Our work on SDG Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing
Learn about our recent progress and updates on how we're contributing to SDG 3: Good Health and Wellbeing.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was adopted in 2015 by all United Nations member states. It provides a blueprint for peace and prosperity for people and the planet.
Find out more about our work across all the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
About Good Health and Wellbeing
Ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all at all ages.
Research
Stirling’s global research tackles maternal and infant mortality
Researchers at the University of Stirling are leading a groundbreaking international study to understand how newborn babies use their sense of smell to successfully breastfeed.
Funded by a prestigious £3.5 million Wellcome Trust Discovery Award, the project brings together experts from France, Germany, Poland, Czechia, Japan, and Bolivia. By identifying the chemical signals that guide babies to latch onto the breast, the team - led by Professor Craig Roberts and including Professor Vivien Swanson and Dr Dimitrios Kourtis - aims to improve breastfeeding outcomes globally. Since early and exclusive breastfeeding is vital for reducing maternal and newborn mortality, this research directly supports the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3.1, which seeks to lower the global maternal mortality rate.
The findings could lead to practical tools and clinical recommendations that help more mothers initiate and sustain breastfeeding, ultimately improving health outcomes for both mothers and infants worldwide.
Institute for Social Marketing and Health
The Institute for Social Marketing and Health (ISMH) at the University of Stirling is a world-leading centre for research into how marketing, behaviour change, and public policy can improve population health. With over 40 years of experience, ISMH plays a vital role in advancing global challenges by tackling the social and commercial determinants of health.
Recent projects include leading research within the SPECTRUM Consortium, which informs policies to reduce harm from tobacco, alcohol, and unhealthy food, and contributing to the Public Health Policy Research Unit, which supports the UK Government with evidence to reduce health inequalities.
ISMH also leads the WHO Collaborating Centre for Alcohol Policy and Public Health Research, helping shape global strategies to reduce alcohol-related harm. Through its work in diverse settings - from prisons to family homes - ISMH is helping to create healthier environments and support behaviour change that benefits individuals and communities alike.
Find out more about the Institute for Social Marketing and Health's publications and outputs.
From daily miles to park runs: Stirling’s path to community wellbeing
We are committed to improving health and well-being by encouraging active lifestyles through community-focused initiatives. Our researchers work with partners such as Walking Scotland to embed walking into daily routines, including a new programme that puts walking at the heart of Scottish secondary schools.
We also champion The Daily Mile, a simple yet powerful initiative that gets children moving every day, backed by evidence showing benefits for physical and mental health. Through events like the Science of Steps at the ESRC Festival of Social Science, we share insights on how small changes in daily activity can make a big difference.
Stirling research also explores the role of nature in exercise - recent research by Professor Andre Gilburn show that parkrun participants are more likely to return when routes include woodland or freshwater, highlighting the wellbeing benefits of green spaces. These projects demonstrate our commitment to creating healthier communities.
Learning and teaching
Capacity building with PhD studentships for students in South Africa
The University of Stirling is partnering with four South African universities to strengthen academic capacity and health research at historically disadvantaged institutions.
Working with the University of Cape Town, University of Fort Hare, Walter Sisulu University, and Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, the project delivers ten PhD scholarships in health sciences for academics. Funded by South Africa’s Department of Higher Education and Training and supported by the British Council, this initiative not only addresses critical health challenges but also enhances research and supervisory skills, improving the quality of teaching and learning.
By increasing the number of highly qualified academics, the programme will enable better supervision of future researchers, expand knowledge production, and create sustainable networks for bi-directional learning between the UK and South Africa. Ultimately, this collaboration supports South Africa’s National Development Plan and contributes to global goals for reducing health inequalities and improving education.
Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence
Designated as Scotland’s University for Sporting Excellence, the University of Stirling has built a reputation for innovation and achievement in supporting performance athletes and providing world-class sports, fitness, and training facilities. Since receiving this accolade, Stirling athletes and para-athletes have excelled across sports such as swimming, tennis, golf, and football, competing on the global stage.
Today, sport is embedded in our learning and teaching, promoting health and well-being for all students. Through initiatives like the International Sports Scholarship Programme, in 2024 more than 150 athletes across 28 sports receive tailored support to balance elite training with academic success, including access to top facilities, expert coaching, and academic flexibility. By fostering physical activity, resilience, and mental well-being alongside education, the University contributes meaningfully to SDG 3.
Be the difference - health and sport
The University of Stirling champions SDG 3 through its world-class education and research through the Faculty of Health and Sport Science. Building on our strong undergraduate portfolio, we expanded our offering in 2025 with new postgraduate courses, including:
- MSc Physiotherapy
- MSc Podiatry
- MSc Psychology of Sport
- MSc Sport Management
- MSc Sport Performance Coaching
We are dedicated to transforming lives by improving health and well-being through innovative courses.
University operations
Health and wellbeing at the heart of Stirling
The University of Stirling places the health and wellbeing of our community at the heart of our culture. Wellbeing Week, which continues to take place annually, is a key initiative that enables staff and students to engage in free activities and events designed to promote physical, mental, financial and emotional wellbeing.
The University also operates a Menopause Awareness Month, Stress Awareness Week, Mental Health Awareness Week and Men’s Health Awareness Month. These activities aim to spark conversations, provide practical advice, and connect colleagues with trusted experts. Staff and Students are also reminded that wider wellbeing support is available year-round via our Health and Wellbeing resources.
‘Be Heard’ staff active health pulse survey
In November 2024 the University launched a Be Heard survey on Staff Active Health, providing all colleagues with the opportunity to share their experiences and reflections on active health opportunities available for staff at the University.
Feedback from staff was essential to help the University better understand the factors that influence staff participation in physical activity and how access to sports and wellness resources can be enhanced. 883 staff participated, the highest number of individual responses to a pulse. 96% of respondents said that supporting their wellbeing with physical activity is important to them.
One of the first outcomes of staff feedback is an expanded programme of physical wellbeing activities during Wellbeing Week (24 – 28 February 2025), including staff tennis sessions, lunchtime fitness classes and yoga sessions.
Find out more about staff as one of our strategic priorities.
Be Connected
The University of Stirling’s Be Connected programme offers a range of free activities that promote physical and mental well-being with 130 different events available to staff throughout 2024. Highlights include the weekly 5k Parkrun community event, open to students, staff, and the public, encouraging regular exercise and social connection. Paws Against Stress sessions provide opportunities to interact with therapy dogs, helping reduce stress and boost emotional health.
The Wellbeing Showcase features mindful colouring, jigsaw puzzles, Pilates taster classes, and access to a Wellness Checkup Machine - all designed to support relaxation and healthy habits. These initiatives make health and well-being accessible to everyone, fostering a stronger, healthier campus community.
Find out more about upcoming Be Connected events.
Civic engagement
Local partnerships and community engagement
The University of Stirling actively promotes good health and well-being across Forth Valley through strong partnerships and community initiatives.
The Forth Valley University College Health Partnership is an ambitious collaboration between University of Stirling, Forth Valley College and NHS Forth Valley which aims to improve patient care and treatment for communities across the region for years to come. At the grassroots level, we work with and local football clubs to deliver health checks and explore the benefits of walking-based activities for physical, mental, and social well-being.
Through the Forth-ERA living laboratory, Stirling supports environmental health by deploying a network of indoor and outdoor air pollution sensors across local gyms, cafes, offices and hairdressers, co-designed with stakeholders. These open-access data tools inform better environmental management and public health decisions.
National civic impact
The University of Stirling is shaping national policy and public health through research and advocacy. Professor John Nicholls contributed to the Independent Review of the Liquor Licensing System in Northern Ireland, gathering evidence and stakeholder views to recommend how alcohol regulation can reduce health inequalities and promote social inclusion.
Alongside policy work, Stirling researchers, with funding and collaboration with charity partners such as Scottish Families and the Salvation army developed impactful campaigns such as 'See Beyond – See the Lives – Scotland'. The campaign challenges stigma around alcohol and drug-related deaths and features powerful personal stories shared through multimedia and national press, sparking conversations about substance use and mental health across Scotland.
Stirling also contributed to the ‘Early Years Nutrition: Setting the Standards for Change’ report (PDF link) which brought together a cross party group of academics, community groups and industry partners to address critical issues in early childhood nutrition. The report, coordinated by the Cross-Party Group on a Fit and Healthy Childhood, advocates for stronger nutrition standards, improved training for professionals, and targeted action to reduce health inequalities. Notably, it included contributions from non-academic collaborators such as Nursery Kitchen Ltd, SUSTAIN, Taste Education (TastEd), and Action on Salt and Sugar, reflecting a broad coalition committed to shaping healthier futures for children. This work aligns with SDG 3 by promoting evidence-based strategies to improve health outcomes from the earliest stages of life.
Global impact
The University of Stirling demonstrates global civic impact through research, policy engagement, and capacity building with developing countries. Stirling researchers, in collaboration with colleagues from the Malawi University of Business and Applied Science and the Kenya Medical Research Institute, led community engagement events and developed materials for wider dissemination to the community in both Kenya and Malawi.
These events, part of the Fuel-to-Pot research project, brought together diverse community members—from local residents to civic leaders—to discuss and findings and co-develop contextually relevant solutions that address both immediate needs and broader policy challenges. As part of its commitment to capacity building, in 2024, Professor Sean Semple delivered a week-long training workshop to early career researchers from sub-Saharan Africa.
The workshop focused on air quality monitoring and epidemiological methods for lung health research, delivered through the Pan African Thoracic Society’s Methods in Epidemiologic, Clinical and Operations Research (PATS MECOR) programme.