The aim is to highlight the special societal duty of the University community to serve as an example in strengthening equality and diversity as well in preventing racism and discrimination.
“Everyone deserves respectful and equal treatment. As a minority studies researcher, I hope that particular attention will be paid to groups who have to fight for their place in many ways. These groups include gender and sexual minorities, people from immigrant backgrounds and the Sámi community,” says Vice-Rector Hanna Snellman, who is in charge of equality and diversity at the University.
According to Viena Pentikäinen, the board member responsible for social policy at the Student Union of the University of Helsinki, being able to come to the campus and attend teaching as your true self without fear is important from the student perspective.
“Equality for students can manifest in quite everyday situations: you can be part of the University community under your real name, University facilities take diversity into consideration, and course material takes into account a multitude of viewpoints. Equality nevertheless remains too often unrealised, which is why it’s important to empower students to bring up issues as they face them. Many students may be unfamiliar with the University’s internal principles or sources of support, making it important to communicate on them to students increasingly effectively. This way, we can together make our University more equal as a community,” Pentikäinen adds.
University values as a basis for public engagement
Research, teaching and the University’s role in public engagement are ways in which the University and its community can make the world a better place. In the current geopolitical circumstances, highlighting expertise in this theme is essential. The University’s values – truth, Bildung, freedom and inclusivity – lay a solid foundation for our efforts.
These efforts are supported by taking into account the wellbeing of both staff and students who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community. This is one of the key measures under the focus area entitled ‘Promoting a diverse, accessible, non-discriminatory and anti-racist study and work culture’ in the University’s new equality and diversity plan for 2025–2028. Among other things, all members of the University community can join the Pride parade alongside the Student Union of the University of Helsinki.
Join us at Pride!
- 17 June 2025 from 14.00 to 15.30 Science without borders main event – programme and Zoom link:
- Opening address
- Nyyti association’s QueerMieli project, Anders Huldén
- Support for student wellbeing, Senior Lecturer in University Pedagogy Henna Asikainen
- Panel discussion and questions from the audience, hosted by Martina Westman
- Closing words
- 25 June 2025 from 15.00 to 17.00 Pride café at the Kaisa House Guidance Corner (3rd floor, Fabianinkatu 30)
- 28 June 2025 Pride parade, united front with the Student Union of the University of Helsinki
- LGBTQIA+ highlights from Helsinki University Library: The library’s Rainbow Shelf presents a wide selection of reading in celebration of Pride month, from research literature and non-fiction to memoirs and fiction.
- 23–29 June 2025 Pride flags flown for equality on all University of Helsinki campuses