The 2026 Summer School in Nice titled “Systems thinking and innovation for the prevention of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and a healthy ageing population in the WHO European Region”, organized by the Division of Prevention and Health Promotion of WHO/Europe, Université Côte d’Azur and Ulysseus European University, will explore how systems thinking and innovation can help address the complex and interconnected health challenges across the WHO European Region.
NCDs – including cardiovascular diseases, cancers, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases — remain the biggest health threat in the WHO European Region accounting for 80% of all deaths. At the same time, the Region is experiencing rapid population ageing, with 1 in 3 people here projected to be over 60 years of age by 2050. This creates new challenges for health systems, communities and policy-makers, requiring new tools and approaches.
The summer school is designed for researchers, postgraduate students, health practitioners and policy-makers.
The course will introduce participants to systems-thinking methods and practical tools that can help identify how risk factors, health systems, social conditions, commercial influences and demographic change interact. It will focus on how these approaches can support more effective policy design, strengthen multisectoral collaboration and identify leverage points for action.
Main topics of the summer school:
- systems-thinking concepts and methods for NCD prevention and control
- systems archetypes and policy scenario development
- systems-thinking tools in practice
- systems-thinking-informed study design
- practical training on decision-making tools
- policy innovation in public health
- innovation ecosystems.
The programme will combine lectures, workshops and practical training using the latest data and real-life scenarios.
Participants will also have the opportunity to apply systems-thinking approaches to their own projects and professional contexts.
By introducing participants to new tools, methods and evidence, the event will help strengthen the skills and capacity of current and emerging health experts and decision-makers to advance NCD prevention, promote healthy ageing and create a healthier future across the WHO European Region.