The Global Health Diasporas Opening Week and Kick-off Meeting was held from 12 to 19 July 2026 at Fulda University of Applied Sciences, Germany, marking the official launch of the Volkswagen Foundation-funded research project, Global Health Diasporas: How Mobile Health Professionals Abroad Improve Health of Minority Groups in Communities in Colombia, Ghana and Sri Lanka. The project is implemented through an international collaboration led by Fulda University of Applied Sciences in partnership with the School of Public Health, University for Development Studies, Ghana, Institute of History, Theory and History of Medicine, University of Giessen, Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka, and the Institute of Public Health, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Colombia. As part of the programme, three young researchers from the Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna, participated in the Fulda International Summer University (ISU 2026), engaging in interdisciplinary learning, research training, and international academic exchange. The Opening Week included an official opening ceremony, research management workshops, networking activities, the two-day Global Health Diasporas Conference, and an academic visit to Berlin.
The conference provided an excellent platform for sharing research experiences, discussing diaspora engagement in global health, and strengthening partnerships among international collaborators. During the programme, participants attended workshops on research governance, data protection, financial management, international cooperation, and visual research. In addition, representatives of the University of Jaffna prepared and presented a poster showcasing the University’s academic excellence, research capacity, and international collaborations during the Mayor’s Reception at the City Castle of Fulda, Germany. The poster attracted considerable interest from participants and served as an excellent opportunity to promote the University of Jaffna while strengthening its international visibility.
The programme concluded with an academic visit to Berlin, including visits to the Charité Museum of Medical History, the German Bundestag, and sites representing diaspora communities, including the Sri Ganesha Hindu Temple and Mayurapathi Murugan Temple, Berlin. These activities provided participants with valuable insights into the historical foundations of global health, health policy, and the cultural and social dimensions of diaspora communities in Europe.
Overall, the Opening Week significantly enhanced research capacity, strengthened international academic collaboration, expanded professional networks, and reinforced the Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna’s partnership with leading international institutions. The knowledge and connections established during the programme will contribute to the successful implementation of the Global Health Diasporas project and future collaborative research initiatives.
