The Global Health Symposium 2025, held from April 20, 2025, to May 02, 2025, was an enriching and immersive event. The Symposium brought together students of global and public health from the partner institutions – Prasanna School of Public Health (PSPH), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Manipal; Maastricht University (Netherlands), and Thammasat University (Thailand), for two weeks of academic engagement, intercultural exchange, and experiential learning under the theme Bridging Different Worlds.

The programme was designed to foster collaboration among international student teams grouped into thematic clusters: Traditional Health Practices, Reproductive and Child Health, Infectious Disease Surveillance, and One Health. These groups engaged in a structured Field Orientation that combined classroom learning with field-based research. Students conducted literature reviews, stakeholder interviews, and community visits to various health institutions and service centres across Udupi and Manipal. Each group developed a system map representing the functioning and interconnections within their assigned area of the Indian health system. These efforts culminated in final presentations and comprehensive reports that proposed actionable insights and recommendations.

A highlight of the Symposium was the Weekend Conference, which featured individual student research presentations and keynote and plenary sessions by leading experts. Distinguished speakers included Prof Dr Cherian Varghese (Director, PSPH, MAHE, Manipal), Maj Gen (Prof) Atul Kotwal, Ms Bhargavi Rao, and Dr Shamee Shastry, who shared insights on noncommunicable diseases, innovations in primary healthcare, sustainable urban waste management, and the importance of blood donation and transfusion services, respectively. The conference served as a platform for critical academic dialogue, peer-to-peer learning, and faculty engagement.

A Mock World Health Assembly (WHA) Session was held during which the students participating in the symposium formed teams and enacted the representation from various regions of the world regarding health-related matters to demonstrate the health-related resolutions and policies. About 70 students participated in this session. 

Beyond academics, the Symposium integrated several optional workshops that gave students a cultural and creative experience. These included sessions on Indian dance, yoga, hand art, and traditional Indian cooking, each offering hands-on engagement with India’s cultural heritage. Participants also enjoyed two evening excursions to the beach, providing informal settings for reflection and community-building. Additionally, a day-long excursion to key regional landmarks offered students a glimpse into the area’s religious and architectural diversity.

The Symposium concluded with a cultural evening, where students and faculty celebrated the friendships, learning, and experiences gained over the course of the programme. The event underscored the value of intercultural understanding, teamwork, and systems thinking in shaping the next generation of global health leaders.

The Global Health Symposium 2025 successfully embodied its theme of Bridging Different Worlds, offering a unique blend of academic rigour and cultural immersion, and further strengthening the longstanding collaboration between the partner institutions.   

About 160 students participated in the Global Health Symposium 2025.