Gold at International SDG Olympiad

Two students from Heidelberg University were part of the winning team at this year’s global SDG Olympiad –made possible through 4EU+ mobility support. From 10–14 October 2025, the SDG Olympiad Finals took place in Geneva, bringing together student innovators from around the world to present their solutions to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). After several months of developing and testing their ideas, 14 finalist teams pitched their projects before an international jury of experts. Among the winners were two students from Heidelberg University – Tony Alnasri (Medicine) and Helen Harig (Geography) – who, together with three students from the University of Copenhagen, won the Gold Medal for their project “Community-Based Action Plan for T1D Children.” The team’s innovative concept addresses the management of Type 1 Diabetes among children living in crisis-affected regions.

Participation of Heidelberg students was supported through 4EU+ mobility funding within Flagship 1 “Urban Health and Demographic Change.” The SDG Olympiad follows the students’ earlier success at the Global Health Solutions Design Sprint held at the University of Copenhagen in August 2025 – another 4EU+ initiative promoting interdisciplinary and challenge-based learning.In addition to the competition, participants in Geneva took part in excursions, workshops, and lectures on global health and sustainability. The event once again demonstrated how 4EU+ collaboration provides students with unique opportunities for international exchange, research-based learning, and developing creative solutions to pressing global challenges.