Tampere Universities raise the flag for equality and diversity during Manse Pride week

Manse Pride Week, organized by Sinuiksi ry, takes place from 9.–15.6.2025. By raising the flag, the higher education community shows its support for LGBTQ+ community. The act is not just symbolic, but it is part of Tampere higher education community’s ongoing work to promote equality and inclusion. The community is committed to advancing equality, fostering inclusiveness, and opposing discrimination. 

– The strength of our higher education community lies in its diversity and openness. Our task is to ensure that equality and equity do not remain just words in speeches but are visible through concrete acts. This requires ongoing work, commitment, and the courage to challenge prejudice and foster a culture where everyone feels valued and safe, says Tampere University President Keijo Hämäläinen. 

The rainbow flag is a powerful symbol of a community where everyone can be themselves. The Tampere higher education community works continuously to ensure a safe environment for students, staff, and partners. Raising the Pride flag is a concrete way to show that diversity is not only accepted but actively celebrated.

– Equal treatment of all members and building psychological safety are central values in our higher education community. It is important that everyone feels accepted and safe. Regular flag-raising days remind us of the importance of these values, but it’s equally important to embody them in all our daily interactions, says Katja Komulainen, Vice President for Education at TAMK. 

This year, Manse Pride Week is celebrated under the theme “One Big Family.” The theme serves as a reminder that community, care, and respect belong to everyone. The Tampere higher education community aims to be a place where everyone can study, conduct research, and work as their true selves, free from fear of discrimination or exclusion. 

The student unions Tamko and TREY seek to encourage everyone, through their actions, to be themselves and to feel safe and accepted as part of the higher education community. 

– Students are a highly diverse group, and the higher education community must build an equally diverse environment. This work must continue beyond Manse Pride Week, emphasizes Tamko’s Chair Jarkko Hannula. 

According to Laura Heino, Chair of TREY, equality is one of TREY's core values, and they work year-round to make both the university community and society more inclusive for everyone. 

– Students are diverse, and during Pride Week we celebrate this diversity, reflect on the work already done, and look ahead to what still needs to be accomplished. Promoting equality is not a week-long sprint. It underpins all our activities from civic engagement and committee work to collaborations with student organizations and providing training and support, Heino says. 

TREY, Tampere’s engineering students, Tamko, and Students’ Tampere are organizing the first-ever Torisitsit on 14.6. 2025 at Keskustori. The event brings together students from different fields in a multidisciplinary celebration, and its open location allows passersby to join the atmosphere. While not an official part of Manse Pride Week, the spirit of the event strongly supports the theme “One Big Family.” The Torisitsit highlight community, openness, and diversity and provide an easy-access opportunity to experience student dinner party culture in a relaxed atmosphere.