Equality and Diversity Award 2025 to the study services of the Faculty of Medicine

The study services have collaborated with teaching staff to develop practices for personal study plans that help reconcile family life and studies. They provide students with easy-access support for individual study arrangements, improving overall accessibility. Special attention has been given to guidance for first-year students to ensure smooth integration into studies and the university community from the very beginning. The study services have promoted the inclusion of a diverse student community by considering various minority groups and ensuring that every student has equal opportunities to participate and succeed in their studies.

Honorary mention to university lecturer Maria Sinche Gonzalez

In addition to the Equality and Diversity Award, the university’s Equality and Diversity Committee grants an honorary mention to university lecturer Maria Sinche Gonzalez from the Faculty of Technology. Gonzalez has advanced gender equality in the PROMISE Master’s programme in the mining sector, where women have traditionally been underrepresented. The programme has a significantly higher proportion of women than the industry average and attracts students from numerous countries.Under Gonzalez’s leadership, the programme has created an inclusive, multicultural learning environment where gender equality and diversity go hand in hand with academic excellence and societal impact.

The award and honorary mention recipients were selected from candidates nominated by members of the university community. Director of Human Resources Jarmo Okkonen presented the awards during the Children’s Day at Work event on 21 November 2025.

The University of Oulu has awarded the Equality and Diversity Award since 2009. Its purpose is to highlight achievements in equality and diversity and to raise awareness of the importance of diversity, equality, and inclusion within the university community.