ERASMUS + EDU-FIT PROJECT: MULTIPLIER EVENT AT THE FACULTY OF arts, University of maribor

The Faculty of Arts, University of Maribor hosted a multiplicative event at the final phase of the international project EDU-FIT: INCLUSIVE SOCIAL EDUCATION FIT FOR HEALTHY LIFE-STYLE – PREVENTING OBESITY IN YOUNG ADULTS on the 2nd of September. The project was coordinated by assoc. Prof. Dr. Natalia Kaloh Vid (Faculty of Arts), Prof. Dr. Vlasta Kučiš (Faculty of Arts), Prof. Dr. Dušanka Mičetić Turk (Faculty of Medicine), Prof. Dr. Jasna Potočnik Topler (Faculty of tourism) and colleagues from partner institutions from Croatia, Portugal, Slovakia and Norway.

The EDU-FIT project addresses current issues related to a healthy lifestyle and a balanced diet, while also focusing on A respectful (multilingual) communication  in the field of obesity. The main goal of the project was to create sustainable methods and practices for the prevention of obesity in young people and for the development of a healthy lifestyle in students and other target groups.

As part of the project, the project partners developed a multilingual interactive manual with recommendations for lifestyle changes that lead to the prevention of overweight. They also prepared a multilingual curriculum and teaching materials for an innovative course to raise students' awareness of a healthy lifestyle.

The multiplier attracted 75 students and professors from 11 countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Croatia, Poland, Romania, North Macedonia, Slovakia, Serbia and Slovenia), who attended  lectures, workshops and round tables. The activities focused on a healthy diet, the importance of physical activity, how to cope with stress during studies, and also addressed the importance of sensitive communication in the field of obesity. Dr. Maja Baretić (KBC Rebro and University of Zagreb) presented the importance of developing healthy life-style habits and coping with stress during studies. Dr. Sanja Seljan (University of Zagreb) spoke about respectful communication and multilingual terminology in the field of obesity. The nutritionist mag. Zrinka Šmuljić had a workshop on traditional healthy meals in various countries. The students learned how to prepare traditional dishes according to balanced nutrition rules. Afterwards, the students also cooked! In cooperation with the Slovenian Celiac Society, they prepared chocolate brownies from buckwheat flour at a cooking workshop led by a renowned expert in the field of gluten-free food, Ms. Vesna Hedl, and thus learned that health can also be sweet.

The students shared their reflections on the event:

Nika Ros (University of Maribor): »I found communication and expressions related to overweight people interesting. It was also interesting to refresh our knowledge of healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle. The day was brightened up by a cooking workshop.”

Sabina Pošteková and Nela Malcová (University of Bratislava): “We liked the cooking workshop the most, as we prepared delicious pastries. We felt very welcome in Maribor and were happy to get to know Slovenian cuisine.”

Paweł Eliasz Starczak (Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań): “The project represents a source of practical information about healthy eating and simple tips on how we, as students, can take care of our health. We learned how to prepare healthy meals based on traditional dishes from our countries and how to include enough physical activity in our daily routine. Workshops like this one contribute greatly to making students aware of the importance of not only physical, but also mental health.”

The EDU-FIT project contributes to the high-quality knowledge and sustainable practices, which help to create a healthy, inclusive, digitally accessible and active society, thus significantly affecting the improvement of the quality of life of European citizens. All key documents and project results are available on the project website (https://sites.google.com/g.uporto.pt/edu-fit/home) in English, Slovenian, Croatian, Slovak, Portuguese and Norwegian.