Communications and Marketing
Anne Welzel: For more health in everyday university life
Programming websites, designing posters, editing videos: Anne Welzel's professional life today has little to do with the content of her training. As a teenager, she moved from Schleswig-Holstein to the Rhineland and, after a brief diversions to study computer engineering ("too technical"), completed her training as a design technician in Bonn. However, an experience during her internship made her quickly turn her back on the service sector: "I was working for a political magazine at the time, where the editor dictated to me in minute detail how I had to design the front page. The result went against all design guidelines and made me want to take more responsibility," says Welzel. She changed tack and shortly afterwards began her Business Management studies at H-BRS.
The bachelor's thesis as a stepping stone to a career at H-BRS
After a break due to the birth of her two children, it was her bachelor's thesis in 2017 that finally opened up a new career perspective. In her thesis, she examined whether the campus could be redesigned to make it more inviting. The model at the time was a square in the spa town of Bad Salzuflen, which was to be recreated on the H-BRS-campus. Even back then, the idea was to make life more pleasant for people at the university. The project was not realised at the time, but with her thematic focus and her way of working, Welzel recommended herself to her supervisor at the time, Professor Theo Peters, for a position in the new "Gesunde Hochschule" project.
It soon became clear that Welzel and H-BRS were a good fit. The research assistant still values the university as an employer where you can constantly develop: "If I don't know my way around a subject, I can just go to the library and read up on it. That and the many other offers surrounding my professional life cannot be provided by a normal employer," says Welzel. At the same time, the team's programmes are very well received. There are now courses every day, from sports programmes such as circuit training or body shape to relaxation and meditation courses.
Connected to the needs of employees and students
"Our courses are actually always full. This means that we have an average of 160 to 180 registrations per course period. It's not just employees who can attend one course per week during their working hours, but also students," says Welzel. In addition to the courses, Gesunde Hochschule also offers workshops: "In November, we have a month of activities called YOUvember. It's all about taking a little more care of yourself. With our workshops, we want to specifically strengthen mental health and improve resilience and stress management. All of this is always done in a way that adds value for employees and students," says Welzel.
To ensure this, Welzel and her colleague Rebecca Komp must always be close to the needs of the university community. in 2019 and 2021, the project team conducted university-wide surveys of employees and students. They identified a need for action, particularly in the areas of sleep, active relaxation in leisure time, nutrition and presenteeism, i.e. the phenomenon of employees turning up to work despite being ill. "Based on the survey, we were able to create targeted offers for university staff. But of course this is not the only source of information," says the research assistant.
An ongoing dialogue is also important: "I almost always take something away for my work from conversations with employees. And I find it very fulfilling when this results in something that helps people," she says.
In terms of content, she was already prepared for her later role as a child: "My mum is a yoga teacher. Conscious relaxation and lots of sport and exercise have always been important parts of my life," recalls the 41-year-old, who was a cheerleader for her local basketball club as a teenager.
Since July, the Gesunde Hochschule has now left project status and will remain a permanent part of H-BRS (german). The team will therefore continue to help bring more health into the everyday lives of employees and students.
Text: Pascal Schröder
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