New Equality and Non-Discrimination Policy ready for joint actions
The Equality and Non-Discrimination Policy 2023–2025 promotes equality and diversity policies in line with the University’s strategy. Tampere University is committed to the values of diversity and responsibility and strives for equality in all its activities.
– The equality of all people is an inalienable human right that the University respects in its own activities and promotes in society through teaching and research. Tampere University has defined its mission as building a sustainable world together. In accordance with its strategy, the University operates in an ecologically, socially and economically sustainable manner. Among the University’s values, diversity is reflected in the appreciation of different people, fields and traditions, says Development Manager Paula Järvenpää, who acts as the chair of the Equal Opportunities Committee at Tampere University.
In this policy period, Tampere University has prepared two equality and non-discrimination policies. The two-year plans were completed at the end of the summer after a round of comments from the University community. What the policy for human resources and the functional policy of an education provider have in common are the equality and non-discrimination demands and the development of operations. Together, the plans form the Equality and Non-Discrimination Policy 2023–2025 of Tampere University.
Joint actions are needed
The equality and non-discrimination policy for HR supports the employer’s duty to promote gender equality purposefully and systematically in working life and the equality of employees. It also includes a Gender Equality Plan, GEP, which is required by the EU’s funding instruments.
The functional plan of an education provider has been drawn up to support the achievement of the equality and non-discrimination objectives related to education at Tampere University. At the beginning of each thematic chapter, the goals and objectives towards which the university community wishes to move forward are presented. The objectives and development measures sections gather the responsible parties and the actions to promote the objectives. The policies include provisions on digital and physical accessibility.
The working group which prepared the plan included representatives from the University’s faculties, units, staff associations and the TREY student union. The draft was commented by faculties, service units, the Co-Operation Council, and countless individuals.
Järvenpää reminds that the constant pursuit of equality requires commitment and actions by us all. As a guideline, we can use the famous quote of author, civil rights activist Maya Angelou:
“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”
Read the Tampere University’s Equality and Non-Discrimination Policy 2023–2025. The document is available in Finnish and English.
More information
yhdenvertaisuus.tau [at] tuni.fi
Development Manager Paula Järvenpää, Chair of the Equal Opportunities Committee
paula.jarvenpaa [at] tuni.fi
Development Manager Jaana Salmensivu-Anttila, Secretary of the Equal Opportunities Committee
jaana.salmensivu-anttila [at] tuni.fi
