Unifi's seminar on sustainability and responsibility

The programme includes panel discussions, workshops on sustainability work in higher education and on monitoring and developing Unifi's sustainability and responsibility theses. The dinner event provides a welcoming opportunity for networking with representatives of other universities.

Schedule of the Unifi’s Sustainability and Responsibility Seminar 2024 with the theme of “Social Responsibility and Leadership”

The event is organized in English.

Monday November 4th:

University of Oulu: Linnanmaa campus, Lecture Hall L2

• 14.30–15.00 Registration and coffee
• 15.00–15.15 Welcoming words by Marja Matinmikko-Blue, Research Director of Infotech Oulu Institute, Director of Sustainability and Regulation at 6G Flagship, Chair of Sustainability and responsibility working group, University of Oulu & Marja-Leena Laakso, Chair of Unifi's Sustainability and Responsibility Working Group, Vice Rector for Education, University of Jyväskylä
• 15.15–16.00 Keynote by Emma Kari, Partner, Kari & Pantsar Co.: “Finnish universities’ progress towards ecologically and socially responsible organizations”
• 16.00–16.15 Audience Q&A
• 16.15–17.15 Panel Discussion: “How can universities foster social responsibility through leadership?”

Tom Böhling, Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Chairman of Unifi’s Sustainability and Responsibility Working Group (2018-2023)

Aino Halinen, Social policy, sustainability, development cooperation, SYL (National Union of University Students in Finland)

Emma Kari, Partner, Kari & Pantsar Co

Elina Lehtomäki, Professor of Global Education, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Oulu, Vice-Chair of UniPID (Finnish University Partnership for International Development)

Juha Tuunainen, Professor of Management and Organizational Behaviour, Oulu Business School, University of Oulu

Panel discussion is moderated by Juan-Miguel Diaz Castro, University Teacher (Learning and Learning Processes Research Unit), Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Oulu

• 17.15–17.30 Audience Q&A

Restaurant Pekuri: Kauppakortteli Pekuri 4th floor, Kauppurienkatu 15–17, Oulu

• 19.00–21.00 Dinner and networking (40€)

Tuesday November 5th:

University of Oulu, Linnanmaa Campus

• 9.00–10.15 Parallel sessions 1–4

In the parallel sessions, the participants will follow up on the progress of their universities in enhancing UNIFI’s Theses for Sustainability and Responsibility, and map out next steps for the following year. The sessions’ themes are designed based on the main outlines of the UNIFI Theses and universities’ core actions. The sessions are being guided by experienced facilitators.

All parallel sessions will be organized only on-site and the language (Finnish/English) of them will be determined by the language skills of the participants.

Session I: Sustainable and responsible research at Tellus Stage

Session II: Education promoting sustainable development at LeaF

Session III: Universities' own activities and governance creating a responsible and sustainable world at Tellus Backstage

Session IV: Societal impact and collaboration as drivers of change at meeting room YT116

• 10.15–10.30 Coffee
• 10.30–12.00 Parallel sessions 1–4 continue
• 12.00–13.00 Lunch
• 13.00–14.30 Panel discussion: "The voice of universities in society"

Place: Saalasti Hall, Linnanmaa campus

The panel discussion consists of two parts:

Part I: Commentary on results from parallel sessions & Part II: Social responsibility in times of global crisis: Universities' societal responsibility and practices

Kaarlo Hildén, Rector, University of the Arts Helsinki

Tapio Huhtamella, Director of Administration (Chief of Staff), National Defence University

Mirja Illikainen, Vice Rector for Education, University of Oulu

Anne Keränen, University researcher, Martti Ahtisaari Institute, Oulu Business School, University of Oulu

Anne Portaankorva, Vice-Rector for Research, Doctoral education and Sustainable Development, University of Helsinki

Panel discussion is moderated by Jenni Koistinen, Adviser of Communications and Public Affairs, Unifi

• 14.30–15.00 Afternoon coffee

Please note that Unifi's Sustainability and Responsibility seminar 2024 will be followed by these events:

Climate University Annual Meeting, see more details here: https://blogs.helsinki.fi/climateuniversity/2024/09/12/climate-university-annual-meeting-2024-registration-open/

UniPID annual seminar 2024: Strengthening Agency in the Pluriverse of the Academic Worlds, see more details here: https://www.unipid.fi/for-society/events-1/unipid-annual-seminar-2024-strengthening-agency-in-the-pluriverse-of-the-academic-worlds/

Registration

You can register to the Unifi’s Sustainability and Responsibility Seminar 2024 via this link. The registration is open until Thursday the 24th of October.

Participation in the seminar is free of charge, but there is a 40.00€ fee for the dinner event held at Restaurant Pekuri on Monday, November 4th at 19.00-21.00.

It is also possible to follow parts of the seminar remotely. Registered remote participants will receive a Zoom link through which they can follow the following seminar sessions: Mon 4.11. at 15-17.30, keynote speech & panel discussion, and Tue 5.11. at 13-14.30, panel discussion.

The Council of Rectors of Finnish Universities (Unifi)

The Council of Rectors of Finnish Universities, or Unifi, is the collective voice of Finnish universities. The task of Unifi is to promote cooperation between universities, to secure the conditions for universities to excell and to highlight their shared views and positions on key issues related to research and education policy as well as the role of universities in society. Unifi’s members are all 13 universities referred to in the Universities Act and the National Defence University. The Council of Rectors of Finnish Universities was established in 1969.

In February 2019, Unifi appointed a national sustainable development and responsibility working group to strengthen the responsibility work of universities. The group brings together 14 universities and the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) together to define the universities' common principles, goals and modes of operation to promote sustainable development and responsibility. The setting of the goals is guided by, for example, the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Finland's Commitment2050 and the Paris Climate Agreement.

Find out more about Unifi’s sustainability and responsibility work from here. (Note. The website is only in Finnish).

Travel to Oulu

This year's seminar program has been designed to accommodate the travel schedules of participants from other universities. To facilitate easier arrivals in Oulu, the official program begins in the afternoon. For sustainability reasons, we recommend traveling to Oulu by train or bus.

By train

Oulu is well connected by train, with regular services from Helsinki (~ 6-8h) and other major cities. The railway station is in the heart of the city.

For seminar attendees arriving to Oulu by train on Monday, November 4th, a complimentary bus service will be provided from Oulu railway station to the University of Oulu's Linnanmaa campus. The bus will depart from the station approximately at 14.30, and the official seminar program will begin at 15.00 PM on the Linnanmaa campus.

By bus

Oulu is also accessible via long-distance bus services from various cities across Finland. The main bus station is also centrally located, right next to Oulu railway station.

For seminar attendees arriving to Oulu by long-distance bus on Monday, November 4th, a complimentary bus service will be provided from Oulu railway station to the University of Oulu's Linnanmaa campus. The bus will depart from the station approximately at 14.30, and the official seminar program will begin at 15.00 PM on the Linnanmaa campus.

Linnanmaa campus

The seminar program will take place at University of Oulu’s Linnanmaa campus. The main campus of Linnanmaa is located about five kilometres north of the centre of Oulu and it can be easily reached by bus.

Address: Pentti Kaiteran katu 1, 90570 Oulu. Main entrance, 2T doors, is located at Erkki Koiso-Kanttilan katu.

Cycle and walk to Linnanmaa

The Linnanmaa campus is accessible by bike from anywhere in the city. The Linnanmaa signposts in the bike path network direct to the campus and the bicycle route 'Baana' from the market square in downtown brings directly to the campus. The biggest bike parks can be found at the main entrance 2T.

Arrive by bus

The bus stop by 2T main entrance is called the University. Bus timetables at the web page of Oulu public transport.

Arrive by car

Parts of parking spaces have limited parking time and some are subject to a charge. More information on parking spaces can be found from here: https://www.oulu.fi/en/university/campuses/parking-and-reservation-parking-spaces

Accessibility

The Linnanmaa campus area of the University of Oulu is very functional in terms of accessibility. In addition, attention has been given to accessibility through various arrangements (see campus map). There is an unobstructed passage for example through the main door 2T.

Contact details

Unifi’s Sustainability and Responsibility seminar 2024 is organised by University of Oulu. Get in touch with the Unit for Strategy and Science Policy’s organising team by sending email to anni.huovinen(at)oulu.fi & mira.koski(at)oulu.fi