, at 14:00 |
Applicants should rely on the official WHO announcement for any updates to these dates.
Why You Should Consider Applying
The WHO Summer School 2027 may be especially valuable for professionals and researchers who want to understand how complex public health challenges can be addressed through coordinated, evidence-based and innovative approaches.
Its emphasis on systems thinking offers an opportunity to explore how health outcomes are shaped by relationships between individuals, institutions, policies, commercial environments, social conditions and health services.
For researchers, the programme may help strengthen approaches to studying complex public health problems and translating research into policy. For health practitioners, it may provide new perspectives on the wider factors influencing prevention and service delivery. For policymakers, it offers a framework for considering how interventions can be coordinated across sectors and implemented more effectively.
The practical workshops and project-based activities are intended to help participants connect concepts with their own professional contexts. The opportunity to learn from WHO experts and international specialists may also support professional exchange and future collaboration.
However, prospective applicants should carefully consider the in-person format and personal costs. While the programme itself is free, travel, accommodation and other expenses in Nice are not covered according to the published announcement.
Click HERE to learn more about the WHO Europe Summer School 2027 on Systems Thinking and Innovation for NCD Prevention and Healthy Ageing.
Conclusion
The WHO Europe Summer School 2027 on Systems Thinking and Innovation for NCD Prevention and Healthy Ageing is a specialised learning opportunity for PhD students and early- and mid-career professionals interested in improving public health through systems-based approaches.
Taking place in Nice, France, from 20 to 23 July 2027, the programme will cover systems-thinking methods, NCD prevention and control, healthy ageing, policy scenarios, decision-making tools, public health innovation, artificial intelligence opportunities and innovation ecosystems. Participants will engage in lectures, workshops, practical training and project-based learning led by WHO experts and international specialists.
The summer school is free of charge and includes lunches, coffee breaks and a welcome dinner. Participants must nevertheless budget for their own travel, accommodation and other expenses. A certificate of participation will be provided.
Eligible and interested candidates should carefully review the official selection criteria and prepare an application that demonstrates their relevant experience, educational background, motivation and potential for future collaboration.
The application deadline is 23 November 2026. Applicants should submit their applications before the deadline and consult the official WHO announcement for the application link and any updates.
Official application information: https://www.who.int/europe/news-room/articles/item/call-for-applications–2027-summer-school—systems-thinking-and-innovation-for-the-prevention-of-noncommunicable-diseases-and-a-healthy-ageing-population-in-the-who-european-region
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