28 Transition Year students took part in a two-day programme coordinated by the RCSI School of Physiotherapy, called the ‘RCSI Transition to Health Programme'.

This initiative aims to increase young students' awareness and knowledge of the importance of physical and mental health. The programme ran on Monday, 19 February, and Tuesday, 20 February, in the Physiotherapy Movement Laboratory at the College's campus on St Stephen's Green, Dublin. 

A number of experts from the School of Physiotherapy delivered a series of practical workshops, tutorials and lectures focused on exercise, health and wellbeing. These included functional anatomy, using technology to measure movement, nutrition, how muscles work, the benefits of different types of activities and the problems presented by overuse of smartphones. The students also learned about building resilience and managing their mental health as part of the programme.

Speaking on the programme, Professor Marie Guidon, Head of the RCSI School of Physiotherapy said: "With this initiative, we want young people to think about the various ways to develop and maintain good health. We all know about the vital role of exercise in maintaining a healthy lifestyle but the importance of maintaining good mental health will also be emphasised giving our participants a holistic understanding of good human health. RCSI researchers from the Anatomy Department also informed students about their current work and research into materials being generated that can be used to maintain bones and joints."

RCSI is ranked among the top 250 (top 2%) of universities worldwide in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (2018) and its research is ranked first in Ireland for citations. It is an international not-for-profit health sciences institution, with its headquarters in Dublin, focused on education and research to drive improvements in human health worldwide. RCSI is a signatory of the Athena SWAN Charter.