Alfonso X el Sabio University (UAX) is taking another step forward in its commitment to sustainability and global health through a leading educational model in Spain that combines science, innovation and environmental responsibility. During the first Sustainable Health Conference, the institution announced the incorporation of Sustainable Health teaching content into all UAX healthcare degree programmes, comprising both theoretical and practical elements, which aim to train professionals who are aware of the impact of the environment on their patients’ health and conditions, as well as the harm that the healthcare sector itself inflicts on the health of the planet.
This commitment to a holistic education places UAX at the forefront of healthcare education, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the One Health approach, which integrates human, animal and environmental health as an interdependent whole. “We want our students to understand that caring for patients also means caring for the planet. Sustainability is an essential professional competence for 21st-century healthcare professionals, ” explains Aida Suárez, One Health Director at the UAX Educational Group and Dean of the Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences at UAX.
The academic programme designed by UAX incorporates specific training in sustainable health across all degree programmes in the healthcare sector and has used the ‘Climate Competencies Document for Healthcare Professionals’ as a reference for developing its training programme; this document sets out the knowledge, attitudes and skills required to incorporate sustainability into clinical practice. Half of this training will be common to all degree programmes, whilst the other half will be tailored to the specific requirements of each specialism. For example, Psychology students will address the impact of climate change on mental health, Pharmacy students will study the development of sustainable medicines, and Nutrition students will learn to design healthy and environmentally friendly diets.
“The climate crisis is also a public health crisis, and healthcare professionals must be prepared to tackle it. Our aim is to contribute to a patient-centred, zero-emission healthcare system, ” explains Alfonso Bermejo, Head of Sustainable Health at the Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences at Alfonso X el Sabio University (UAX).
UAX’s international commitment to sustainable health
UAX has become the first university in Madrid and the fourth in Spain to join the European Network for Climate and Health Education (ENCHE). This international network is led by the University of Glasgow and supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO). It currently brings together more than 30 European universities committed to integrating climate change into health education. By joining, UAX strengthens its international standing and its leading role in sustainable health education.
Coordinated by the Global Consortium on Climate and Health Education (GCCHE), ENCHE promotes the exchange of teaching materials, the development of educational standards and academic cooperation to move towards more resilient and sustainable health systems.
A green virtual hospital connected to real-world healthcare
UAX’s commitment to sustainability is also reflected in its Virtual Simulation Hospital, which has upgraded its facilities this academic year to offer a more advanced, immersive learning experience that is closely linked to current clinical practice. The Virtual Simulation Hospital thus ensures it continues to offer cutting-edge technology that enables students to practise clinical, communication and emotional skills in a safe and sustainable environment.
Key innovations include the monitoring of vital signs via virtual reality, digital clinical assessment using a laryngoscope, AI-assisted communication, and augmented reality with the Merge Cube, which facilitates anatomical exploration and clinical decision-making. These improvements reinforce an effective training model that prepares students for clinical placements in real-world settings whilst, at the same time, familiarising them with the technologies and values that will shape the future of the healthcare sector.
The Virtual Simulation Hospital is also moving towards a ‘green hospital’ model, incorporating measures for energy efficiency, responsible consumption and sustainable waste management. Its facilities thus promote practical training in human health through a ‘One Health’ approach, integrating sustainability into every stage of the learning process. In this way, students, having received theoretical training in sustainable health—both general and specific to each degree programme—apply the principles of sustainable health through simulated scenarios that replicate real-life situations in the healthcare setting.
The combination of theoretical knowledge and clinical practice, aligned with industry trends such as digital health and sustainable health, fulfils UAX’s aim of training healthcare professionals with a global perspective and skills tailored to the sector’s real needs.
