The Ministry of Education and Culture will examine how equality, non-discrimination and diversity are realised among teaching and research staff in higher education institutions

Commissioned by the Ministry of Education and Culture, the project examines how equality, non-discrimination and diversity among staff members can be promoted in Finnish higher education institutions. Based on the study, concrete proposals for measures will be developed for higher education institutions and for national policy approaches.

There is still a long way to go before working life both in universities and universities of applied sciences is equal, non-discriminating and diverse. Typical career paths differ according to gender, nationality and ethnic background, for example. In the context of developing higher education institutions qualitatively, more attention will also be paid to equality and diversity in international dialogues and development activities involving higher education institutions.

“This project will produce research-based knowledge that we can exploit to take the next steps in promoting equality and non-discrimination in higher education institutions at the national level,” says Senior Ministerial Adviser Matti Kajaste.

The project will examine equality and non-discrimination in the recruitment, professional career paths and workplace atmosphere among teaching and research staff by means of interviews, surveys and workshops. The project will also explore the measures taken in reference countries to promote equality and non-discrimination in higher education institutions. Based on the results of the study, the project will make concrete proposals on policy measures and on the procedures and practices in higher education institutions to strengthen equality in Finnish higher education institutions.

The project will be carried out in close cooperation with stakeholders, i.e. the staff members, management and funding bodies of Finnish higher education institutions. The study will be conducted by Demos Helsinki, Oxford Research, Includia Leadership, Researcher Inkeri Tanhua, Professor Liisa Husu and Kaskas Media.

“In the project, we will work in close cooperation with the higher education community and funding bodies to obtain first-hand information about problems and to develop practices that stakeholders can actually introduce to promote equality in higher education institutions,” says Julia Jousilahti, leader of the project consortium from Demos Helsinki.

The results of the project will be collected into the final report scheduled to be published in summer 2022. Information on the progress of the project and its key results will be published on the Ministry’s website. Use hashtag #kotamohanke to participate in the discussion on Twitter.

Inquiries:

• Matti Kajaste, Senior Ministerial Adviser, Ministry of Education and Culture, tel. +358 295 330 378, [email protected]
• Julia Jousilahti, Director of the project consortium, Demos Helsinki, [email protected]