Back in 2010, we started with a simple idea: what if we sent students early in their careers abroad to experience health and healthcare in completely different settings, a different country, a different culture, different problems and different solutions? That first year, 33 third-year Bachelor students packed their bags for Malawi, Zambia, and Suriname. 

Since then our Minor Global Health program has grown in ways we never imagined. From 33 students to 7 partner institutes in 3 countries, to 120 students to over 60 partner institutes across 20 countries on 5 continents. From only Medical to Medical, Clinical Technology, Global Public Health, Health Policy & Management and other fields.

Students spend 12 weeks with us—first learning together in Rotterdam for 5 weeks, then heading out abroad for 6 weeks, from Brazil to Vietnam, from South Africa to Taiwan, to get to observe health and healthcare alongside local healthcare professionals and see firsthand how health challenges and solutions vary across the world.

The experience tends to stick with people. Students come back with stories that surprise them—and us. They talk about unexpected friendships with local colleagues, moments when textbook knowledge suddenly clicked in a rural clinic, or times when they realized their assumptions about "developing countries" were completely wrong. 

This November, we're doing something special for our 16th anniversary. We're bringing everyone together—current students, alumni, our partner coordinators from abroad, faculty members, guest lecturers—for a two-day symposium called "Global Health Education: Looking Back, Leaping Forward" (November 6-7, 2025).

Our goal is to get together and start reimagining Global Health Education. To have open and enlightening conversations about what's working, what isn't, and how to make global health education more equitable, sustainable and accessible. By bringing together inspiring speakers, professionals and experts with different experiences and perspectives, we create a space for new ideas, collaboration and impactful discussions.

If you've been part of the program over the years, we'd love to see you there. If you're curious about global health education, come join the conversation. This field is constantly evolving — and the most meaningful progress happens when we learn, question, and build together!

Registration is open! 

Hope to see you in Rotterdam!

You can find more information on the MGH2025 at https://mgh2025.globalhealtheducation.nl/