Promotion of Gender Equality in the University of Helsinki

1. Promotion of Gender Equality in the University of Helsinki Terhi Saarikoski Terhi.Saarikoski@helsinki.fi www.helsinki.fi/tasa-arvo

2. University of Helsinki • 11 faculties • 38 800 students, 63 % women • 4 400 degrees yearly • 350 doctorates, 56 % women • Total number of staff 7 700 • 3 800 researchers and teachers • The proportion of women among professors 25 %

3. Promoting gender equality in the University of Helsinki • Equality committee appointed by the University Senate, chaired by the Vice Rector • consists of representatives of various staff groups, students and those groups most likely to suffer discrimination • responsible for monitoring and promoting equal opportunities • Equality adviser, full-time position • disseminates information and provides training in equal opportunities • works with the Equality Committee to develop the practice of equal opportunities at the University • Equality network: each department and institute has a contact person

4. Activities • Gender equality plans since early 1990s • Diversity plan (concerning other discrimination grounds than gender: ethnicity, age, disability etc.) since 2001 • Drafted by the Equality Committee, accepted by the university senate (the highest decision making body of the University) • Guidelines how to prevent sexual harassment since mid-1990s • Mainstreaming gender equality in all activities throughout the university • Equality and diversity is included in strategic planning and personnel training • Annual gender equality price • Mentoring programme since 1997

5. Evaluation of the equality activity • Analysis of statistics • Interviews of faculty management • Results • Equality policy was not well-known in all faculties • Gender dynamics and awareness varied between faculties • Annual funding for gender equality projects • in-depth studies of particular departments and Faculties • faculty level equality plans

6. Prevention of Sexual Harassment • Study of sexual harassment in the University in 1995 • Guidelines on how to prevent sexual harassment were issued first in 1996 • Revision in 2004:common guidelines for handling all kinds of inappropriate treatment, including discrimination, harassment and bullying, not only those that are identified as gender-related • Contact persons responsible for dealing with alleged sexual harassment of both staff and students • Training for management of units and contact persons of the Student Union • Team including contact person, University Lawyer and Occupational Health Specialist

7. Success stories in the University of Helsinki • The existence of detailed guidelines approved by the university senate • Gender equality has been integrated into highest university management • The creation of an infrastructure for monitoring and promoting equality • Funding for equality projects • The Equality Committee has both women and men as members and the male members have been active • Active involvement of students

8. Success stories in the University of Helsinki • The University of Helsinki has also successfully introduced new issues on the equality agenda in Finnish Universities • The University of Helsinki has been active in consolidating both national and international networking for gender equality promotion in universities • The University of Helsinki’s gender equality agenda has been strongly informed by gender research • Gender studies promotion as part of gender equality promotion

9. Future Challenges • Implementation of mainstreaming equality in all activities at all organizational levels • How to convert strategies to practice • Amended Equality Act • Educational institutes under the scope of equality act • Pay equity • Developing gender sensitive statistics

10. Join the European Network on Gender Equality in HE • An electronic discussion list to discuss and share information on gender equality in HE in Europe. • 400 members from 30 countries and five continents. • Hosted by the University of Helsinki, moderated by Liisa Husu and Terhi Saarikoski. • How to join: Send an email with the text SUBSCRIBE EQ-UNI to majordomo@helsinki.fi.