Equality plan

Equality at Laurea

Laurea University of Applied Sciences is strongly committed to equality, non-discrimination and accessibility. Laurea’s activities are based on the values of openness, responsibility and impact. It is important to create a learning and working environment where each individual is treated fairly and respectfully as themselves. As part of the InCITIES project, Laurea, together with partner universities, has signed a joint statement in which the leadership of the universities commits to adhering to the principles of equality, diversity and inclusion across the entire community in their everyday activities.

At Laurea we recognise and value the richness that the diversity of the higher education community brings. It is regarded as a resource that develops the community and strengthens well-being and learning. The aim is to ensure a safe and encouraging atmosphere for community members in which rights and equal opportunities are respected. The equality plan guides the work and helps ensure that Laurea is a community where one can feel belonging and succeed in one’s own goals.

Equality is seen as fair treatment of all community members, taking into account individuals’ different needs and starting points. Laurea strives to ensure that all members of the higher education community have equal opportunities to succeed and develop. This means, among other things, providing various support measures and resources to those who need them most. The principles of equality guide the actions of all members of Laurea. The principles are visible for example in recruitment and career development processes as well as in the design of learning environments.

The equality plan is part of Laurea’s quality system. The overall evaluation of the realization of equality and the results of equality surveys are assessed and reported every four years, at which time the need to update the plan is also reviewed. The results of the student well-being survey and initial stage student feedback are processed and reported annually. Feedback is collected from staff approximately every two years through a staff survey. The implementation of equality, non-discrimination and accessibility is also monitored through statutory workplace surveys and in connection with the annual processing of the staff report. The staff report is an annually compiled document in which the implementation of equality and diversity is monitored and discussed in the second cooperation negotiation committee meeting of the year. The number of safety reports and reports of inappropriate treatment made by members of the higher education community is monitored annually in the occupational safety committee.

The implementation of the equality plan’s objectives and measures is monitored in the occupational safety committee as well as in the pedagogy and curriculum reform development group and these are reported annually to the university collegium. Laurea’s equality plan is processed in the cooperation negotiation committee and in the pedagogy and curriculum reform development group. The equality plan is approved by the university collegium.

Leadership and organisational culture

Laurea is committed to promoting equality and nondiscrimination in all university activities. Leadership is open, fair and inclusive so that all members of the university community feel valued and heard. Leadership is also examined strategically and in practice; decision-making and operational planning take into account the principles of equality.

Accessible communication that supports diversity is an essential part of leadership and the organisation’s culture. Communication strengthens equality and nondiscrimination for internal and external audiences. Such communication promotes an open and inclusive atmosphere in which everyone has the opportunity to be heard and to participate equally. Communication takes into account different readers and listeners, addressing them respectfully and avoiding stereotypes.

At Laurea, diversity means respectful interaction and a positive atmosphere. Laurea’s values and the attitude culture created by the staff enable the participation and equality of members of the university community in different life situations. At the heart of a culture that promotes diversity are equality, non-discrimination, fairness and inclusion as well as interaction and community spirit.

Laurea addresses discriminatory, inappropriate and harassing behaviour within the organisation in accordance with established processes. Laurea’s jointly developed Ethical Code of Conduct, Degree Regulations and Laurea’s Rules of Procedure guide appropriate behaviour. The university operates in accordance with declared goals that promote accessibility.

Recruitment and career development

Laurea invests in the openness, equality and modernity of recruitment practices. Recruitment processes and guidelines have been defined in cooperation to ensure as open, fair, equal and non-discriminatory a recruitment process as possible. Up-to-date recruitment practices ensure that diversity is taken into account and that minorities are treated equally at different stages of recruitment.

Laurea values employees of different ages and career stages and supports them in different life situations: occupational well-being and coping at work are important, and reconciling work, leisure and family life is seen as a significant resource. Laurea enables flexible remote and on-site work models. Work ability is taken into account in work planning and through flexibility in working hours. Staff are treated equally with consideration for different stages of their careers.

Laurea is committed to both the Human Resources Strategy for Researchers (HRS4R) and CoARA work and to developing career opportunities for teachers and researchers as well as research assessment. The HRS4R initiative is a strategy developed by the European Commission that promotes researchers’ working conditions and the attractiveness of research careers. CoARA (Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment) focuses on developing research assessment. At Laurea these principles are applied across all staff. The title and salary structures for project staff and researchers have already been clarified by building a researcher career path and an RDI staff career path.

Equality in competence development and career progression is ensured through performance and development discussions. The community development plan is updated in cooperation and includes tools and measures for competence management. Use this block model for writing text on most content pages, including project pages, degree programme pages, etc.

Laurea’s service promise and student participation

Laurea’s service promise “At Laurea we are here for you” means a commitment to students to provide equal and diversity-aware study opportunities at the university. To partners it is a promise of partnership and planned pedagogical collaboration. The intention is that the service promise and the pedagogical programme support each other. According to them, guidance takes into account the individual needs of students in diverse groups and strengthens student-centeredness and study ability.

The aim of Laurea’s service promise is to enable students’ participation in the university’s physical and digital learning environments. In practice this means equal rights and responsibilities, accountability and opportunities for influence for members of the university community. The student, in turn, commits to their studies and fulfils their obligations as a university student in accordance with Laurea’s guidelines.

Applying to higher education and student admissions are part of the student’s educational path. Equal and diversity-respecting treatment and service are implemented throughout the application process through the common electronic entrance examinations of universities of applied sciences. Laurea’s student selection criteria comply with the Equality Act. Student selection covers the entire application process, which includes joint admissions and separate application rounds. To support the choice of study place, information is provided about the university, programmes and entry requirements as well as practical information about studying in different fields. Information is offered in an accessible format so that clear and accurate information can be easily found on Laurea’s website. Accessibility is also realised in personal customer service including entrance exams, where special arrangements are taken into account and the transparency of entrance examination results is ensured. By accepting a study place, the person simultaneously undertakes to comply with Laurea’s rules and operating practices, which in turn promotes the community’s equality and diversity. Use this block model for writing text on most content pages, including project pages, degree programme pages, etc.

Pedagogical inclusion and enabling learning

Equality in a university of applied sciences means in practice pedagogical planning and action so that teaching and guidance, physical and digital learning environments as well as teaching materials and methods are appropriate and accessible to all. According to Laurea’s pedagogical programme, “The student receives timely expert information, advice and guidance at different stages of their studies to support their studies and student well-being. The roles in guidance are clear. Accessibility and barrier-free practices are taken into account in communication, learning environments, interaction and teaching and guidance methods.” A central goal of university education for the student is the smooth progress of studies, development of professional competence and employment corresponding to the education.

Implementing equality challenges current teaching practices. Guiding and teaching a diverse group requires the development and maintenance of pedagogical leadership skills. When the teacher is clearly the group leader, it particularly helps students from different cultural backgrounds to adapt to the university. Especially important issues include assessing students’ varying starting levels and language skills, suitable pedagogical choices in small- and large-group teaching, workshop work and supervision. The rapid generalisation of artificial intelligence and its responsible professional use are challenges for a teacher’s pedagogical leadership.

“Laurea pedagogy is based on a guidance-oriented approach. Guidance activities strengthen the student’s agency and functional capacity, self-direction, participation, career planning skills and well-being. At Laurea, students’ different backgrounds, needs, goals and abilities to reflect on their own competence are recognised. The student receives equal guidance services regardless of campus, mode of implementation or programme.” (Pedagogical programme 2023–2025). Use this block model for writing text on most content pages, including project pages, degree programme pages, etc. You can add h3-level subheadings and additional paragraphs to the right-hand column without adding a title to the adjacent column by pressing enter at the end of the paragraph.

Student well-being and guidance services

According to the guidance plan (2018), guidance, counselling and information at Laurea are student services through which the student has the opportunity to build their future according to their wishes and resources. The increased need for guidance related to study ability and study skills has been identified, and new guidance and support measures have been developed for this purpose. Supporting students, teachers and teacher tutors are broad-based student well-being services and study directors. Support related to study ability and well-being is provided by study psychologists, special education teachers, a student welfare officer, experts from the Student Health Care Services (YTHS) and the university’s career services.

Student guidance at Laurea is offered in a multidisciplinary manner. Study services provide advice and guidance on study-related matters face-to-face, by phone and by email. Deviation guidance services collectively offer information, advice, support and guidance on general study-related questions together with well-being actors. Information and publishing services provide various types of support for people with reading impairments and support for the accessible use of materials, for example for using text-to-speech software.

Digital learning environment

Accessibility of digital services means that everyone has the opportunity to use digital services regardless of their situation. Digital services include, among other things, information systems and user interfaces, online learning environments, project websites, digital learning materials, electronic publications and theses, public web pages, mobile applications, web shops and other public online services. An accessible web service should take into account technical implementation, ease of use as well as the clarity and comprehensibility of content.

Laurea has had accessibility statements produced by a third party for the most used web services. System administrators are responsible for advancing the correction of the shortcomings mentioned in the statement.

Barrier-free learning environment

The physical environment refers to Laurea’s buildings, spaces and yard and parking areas, which must be accessible to users. Accessibility means that a person who has difficulty moving or who uses assistive devices for mobility is able to move around the premises. Spaces must also be usable, for example, for people with low vision and hearing impairments. The physical accessibility of Laurea’s campuses has been assessed at all campuses through accessibility surveys in cooperation with an external evaluator. Laurea’s accessibility info is available on Laurea’s website. Facilities, learning and working environments, teaching and working methods are in accordance with the principles of an accessible university.

Final words

The measures to achieve the equality plan’s objectives are recorded annually in the university’s operational and financial plan, which is used to guide and ensure actions in accordance with the strategy. The achievement of the equality plan’s objectives is monitored annually as part of the monitoring of the operational and financial plan and as part of the work of the university collegium. Progress on the objectives is communicated in Laurea’s Social Impact and Responsibility review.