Project Coordinator Sami Tanskanen, a strong advocate and expert in gender equality and equal opportunities, was recognised with the university’s award.
Project Coordinator Sami Tanskanen of the School of Educational Sciences and Psychology has been selected as the winner of the UEF Gender Equality and Equal Opportunities Award 2025 in recognition of his contributions to promoting gender equality and equal opportunities. The award was presented, on the proposal of the UEF Gender Equality and Equal Opportunities Committee, to Tanskanen at the UEF Equality Day on Thursday, 20 March 2025.
Tanskanen works as a Project Coordinator for the Talent Hub Eastern Finland project, which aims to foster positive attitudes towards internationalisation and diversity among educational institutions and employers operating in the North Karelia and North Savo regions, as well as among wider society. Tanskanen also chairs the steering group of the Good Community Relations project initiated by the Finnish Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment. The project collaborates with the three ELY Centres located in Eastern Finland to promote good community relations through various measures, including promoting equality and equal opportunities in secondary schools.
Tanskanen is also active in the NGO sector, having been involved in the Joensuu District Multicultural Association, the Joensuu Settlement Association and the North Karelia Advisory Board for NGOs for several years.
According to the award statement, Tanskanen is a strong advocate and expert in issues related to gender equality and equal opportunities, having promoted them, as well as non-discrimination, enthusiastically and empathetically for years, both at the university, within NGOs and among stakeholders.
When it comes to the field’s substance matter, Tanskanen is always up-to-date and openly shares his expertise with others. He also values grassroots participation in equity work and manages to find time for planning and hosting various events related to gender equality, equal opportunities and inclusion. Tanskanen is also an excellent event host who knows how to take the participants’ diversity into consideration.
For further information, please contact:
Sami Tanskanen, Project Coordinator, University of Eastern Finland, sami.tanskanen@uef.fi, tel. +358 50 355 8857
Laura Hirsto, Vice Rector, Chair of the Gender Equality and Equal Opportunities Committee, University of Eastern Finland, laura.hirsto@uef.fi, tel. +358 50 380 4674
