Designing inclusive and impactful learning experiences: the evolving pedagogy of the UNESCO Chair ‘Global Health & Education’ Annual Community Health Workshop

The Community Health Workshop (CHW) - the flagship program of the UNESCO Chair-exemplifies a transformative approach to capacity building by prioritising learner-centred pedagogy. Unlike traditional training models, the CHW integrates principles of adult learning (andragogy) to foster collaborative, contextualised and action-oriented learning. Designed as an inclusive, participatory and multilingual platform, the workshop engages participants from diverse professional and cultural backgrounds to address pressing community health challenges. Its structure combines expert presentations, real-world case studies, multilingual hubs to promote critical thinking and peer-to-peer learning, contributions of the participants on dedicated webpages and recognition by a certificate. The CHW is also designed to facilitate networking among practitioners, policy makers and researchers. For the recruitment of speakers there is a strong focus on gender balance and Global South-Global North balance. Speakers should reflect the diverse and international audience of the workshop. Central to the methodology of the CHW is the focus on practical application, encouraging participants to reflect on their experiences and translate insights into actionable strategies tailored to their local contexts. By incorporating tools such as participatory methods and health promotion strategies, the CHW bridges theory with practice, equipping participants with the skills and confidence to drive meaningful change in their communities. The workshop also overcomes common barriers in global learning environments through innovative features including simultaneous translation in 60+ languages and repeating each session twice each day to maximize time zone coverage. This article explores how the learner-centred design of the CHW aligns with contemporary theories of adult education, fostering sustainable impact and advancing best practices in global health education.