In the spirit of Pride, the University of Eastern Finland will organise a range of events raising awareness of the diversity of sexuality and gender on 20–24 September 2021. The goal is to increase respect for diversity.
The theme of this year’s Pride Week, which is organised by Pohjois-Karjalan Seta, is “See me”. The full programme of the North Karelia Pride Week is available at https://pohjoiskarjalanseta.fi/en/pohjois-karjalan-seta-hobiles-ry-english/program-2021/.
The University of Eastern Finland has also prepared a programme of its own in collaboration with Pohjois-Karjalan Seta and the Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY). For the University of Eastern Finland, participation in the Pride Week is one way of implementing equality and diversity.
“The university is a place for all kinds of people to study and work in. We want to promote an atmosphere where everyone is appreciated and feels safe, and where everyone can feel like they are full members of the community. Together, we must also learn to avoid unintentional discrimination,” Rector Jukka Mönkkönen says.
Rector Mönkkönen encourages staff and students to increase their understanding of the Pride Week’s themes in an online training which is aimed at the staff and students, and which doesn’t require any prior knowledge, just an open mind towards diversity.
According to the university’s Director of Human Resources and Staff Well-being Ulla Hurskainen, the promotion of equality and diversity will be highlighted in many ways during the newly begun academic year.
“Promoting diversity constitutes part of our programme to implement our strategy. Awareness of the diversity of university staff and students, and of the need to promote equality, have increased year by year. There is work to be done and, in addition to raising awareness and fostering dialogue, concrete action is needed,” Hurskainen says.
One example of concrete action is a service design training for the staff, to be launched in October and with one group focusing on the theme of equality and diversity.
“The service design project will develop concrete measures to promote diversity and equality,” says Hurskainen.
Pride Week programme at the University of Eastern Finland
Monday, 20 September: Rainbow flags will be hoisted on the Joensuu Campus. In the spirit of equality, rainbow flags will also be flying on the Kuopio Campus this week.
Monday, 20 September: UEF Library’s Pride-themed book exhibition opens both online (https://primo.uef.fi/discovery/collectionDiscovery?vid=358FIN_UOEF:VU1&collectionId=81108946690005966) and on the 1st floor of the Joensuu Campus Library. The exhibition is open until 30 September.
Thursday, 23 September at 13–14: Café Smart in the lobby of the Carelia building, Joensuu Campus. Diversity of sexuality and gender: what are we talking about, and how are we talking about it? Speaking in the science café are Professor of Gender Studies Jaana Vuori and Postdoctoral Researcher of Social Sciences Annukka Lahti. Please note that this event will be in Finnish. The science café will be streamed live and recorded. The event is free of charge and open to everyone. Coffee will be served. Stream link: uef.fi/pride
Friday, 24 September at 12 noon: Keep your eyes open on both the Joensuu and Kuopio campuses – you may run into a Pride-themed flashmob!
For further information, please contact:
Director of Human Resources and Staff Well-being Ulla Hurskainen, +358 50 512 5238
Media and Events Producer Kristiina Kuisma, +358 50 563 5798
