MentalHigh Consortium at the Phnom Penh f2f partner meeting
The face-to-face partner meeting of the MentalHigh project took place on January 8th to January 10th, 2025 at the National Incubation Center of Cambodia, located on Russian Federation Blvd in Phnom Penh. Representatives from all partner universities were present, including HAW Hamburg, Universität Jaume I (UJI), Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities (HCMUSSH), Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry (TUAF), Vietnam National University, University of Education (VNU UEd), Vinh University of Technology Education (VUTED), Thai Nguyen University of Economics and Business Administration (TUEBA), Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), National Institute of Education (NIE), and Turku University of Applied Sciences (Turku UAS).
Kean Tak, Vice Rector of RUPP, greets Gunter Groen, the project coordinator of MentalHigh
The meeting commenced with an official welcome by Kean Tak, Vice Rector of the Royal University of Phnom Penh. Gunter Groen expressed his appreciation for the warm reception provided by the RUPP team. In his opening statement, he highlighted the significant progress the consortium has made since the previous face-to-face meeting in Valencia, Spain, in May 2024.
Over the course of three days, the discussions were focused on key areas of the project. Participants reviewed the progress of the digital interventions, including the Shining Mind app and MoodCare, and explored ideas for upcoming mental health calendar events and capacity-building workshops. Detailed plans for the implementation and evaluation phases were also discussed, setting the course for the latter half of the project.
Following the meeting, the RUPP team guided the partners on cultural visits to the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, Sosoro Museum, and the Royal Palace of Cambodia. These visits provided an opportunity to deepen their understanding of Cambodian history and culture, enriching the overall experience of the meeting.
The f2f Phnom Penh meeting provided an opportunity to reaffirm the mission of the MentalHigh project: improving the mental health and well-being of Vietnamese and Cambodian students. Partners left with a renewed commitment to this shared goal and a promise to continue their collaboration in the future.