From April 20 to 24, 2026, the Department of Public Health at the University of Szeged’s Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School hosted the EUGLOH Living Lab international course Serious Games as a Global Health Education Tool. Developed in collaboration with the University of Porto and Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, the program explores how gamification can support global health education and inspire innovative thinking.
The Serious Game Challenge initiative engages students in addressing some of today’s most pressing global health challenges through innovative, practice-based learning enhanced by gamification. Launched in 2024, the project held its first highly successful course in Munich in autumn 2025. Building on that momentum, Szeged became the next host city in 2026, bringing together students and experts from across Europe.
The course welcomed 19 students from six EUGLOH partner universities, who worked together in interdisciplinary teams. Focusing on urgent global health issues – including air pollution, food safety, zoonotic diseases, mental health, vaccine hesitancy, and antimicrobial resistance – participants applied serious game design methodologies to develop engaging game prototypes aimed at educating the public, raising awareness, and promoting prevention. Their creative solutions demonstrated the potential of game-based learning to encourage healthier choices, make complex health topics more accessible, and foster meaningful community engagement.
The course was led by faculty members from the Department of Public Health at SZTE’s Albert Szent-Györgyi Medical School: Prof. Edit Paulik, Dr. Andrea Szabó, Dr. Zsuzsanna Máté, and Dr. Mária Kucsera. Over the past two years, they have played a key role in developing the EUGLOH Serious Game Challenge while also mentoring participating students throughout the project.
By combining interdisciplinary teamwork with hands-on innovation, the Living Lab created a dynamic environment where students could transform ideas into solutions with real-world relevance. The initiative reflects the University of Szeged’s commitment to experiential learning and international collaboration, equipping students with the skills and perspectives needed to address tomorrow’s global challenges. Through programs like this, the university continues to nurture creative, engaged, and globally minded thinkers capable of making a meaningful impact in an increasingly interconnected world.
The Living Lab in Szeged exemplified the broader mission of EUGLOH, the European University Alliance for Global Health, which brings together nine leading European universities to advance collaboration in education, research, and innovation. By promoting student mobility, interdisciplinary learning, and international cooperation, EUGLOH equips students to engage with complex global challenges and contribute to innovative solutions that can make a lasting impact on society.
Source: SZTE Directorate for Academic Affairs
