Dubai, UAE - The 3rd FISU-AUSF Strategic Dialogue was held on 6 May in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, featuring a theme of healthy campus. Sheikh Suhail Bin Butty Suhail Al Maktoum, the Secretary General of the UAE Sports Federation for School and University Education Institutions welcome all the participants to Dubai on behalf of the organizing committee. Dr XUE Yanqing, the President of AUSF highlighted the value of sports to the well-being of mind and body of young generation and encouraged more Asian universities take advantage of the FISU Healthy Campus program in his welcome speech.The 3rd FISU-AUSF Strategic Dialogue was held on 6 May in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, featuring a theme of healthy campus. Sheikh Suhail Bin Butty Suhail Al Maktoum, the Secretary General of the UAE Sports Federation for School and University Education Institutions welcome all the participants to Dubai on behalf of the organizing committee. Dr XUE Yanqing, the President of AUSF highlighted the value of sports to the well-being of mind and body of young generation and encouraged more Asian universities take advantage of the FISU Healthy Campus program in his welcome speech.

Fernando Parente, FISU Development & Healthy Campus Director, shared the objective and achievements of FISU's Healthy Campus Programme in Plenary I, as a global initiative launched by FISU for universities worldwide. In his speech, Fernando underlined that in order to develop a healthy campus at local, national, and global levels, leaders must consider interests of all stakeholders. Fernando said: “They must cooperate at different levels, and all must be seen with the same relevance. Helping everyone who is part of the University Sports ecosystem.”

As for Plenary II, representatives of from China, Republic of Korea, Thailand, UAE and ASEAN University Sports Council shared their strategies and best practices in building a healthy campus. The first presenter, Dr. WU Fei from Beijing University, presented their project "Healthy Campus, Active Beida". WU explained that Beijing University leaders have explored multi-level and multi-element ways to improve the "sports and health" of students and faculty at Beijing University.

In addition to holding campus sports events, Beijing University has even launched a "smart campus" digital platform to promote the overall health improvement of students and faculty at multiple levels. A similar use of technology can be seen in the Korean University Sports Board's campaign.

The aim of the campaign is to promote the value of sports and provide opportunities for students to experience a quality life through sports, said Dr Woong Yong HA. Through sports leagues, championships and various social media channels, KUSB is trying to encourage both student athletes and ordinary students to get involved in the world of sports.

As for Dr Phassakon NUNTAPANICH of Ubon Ratchathani Rajabhat University, he mentioned that "a good brain is based on a healthy body". That is why his school provides fitness facilities not only for its students and faculty, but also for the local community. What is interesting about UBRU's Healthy Campus Project is not only its comprehensiveness, but they have also designed their goals in response to UN SDGs 1, 2, 3, 4, 13 and 17.

In the last presentation of Plenary II, Roestam Effendi SIJAR from ASEAN University Sports Council shared AUSC's experience and research findings on "ASEAN student athletes' physical and mental wellbeing concern during COVID-19 pandemic".

Followed by the plenary session, a panel discussion was conducted involving all the guest speakers to further talk about ways and methods to engage whole university community to fall in love with sports and champion health living style.

To conclude all the productive discussions, FISU Acting President Leonz Eder reminded all the participants in his closing remarks that all the dreams, visions and strategies should not just be put on paper, but that all stakeholders should be flexible and keep climate change and sustainable goals in mind when planning for a healthy campus. He said: "Let's put our ideas together to act like a think tank and develop new dreams, new visions and adopt our strategies."

(Source: AUSF Media Committee)