On March 8th, International Women's Day, attention is drawn to gender inequalities—including those in the medical field. The University of Twente contributes to this effort by launching the minor ''Technology for Women's Health in a Life Span Perspective'', the first academic program in the Netherlands dedicated to women's health and technology. Developed by the Faculty BMS in collaboration with the Technical Medical Centre and the DesignLab, this minor aims to bridge the gap in healthcare solutions for women.
For years, a growing group of researchers from various faculties at the University of Twente has been working on solutions to health challenges that women face across different life stages. Minor coordinator Christina Bode explains: "The broad range of health technologies specifically designed for women's care provides an ideal foundation for this minor. It allows us to offer students in-house examples of research, technology, and design in the field of women's health."
Contributing to better health and care
Historically, healthcare has primarily been designed around male physiology, leaving women's specific health needs underrepresented. With this new minor, the University of Twente seeks to contribute to national and international efforts to strengthen research, innovation, and healthcare in women's health. Over the course of ten weeks, students learn how to analyze data to uncover health disparities and how diversity-sensitive design in technology can contribute to better health and care solutions tailored to women.
The minor features a series of lectures covering topics such as mental health, breastfeeding, menopause, breast cancer, and pelvic organ prolapse. Additionally, students participate in workshops on data analysis to detect and explain health disparities and explore different health technologies. As part of the program, students will collaborate on a group project focusing on endometriosis in collaboration with the Endometriosis Foundation and the Dutch Endometriosis Clinic.
Understanding diversity and inclusion
Students will be trained to recognize diversity and inclusion in health and care and to promote these aspects in new innovations actively. They will also learn how to ensure that underrepresented groups are properly included in health research and the development of new medical technologies.
Bode emphasizes: "Students become aware of differences within a group. In this minor, we focus on sex and gender differences, but this awareness also extends to social background, sexual orientation, disability, ethnicity, and cultural beliefs. They learn how to take these factors into account when designing solutions."
Recently, the Dutch Parliament adopted a motion to develop a National Strategy for Women's Health. With its focus on women's health, technology development, and diversity-sensitive design, this minor aligns with that vision and contributes to long-term strategies for equitable healthcare outcomes for all.
Technology for Women’s Health at the University of Twente
At the University of Twente, a multidisciplinary team is developing technological solutions for health challenges across different stages of a woman's life. Under the Technology for Women’s Health initiative, researchers seek to understand why men and women experience diseases differently and why women often respond differently to treatments. The knowledge gained is used to create innovative technological tools that improve the health and well-being of women.
