How can we make the effort of students in public health education more impactful? That was the core question that led to Aletta’s Regional Year Challenge. The answer: by aligning the efforts and connecting the organisations around a single public health challenge. To support their endeavours, students receive a Lifelines dataset that is specifically developed for the particular topic at hand. Last year we successfully piloted the first round of Aletta’s Regional Year Challenge.

In the pilot round, the aspect of the dataset turned out to be the element that was most appreciated about our initiative. Various groups of students had put the dataset to use, using very different approaches (ranging from ‘studying what geographical areas could be suitable for performing qualitative field research’ to ‘simple statistical analyses’ and anything in between). Therefore this year, the dataset and data support will take centre stage!

Theme & Dataset

The theme that was determined by regional stakeholders is active and healthy lifestyle. Lifelines will prepare a dataset which will include various variables that are related to this theme aggregated to the level of zipcode and age. For example data on physical activity, nutrient intake, lifestyle and subjective health regarding physical fitness. This will be combined with the data from the year challenge of 2021, creating an even richer dataset.

Year Challenge 2022 in a nutshell

• We will organise 3 meetings for all users of the data:

1. Kick-off session with an inspiring speaker who will introduce the topic: Friday 16 Sept 2022 - 4PM - 5.30PM
2. Instructions on how to use the dataset and where to find data support: Thursday 22 Sept 2022 - 3.30PM - 5.30PM
3. Sharing results (February 2023). Thursday 26 January 2023 - 3PM-5PM

Year challenge for students

If you will be working on challenges or research questions regarding active and healthy lifestyle within the Northern part of the Netherlands (Drenthe, Friesland, Groningen), we invite you to participate in Aletta’s Regional Year Challenge and make use of the Lifelines dataset to enrich your challenges and gain from an introduction to applied data science.

Please fill out the form , so we can update you on the program and send you invites for meetings. And ask your educational coordinator / societal organisation / client, if they are interested to know more to do the same.

Year challenge for coordinators of educational programs

Like last year, the Year Challenge is a ‘top up’ element in educational programs for students who are eager to go the extra mile. On the 9th of June, we have collectively determined the new topic: active and healthy lifestyle.

If you have clients/contexts/students who can work on questions around active and healthy lifestyle, please inform them that they can join the Year Challenge program and gain access to the dataset.

Please fill out the form , so we can update you on the program and send you invites for meetings (non obligatory). And ask your students to do so too!

Year Challenge for societal organisations / clients

If you have challenges / research questions focusing on active and healthy lifestyle within the Northern part of the Netherlands (Drenthe, Friesland, Groningen), then students who have been linked to you can join the Year Challenge program.

All participating students will follow the educational program they are enrolled in at their own institute. It is up to you and the program coordinator to finetune your challenge/research question and set expectations regarding the final product, language and support needed.

Please fill out the form , so we can update you on the program and send you invites for meetings (non obligatory). And ask your students to do so too!