Every May, Diversity Month is celebrated in Estonia and across Europe, aiming to highlight the importance of diversity and inclusion.
To promote diverstiy and inclusion in academia, Estonia’s public universities- the University of Tartu, Tallinn University of Technology, Tallinn University, the Estonian University of Life Sciences, the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, and the Estonian Academy of Arts are co-organising Diversity Week annually, on the second week of May. In 2025, Diversity Week will take place on May 5-11, and is organised together with the Estonian Research Council.
The focus of this year’s Diversity Week is on building intervention culture. Why is it important to intervene, and how should it be done? The week will provide both food for thought as well as practical tips on how to respond to workplace bullying, misconduct, and/or unequal treatment in academia. The week will also remind the role of universities and research-funding organizations in ensuring a safe learning and working environment for everyone.
The week kicks off on Monday, May 5, with a joint video message from students, highlighting the importance of developing intervention culture and how members of academia can help create a safer and more caring learning and working environment.
The same day, practical guidelines will be introduced, designed to help people understand the importance of intervention. Developed by equality and HR experts from universities, the guide offers clear and user-friendly instructions on how to respond when witnessing misconduct or unequal treatment. The guidelines as well as the “Dare to act” poster are welcome to be used also in other organisations.
On Tuesday, May 6, from 11:00 to 12:30 EET, a webinar will be held on English on Microsoft Teams by Fredrik Bondestam, Associate Professor of Sociology at Uppsala University and Director of the Swedish Secretariat for Gender Research at the University of Gothenburg. In his presentation, Bondestam will focus on ending gender-based violence in universities and research institutions, discussing the role of universities and research funders and sharing international experiences. The event will be recorded and made available for later viewing on the Estonian Research Council’s YouTube channel.
On Wednesday, May 7, from 10:00 to 12:00 EET, a public discussion titled “Dare to Intervene: Why and How?” will take place at the Baltic Film, Media, and Arts School of Tallinn University. The discussion will focus on the practical aspects of intervention. Experts will explain why people are often hesitant to intervene and provide guidance on how to do so effectively and safely. The aim is to give the audience the confidence, knowledge, and practical tools to take action when they see bullying, harassment, or injustice. The discussion will be moderated by Elina Kivinukk, psychologist and Equal Treatment Representative at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. Speakers include Triin Toomesaar, former head of the foundation Kiusamisvaba kool (Bullying-Free School); Johan Pastarus, mental health consultant at the Labor Inspectorate; and Helina Loor, visiting lecturer at Tallinn University and learning designer at the Kaljulaid Foundation. The event will be streamed live online and will also be available for later viewing on the Estonian Research Council’s YouTube channel.
Diversity Week 2024: “Diverse Estonian Universities”
In 2024, Diversity Week was held from May 6 to 12. The week was started off with a joint video statement by the rectors of Estonia’s public universities in which they emphasized that universities must provide a good learning and working environment for everyone, and that the academic community should be supportive, inclusive, and value cultural diversity.
Following the video statement, a panel discussion on diversity in universities took place, moderated by journalist Johannes Tralla. Participants included Kadri Aavik, Associate Professor of Gender Studies (Tallinn University); Marko Lõhmus, Senior Lecturer in Cultural Management (Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre); Raili Marling, Professor of English Studies (University of Tartu); Tanja Muravskaja, artist and head of the Digital Printing Centre (Estonian Academy of Arts); and Merle Ojasoo, Associate Professor in Organization and Management (TalTech).
Each day of the week, the Gender Equality and Equal Treatment Commissioner’s social media channels and ETV2 featured a short lecture on a relevant topic. Speakers included the Commissioner for Equal Treatment Christian Veske, Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs Aune Valk (University of Tartu), musicologist Brigitta Davidjants (Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre), Professor of Photography Marge Monko (Estonian Academy of Arts), Associate Professor Merle Ojasoo (TalTech), and Associate Professor of Sociology Triin Roosalu (Tallinn University). The videos are available on the Gender Equality and Equal Treatment Comissioner’s YouTube channel. Diversity Week 2024 was co-funded by the Office of the Gender Equality and Equal Treatment Commissioner.
More information:
Equal Treatment in Estonia’s Public Universities:
- University of Tartu: https://ut.ee/en/equal-treatment
- Estonian University of Life Sciences: https://www.emu.ee/en/equal-treatment
- Tallinn University: https://www.tlu.ee/en/equal-treatment
- TalTech: https://oigusaktid.taltech.ee/en/guidelines-for-equal-treatment/
- Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre: https://eamt.ee/en/studies/advice-and-assistance/equal-treatment/
- Estonian Academy of Arts: https://wiki.artun.ee/en/management
Contact at the Estonian Research Council:
Marten Juurik
Head of the Unit of Research Integrity
marten.juurik@etag.ee
+372 731 7381