The starting point is that both universities will learn from each other’s projects. At Maastricht University, this concerns the Healthy Primary School of the Future; at Hasselt University, it concerns projects to make school grounds greener.
About the Healthy Primary School of the Future
The aim of the Healthy Primary School of the Future is to offer children a structured daily routine with sufficient time for education, sport, exercise, play and attention to healthy nutrition, so that they experience better physical, emotional and intellectual development. According to the researchers, the GBT project clearly shows that the younger children are when they start learning a healthy lifestyle, the greater the long-term effect. Children also take this healthy behaviour home with them, thereby bringing about behavioural change among their parents. The most vulnerable families in particular benefit greatly from this.
About making school grounds greener
The starting point of the project making school grounds greener is the idea that a green school is a valuable place of rest or habitat for local nature and mitigates the effects of climate change, such as extreme heat and precipitation. A natural school ground offers children more variety and challenge. They can play and develop in many different ways. Because they exercise more, they are healthier. In addition, there is less bullying in a green playground. Children become physically stronger, more socially skilled, more competent in dealing with risks and more self-directed. By designing a playground in a more natural way, you create a rich, stimulating learning environment for nature-rich learning, where every child can discover and develop their talents.
The research will take place from September 2021 to May 2023. The results will be analysed between May 2023 and October 2023. The research is scheduled for completion in November 2023.
The research consortium comprises Prof. Dr Onno Van Schayck, Dr Maartje Willeboordse, Drs Bo van Engelen and Drs Marla Hahnraths from the Department of General Practice at Maastricht University, working together with Dr Silvie Daniels and Prof. Dr Robert Malina from the Environmental Economics Research Group at Hasselt University, Prof. Dr Michelle Plusquin from the Epidemiology Research Group at Hasselt University, and Prof. Dr Piet Stinissen from the Faculty of Medicine at Hasselt University.