Leadership and monitoring of sustainability and responsibility efforts

Examples of actions during 2023 to promote the SDG 1: No poverty

RESEARCH

• INEQ Helsinki Inequality Iniative focuses on questions such as how to build and protect a fair and justifiable society. INEQ brings together academics whose work enhances understanding of causes and consequences of intersecting inequalities. Familiarize yourself with INEQ and their research focuses.

PROMOTION OF AFRICA-THEMED RESEARCH AND COLLABORATION

• The purpose of the University’s Africa Programme for the period 2021–2030 is to increase collaboration in Africa and support new ambitious research and education collaboration. At the programme’s core is sustainability, and all successful applications to the programme are connected to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN. The programme strengthens partnerships between the University of Helsinki and African universities. In 2023, we selected a group of talented African junior scholars for the Africa Early Career Mobility Programme. Through their collaborative projects, these researchers are contributing to the UN SDGs. They are investigating for instance the alleviation of poverty through the promotion of small-scale farming and trade. 

STUDENT BENEFITS AND SUPPORT

• University students can apply and get various kind of support related to finanzing their studies and daily life. For instance, all university students can apply for student financial aid, have lunch at a discount and they are entitled to student fares in public transport in Helsinki metropolitan area. In 2023, University gave out €400,000 in scholarships and grants for students and researchers to support studies and research. Read more about student support and benefits.

PROMOTION OF FAIR TRADE

• ​​​​​​​University of Helsinki has​​​​​​​ been a Fairtrade University since 2013. As a Fairtrade University, we are committed to promoting the use and availability of Fairtrade certified products in our procurement and to raising awareness of Fairtrade and its importance in global production and consumption relations.

⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2023 report.

Examples of actions during 2023 to promote the SDG 2: Zero hunger

AFFORTABLE FOOD FOR STUDENTS AND STAFF

• Campus restaurants sell healthy, sustainable and affortable food for the university community. There are always vegetarian and vegan options available. Lunches are sold at discount for both students and staff. In 2023, 1 312 060 lunches were sold at student rates in UniCafe cafeterias.
• Unicafe also sells leftover food at a discount after lunchtime. Leftover Lunches are available at all UniCafe restaurants. One can also bring their own reusable container and get Leftover Lunches for a cheaper prize.
• To avoid food waste, some of Unicafe restaurants offer baguettes, bowls and other display cabinet products at a discount through the ResQ mobile app. 
• Read more about sustainability at Unicafe restaurants and at Sodexo restaurants (in Finnish only).

PROMOTING A SUSTAINABLE TRANSFORMATION OF THE FOOD SYSTEM 

• Viikki Food Design Factory is a home for food innovation on Viikki Campus. It brings together food and innovation specialists and facilitates the creation of new sustainable solutions related to the primary production, processing, distribution and consumption of food. Viikki Food Design Factory is a place where new sustainable food and food system solutions are introduced to the world and developed into innovations for the benefit of people and society.
• The University of Helsinki Funds invested in Mäsli Oy, a company that produces seed crispbread from the surplus barley of Finnish microbreweries. Mäsli Oy had participated in the HELSEED entrepreneurship programme. 
• The Food Futures project, developed collaboratively by the University of Helsinki, Aalto University and TX Oy, joined forces with UniCafe to create a pilot application. Via the app, customers were rewarded for their responsible meal choices with free coffee at UniCafe. The app makes it possible, for example, to browse daily meal options, compare their environmental impact, and examine the sustainability of your food history. 

CAMPUS FARMING

• The University provides all students and staff with the opportunity to participate in campus gardening.

PROMOTING FAIRTRADE 

• University of Helsinki has been Fairtrade university since 2013. This means that the University promotes the use and availability of Fairtrade certified products in the procurement, as well as increases the University community’s awareness of Fairtrade and its significance to global production and consumption networks. As part of the activities, for instance a Fairtrade coffee break was held in September.

⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2023 report.

Wellbeing has been chosen as one of the priority areas for daily operations in the Sustainability and responsibility plan 2022-2024.

Examples of actions during 2023 to promote SDG 3: Good health and wellbeing

RESEARCH ON WELLBEING AND HEALTH

• The forces of the HELSUS, HOH and INEQ research networks were combined in a new RESET project. Resilient and Just Systems (RESET) creates a transdisciplinary research environment that integrates the life sciences and social sciences, offering resilient and just solutions for strengthening systemic recovery. The RESET project is coordinated by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, with involvement from seven other faculties from three campuses as well as the independent Helsinki Institute of Life Science (HiLIFE). Read more on the project website. 
• Helsinki Planetary Health Hub (HPHH), a network that promotes ecological, social, cultural and economic sustainability in health systems through research and practical solutions, concluded a collaboration agreement aimed at increasing the prevalence of a plant-based diet with the help of AI-driven nutrition programmes. The collaboration enables investigating the effects of digital solutions targeted at the population in Finland and the United States. Read more on the University website.

PROMOTION OF AFRICA-THEMED RESEARCH AND COLLABORATION 

• In 2023, we selected a group of talented African junior scholars for the Africa Early Career Mobility Programme. Through their collaborative projects, these researchers are contributing to the UN SDGs. They are investigating for instance solutions related to antibiotic resistance. 
• Over the course of the year, Africa-themed research projects focused on antimicrobial resistance, insect pests and the importance of hygiene in healthcare, were ongoing at the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry. 

TARGETED SUPPORT FOR STUDENTS

• Launched in 2021, the development project for student guidance and wellbeing concluded. In the project, guidance and supervision were clarified, support for student wellbeing was increased, and forms of low-threshold support were developed. The project outcomes include a self-access course for teachers providing guidance for the development of guidance skills as well as service descriptions for student guidance, counselling and advice. In 2023, we organised wellbeing events, increased training and support for teachers providing guidance, and organised courses in support of wellbeing and study engagement. We also launched advice services for international degree students. 

STAFF WELLBEING

• The office dog experiment carried out at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine was aimed at promoting staff wellbeing. In the spirit of the One Health concept, the experiment was carefully designed, taking into consideration various parties and opinions. 
• In the winter and summer bike-a-thons, members of the University community cycled a total of more than 206,000 kilometres. This reduced carbon emissions by 36,064 kg. 
• The IT Centre agreed on new operational models for facility use and the principles of hybrid work through collaborative self-management and discussion. Among other things, the aim of this experiment was to increase the meaningfulness of work and job satisfaction by giving the employees broader decision-making powers related to facility use. 
• We provided our researchers with support in social media harassment situations. The University has separate guidelines for harassment and targeting on social media. 

SOCIETAL INTERACTION RELATED TO HEALTH AND WELLBEING 

• The Studia Generalia lecture series focused on, among other things, freedom in consumption, and the link between artificial intelligence and wellbeing. 
• The collaborative Legumes for Sustainable Food System and Healthy Life (Leg4Life) project published, in cooperation with the Just Food project, a policy brief related to the reform of nutrition recommendations entitled ‘Diets are part of solving health and environmental challenges: new nutrition recommendations support the sustainability transition’. 
• Researchers and experts from the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry played a significant role in updating the Nordic nutrition recommendations published in June. This was the biggest update in the 40-year history of the guidelines. For the first time, they include scientific recommendations on diets that are environmentally as well as nutritionally healthy. 

⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2023 report.

To promote SDG 4, we have chosen three priority areas for the sustainability and responsibility plan for the period 2022–2024: 

1. Sustainability in education: We will ensure that the sustainable development goals are included when applicable in the objectives and contents of all degree programmes. We will strengthen the skills of doctoral students in all fields in solving challenges for sustainable development.
2. Global partnerships: We will develop partnership-based collaboration with universities in the Global South, increasing opportunities for mutual training and professional development, while enhancing the knowledge capital of the students’ home countries.
3. Continuous learning: We will develop sustainable development into a spearhead in continuous learning and will promote national and international collaboration in sustainability studies. We will strengthen staff skills in the promotion of sustainable development.

The progress of measures related to the priority areas will be reported on in the Sustainability Highlights reports. The measures implemented by the end of 2023 include the following:  

• In connection with planning the curriculum period 2023–2026, we will draw up joint policies and guidelines for strengthening sustainability expertise. Sustainability and responsibility will be integrated into the model of academic specialist skills.
• We will implement One Health Early Career Champions collaboration together with the University of Nairobi.
• We will develop a micro-skills programme in sustainable development as part of the Una Europa network and will offer the programme as part of our continuous learning provision. Take a look at the programme ⇒ Micro-credential in Sustainability

Examples of other actions during 2023 to promote SDG 4: Quality education   

DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABILITY SKILLS 

• Seed funding was awarded to 13 development projects to support the advancement of sustainability courses and teaching materials for the needs of both individual disciplines and several degree programmes. The successful applications came from eight faculties. 
• We joined the Sustainability Studies Network of eight Finnish higher education institutions. The teaching collaboration network intensifies cooperation between the institutions and expands the provision of teaching focused on the environment, sustainability and responsibility. 
• We developed an online training option for staff entitled Sustainability Starts with Us, providing basic information on various areas of sustainability. In spring 2024, the studies available to staff will be supplemented with a more extensive sustainability training module. 

PROMOTION OF CONTINUOUS LEARNING AND GLOBAL PARTNERSHIPS 

• The University significantly expanded its provision of continuous learning opportunities for the academic year 2023–2024. Many faculties and units offered an increasingly extensive selection of their teaching openly to anyone interested. In all, roughly 1,500 courses were offered as open university education in the academic year 2023–2024. 
• The Elements of AI online course has already attracted a million people to familiarise themselves with the basics of artificial intelligence. The open and free-of-charge course, translated into 26 languages, has attracted people from more than 170 countries. 
• Educational cooperation in atmospheric sciences with Nanjing University was launched in autumn 2023. The scheme is the next step in the close collaboration between atmospheric scientists at the Faculty of Science and Nanjing University. The partnership will see the implementation of degree education for Chinese students in bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral programmes jointly coordinated by the two institutions. This is the first time that the University of Helsinki has put into practice the opportunity provided by the Universities Act to offer commissioned education. The collaboration is a significant element in the global impact of atmospheric research conducted at the University of Helsinki. 

INVESTMENTS IN SCIENCE EDUCATION 

• In our LUMA science labs, learning communities have the opportunity to familiarise themselves with research and studies in scientific and mathematical fields. The science labs also provide teachers with educational games, equipment and other tools to borrow, including GPS devices, a water analyser and an educational kit for illustrating the carbon cycle. In 2023, the science labs welcomed 380 groups and 8,249 pupils, of which 3,305 were from general upper secondary schools. 
• Ruoan jäljillä (‘Tracking food’), the first science camp for children organised by the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, was a success. The camp was organised in cooperation with the Leg4Life legume project, with 20 children participating. At the camp, the children explored food and its production from a range of perspectives. Visits were made to, for example, greenhouses and the cowshed at the Viikki research farm. 
• Organised for the whole family, Think Corner’s Päiväni lääkärinä (‘My day as a doctor’) workshop event provided illustrative activities for examining the significance of the common health of animals, humans and the environment. Participants also carried out health examinations on plushies under the guidance of a teddy doctor. 

⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2023 report.

Examples of actions during 2023 to promote SDG 5: Gender equality

GENDER EQUALITY IN NUMBERS

• Women account for 59% of all staff. 
• A total of 5,840 degrees were completed at the University of Helsinki, of which 71% were completed by women. 
• See more numbers on gender divisions from the University of Helsinki in numbers page. 

MEASURES TAKEN TO PROMOTE EQUALITY, INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY

• We organized a great deal of events and training sessions in the context of the year of responsible interaction in the University community. The theme was approached, for example, by means of drama under the direction of Theatre Works and as a topic in supervisory training. In cooperation with the University community, our library also drew up principles for a safer space. 
• We established under the Equality and Diversity Committee three thematic groups in the following areas: equality, physical and digital accessibility, and operating culture and diversity. 
• We participated in Pride Week with a programme including an event on LGBTQI+ rights, a Pride café in the Kaisa House library, participation in the Pride parade and rainbow flags flown on the campuses. 
• We increased the number of gender-neutral toilets. In 2023, there were 209 new unisex toilets installed in university facilities.

⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2023 report. 

Examples of actions during 2023 to promote the SDG 6: Clean water and sanitation

• Under the Society’s Commitment to Sustainable Development scheme, the University has pledged in 2015 to reduce the energy and water consumption of University buildings by 10%. In 2023, water consumption increased by 11.9% compared to 2022, which is explained by the University community’s return to the campuses after the pandemic years. See the sustainability report of university facility services for more detailed information (reports in Finnish only). 
• The university participated in the national Energy Saving Week in October. 
• We launched a new reporting service for energy and water use monitoring of buildings and campuses. Every university member can monitor energy and water consumption in the university buildings in the reporting service based on the Power BI tool.
• We have increased the number of gender-neutral toilets. In 2023, there were 209 new unisex toilets installed in university facilities 
• We promote sustainable water use. For more information, see Living within the planetary boundaries at the University -pages. 

⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2023 report. 

Examples of actions during 2023 to promote SDG 7: Affordable and clean energy

NUMBERS AND MEASURES: 

• Every year, projects to improve energy efficiency are carried out at the University’s properties. In the 2023 heating period, temperatures in office facilities were kept lower than before as a continuation of the national Down by a degree campaign in 2022. Cooling in the summertime was also reduced in offices 
• A total of 4,470.5 MWh of renewable electricity and thermal energy was produced, corresponding to 2.5% of the total energy consumption of all University buildings. The goal is to increase this figure to 10%. In 2023, solar and geothermal heating systems were completed for the accommodation facilities for researchers at Tvärminne and the new building in Hyytiälä. Measures taken to improve energy efficiency in University properties implemented during the year amounted to a savings of 45 MWh. 
• The total energy consumption decreased by roughly 0.5% compared to 2022. 
• Heat consumption increased by 5.4% compared to 2022, which is explained by the colder winter of that year. 
• Compared to 2022, electricity consumption decreased by 1.8%. 

 CARBON NEUTRALITY 

• In the spring, we published the roadmap for a carbon neutral University of Helsinki by 2030. 
• We reduced our carbon footprint. The reduction of emissions from 2022 was largely due to the purchase of carbon-neutral electricity, for which we bought guarantees of origin for nuclear power. University's carbon footprint in 2023 was 49,992 t CO2 e. See more information related to carbon footprint Living withing the planetary boundaries at the university -page. 
• A new building for the Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Natural Sciences was completed on Kumpula Campus, paying heed to the circular economy and carbon neutrality goals. In the planning of the school building, the goal was to achieve the smallest possible carbon footprint. The recycling of materials was taken into consideration, for example, by transferring the granite plates in front of the entrance from the courtyard of the University’s renovated Main Building. 

OTHER SUPPORTING ACTIONS 

• The university participated in the national Energy Saving Week in October. 
• We launched a new reporting service for energy and water use monitoring of buildings and campuses. Every university member can monitor energy and water consumption in the university buildings in the reporting service based on the Power BI tool. 

⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2022 report   

Examples of actions during 2023 to promote the SDG 8: Decent work and economic growth

INVESTMENTS 

• Our investment activities are guided by the principles for responsible investment activities approved by the University Board. The cornerstones of the investment strategy, founded on academic research, are diversification, low costs and the mitigation of climate change. By responsibility, we mean responsibility for the University’s finances, as well as for society and the environment as a whole. In 2023, the return on the University’s investment was 13.5%. From the beginning of 2019, the average annual return on investment has been 11.6%. We divested all of our investments in fossil fuel producers in 2020 and are aiming for a carbon neutral investment portfolio by 2030. At the end of 2023, the carbon footprint of our investments was roughly half that of our peers. Read more in the investments report for 2023.

PROMOTION OF STAFF WELLBEING 

• The office dog experiment carried out at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine was aimed at promoting staff wellbeing. In the spirit of the One Health concept, the experiment was carefully designed, taking into consideration various parties and opinions. 
• In the winter and summer bike-a-thons, members of the University community cycled a total of more than 206,000 kilometres. This reduced carbon emissions by 36,064 kg. 
• The IT Centre agreed on new operational models for facility use and the principles of hybrid work through collaborative self-management and discussion. Among other things, the aim of this experiment was to increase the meaningfulness of work and job satisfaction by giving the employees broader decision-making powers related to facility use. 
• We provided our researchers with support in social media harassment situations. The University has separate guidelines for harassment and targeting on social media. 

SUPPORT FOR STUDENT STARTUPS

• The University of Helsinki Funds invested in two businesses that participated in the HELSEED entrepreneurship programme. Support was provided to Mäsli Oy, a company that produces seed crispbread from the surplus barley of Finnish microbreweries, and Three Mushketeers Oy, whose business idea is based on a mushroom powder that improves the flavour of vegetarian dishes. HELSEED is an entrepreneurship programme geared to students and inspiring them to develop their ideas into startups. Another goal is to support existing startups in developing their operations.

PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION 

• Attracting increasing interest, the pre-incubators and incubators of the University’s Helsinki Incubators programme continued their operations. For example, the Circulator pre-incubator focused on the circular economy and sustainability received almost 40 applications, a significant improvement from the previous year. The teams participating in the incubators also fared better than before in securing partners, customers and investors. At the end of 2023, following 18 months of operations, Helsinki Incubators had given rise to nearly 60 businesses, of which roughly onethird are sustainability-themed. 
• Viikki Campus aims to become a globally well-known innovation cluster, with solutions for, among other things, the sustainable use of natural resources and the circular economy currently being outlined on the campus. Read more about innovation operations on the campus on the University website . 
• Helsinki Think Company celebrated its 10th anniversary in the autumn. The celebrations kicked off with the Think Corner event Miten maailmaa muutetaan (‘How to change the world’), with President Tarja Halonen among the speakers. Established in 2013, Helsinki Think Company has been championing the entrepreneurial spirit of University of Helsinki students and researchers through events and programmes. Over the years, Helsinki Think Company’s 4UNI flagship programme has created solutions and business ideas for, for example, reducing food waste and hate speech as well as improving the condition of the Baltic Sea. 

⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2023 report.   

The promotion of SDG 9 is reflected in the sustainability and responsibility plan for 2022–2024 in the following priority areas for research, societal interaction and daily operations: 

1. Responsible research: We will provide a systematic university and unit level approach to the promotion of open science and research, good scientific practice, and the responsible management of research data.
2. Responsible partnerships: We will ensure that sustainable and responsible operating methods are part of all our partnerships and events. We will strengthen sustainability and responsibility expertise and thinking in the University’s entrepreneurship and innovation activities.
3. Responsible investing: We wish to be the most responsible university investor in Europe. Our investments are regulated and guided by our Principles of investments and spending policy, Principles of responsible investments, and Investment plan. In summary, our investments need to cover our responsibilities to the university itself, its partners, society, as well as the environment.

The progress of measures related to the priority areas will be reported in the Sustainability Highlights reports. The measures implemented by the end of 2023 include the following: 

• We will support the principles of open science, research and learning as part of responsible research. We will establish a coordination body for open science and research, outline objectives for open science and research, and formulate rules for the provision of open infrastructures and data. We will integrate qualifications in open science and research into the assessment of research and researchers 
• We will update the ethical guidelines for business collaboration. We will draw up guidelines and, possibly, forms for the assessment of business collaboration partners involved in research. 
• Responsibility reporting of listed investments. Generate new report for listed investments together with external service provider. 

Other examples of actions during 2023 to promote the SDG 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and foster innovation

PROMOTION OF SUSTAINABILITY AND INNOVATION 

• Attracting increasing interest, the pre-incubators and incubators of the University’s Helsinki Incubators programme continued their operations. For example, the Circulator pre-incubator focused on the circular economy and sustainability received almost 40 applications, a significant improvement from the previous year. The teams participating in the incubators also fared better than before in securing partners, customers and investors. At the end of 2023, following 18 months of operations, Helsinki Incubators had given rise to nearly 60 businesses, of which roughly onethird are sustainability-themed. 
• Viikki Campus aims to become a globally well-known innovation cluster, with solutions for, among other things, the sustainable use of natural resources and the circular economy currently being outlined on the campus. Read more about innovation operations on the campus on the University website . 
• Helsinki Think Company celebrated its 10th anniversary in the autumn. The celebrations kicked off with the Think Corner event Miten maailmaa muutetaan (‘How to change the world’), with President Tarja Halonen among the speakers. Established in 2013, Helsinki Think Company has been championing the entrepreneurial spirit of University of Helsinki students and researchers through events and programmes. Over the years, Helsinki Think Company’s 4UNI flagship programme has created solutions and business ideas for, for example, reducing food waste and hate speech as well as improving the condition of the Baltic Sea. 

INVESTMENTS 

• Our investment activities are guided by the principles for responsible investment activities approved by the University Board. The cornerstones of the investment strategy, founded on academic research, are diversification, low costs and the mitigation of climate change. By responsibility, we mean responsibility for the University’s finances, as well as for society and the environment as a whole. In 2023, the return on the University’s investment was 13.5%. From the beginning of 2019, the average annual return on investment has been 11.6%. We divested all of our investments in fossil fuel producers in 2020 and are aiming for a carbon neutral investment portfolio by 2030. At the end of 2023, the carbon footprint of our investments was roughly half that of our peers. Read more in the investments report for 2023. 

⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2023 report.   

SDG 10 Reduced inequalities - related measures listed in the Sustainability and responsibility plan 2022-2024, that were already implemented by the end of 2023 include the following:

• RESEARCH - Safe research and teaching environment: We will contribute to protection of threatened scholars through actions within the Scholars at Risk network, and related funding arrangements. We will chair the Finnish section of Scholars at Risk in 2022–2023.
• DAILY OPERATIONS - Equality and diversity: 
  • We will review the University’s language policy and guidelines concerning inappropriate behaviour and harassment, and will enhance the accessibility of our operations. 
  • We will develop the accessibility and inclusiveness of our recruitment. We will introduce a new recruitment system with greater consideration of accessibility.  We will start using the Recognizing International Talent badge. In this framework, we will invest in identifying unconscious bias and examine language requirements in recruitment. 
  • We will carry out a survey on gender-based violence at the University and use the results to further develop our activities (UniSAFE-project). 
  • In 2022 we will focus on disability inclusion by raising awareness of the issue, organising training and further developing the University’s activities from the perspective of inclusion. 
  • We will support the integration of the spouses of international researchers through the new services provided by the HEILIFE project: networks, support material, career cooperation. 

Other examples of actions during 2023 to promote the SDG 10: Reduced inequalities

RESEARCH

• INEQ Helsinki Inequality Iniative focuses on questions such as how to build and protect a fair and justifiable society. INEQ brings together academics whose work enhances understanding of causes and consequences of intersecting inequalities. Familiarize yourself with INEQ and their research focuses.
• Together with the Max Planck Foundation in Germany, we established a research centre focused on the study of health from the perspective of social inequalities. The Max Planck – University of Helsinki Center for Social Inequalities in Population Health (MaxHel) will enable the establishment of a hub of top-level demographic research with societal impact. Among other things, the research centre provides policymakers with information on the processes that cause health inequalities and alternatives for reducing such inequalities. Scholarly knowledge on the root causes of health inequalities significantly promotes health and the establishment of an increasingly sustainable society. Read more on the University website. (in Finnish and Swedish only) 

TEACHING

• The University significantly expanded its provision of continuous learning opportunities for the academic year 2023–2024. Many faculties and units offered an increasingly extensive selection of their teaching openly to anyone interested. In all, roughly 1,500 courses were offered as open university education in the academic year 2023–2024. 
• The Elements of AI online course has already attracted a million people to familiarise themselves with the basics of artificial intelligence. The open and free-of-charge course, translated into 26 languages, has attracted people from more than 170 countries. 

DAILY OPERATIONS

• The IT centre offers the University community the opportunity to obtain laptops for short-term loan from the Laptop Lender facility. 
• The renovation of the Main Building of the University was completed. In the renovation, particular attention was paid to improving accessibility, indoor air conditions and safety. 
• We funded joint events supporting inclusivity for the entire University community. With this funding, a series of events took place which were inspired by community feedback on the need for practical training and tools that foster inclusive conditions supporting day-to-day working and learning at the University. The events, for example addressed issues of positionality, identity and power, disability inclusion at the University, and antiracist dialogue as a pedagogical method. 
• We established under the Equality and Diversity Committee three thematic groups in the following areas: equality, physical and digital accessibility, and operating culture and diversity. 
• We produced in the University Culture and Engagement Development Project that concluded at the end of the year, we produced, among other things, a University community glossary, guidelines for language awareness at the University, and concise training material to support the development of the operating culture and communality by supervisors in their teams. 
• The University is participating in the employer pool of the Romako project, which promotes the employment of the Romani population. We joined the pool, as we believe in equality for all job-seekers. We joined the pool, as we believe in equality for all job-seekers.  
• In the autumn, 23 trainees, a new record, began serving in various positions through the traineeship programme for international master’s students. The programme was organised for the sixth time. The traineeship programme is one way of promoting equality and diversity in professional life, as well as helping international students gain access to the Finnish labour market. 
• From among ongoing projects of the National Library, the Support for Sámi languages in digital services project promotes linguistic equality.

⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2023 report.

Examples of actions during 2023 to promote the SDG 11: Sustainable cities and communities

SOLVING CHALLENGES OF SUSTAINABLE URBANISATION AND WELLBEING 

• THE HELSINKI INSTITUTE OF URBAN AND REGIONAL STUDIES URBARIA is a network-based and multidisciplinary operator within the University of Helsinki that brings urban studies under one roof and develops public engagement in the field. During the year, Urbaria took the following measures, among others: 
• Launching a research project on social, ecological and economic sustainability indicators in Finland for district- and block-specific monitoring and application. The project is based on roundtable discussions between a multidisciplinary expert group aimed at steering urban development in an increasingly sustainable direction in practice. 
• Relaunching the Urbaria Academics seminar series. In the four sessions held, new Postdoc Forum researchers presented their research projects and discussed burning questions in urban research. 
• Shooting and producing videos on the research themes of people, places and politics. In the videos, urban researchers from the University of Helsinki describe their current and upcoming research projects and highlight important themes related to their field. 
• Continuing collaboration and discussions with Finnish government ministries, the cities of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area, other Finnish universities and research groups. 

URBAN TOOLS FOR EXPETIDING THE SUSTAINABILITY TRANSITION 

• The goal of the Transformative Cities project is to produce information on everyday lives in cities in support of Finland’s national Recovery and Resilience Plan and accelerate the sustainability transition. Through collaboration, the project aims to provide municipalities with the tools needed to tackle challenges associated with emissions and biodiversity. Involved in the project are several Finnish universities, municipalities and businesses, the NATURA network and a number of international partners. The project has secured funding from the Research Council of Finland for the period 2023–2025. Read more on the University website. 

INCUBATOR PROGRAMMES IN COOPERATION WITH THE CITY OF HELSINKI

• Attracting increasing interest, the pre-incubators and incubators of the University’s Helsinki Incubators programme continued their operations. For example, the Circulator pre-incubator focused on the circular economy and sustainability received almost 40 applications, a significant improvement from the previous year. The teams participating in the incubators also fared better than before in securing partners, customers and investors. At the end of 2023, following 18 months of operations, Helsinki Incubators had given rise to nearly 60 businesses, of which roughly onethird are sustainability-themed.

COOPERATION WITH THE CITIES IN THE HELSINKI METROPOLITAN AREA

• Viikki Campus aims to become a globally well-known innovation cluster, with solutions for, among other things, the sustainable use of natural resources and the circular economy currently being outlined on the campus. Read more about innovation operations on the campus on the University website . 

⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2023 report. 

Examples of actions during 2023 to promote the SDG 12: Responsible consumption and production

DEVELOPING CIRCULAR ECONOMY SOLUTIONS 

• We continued the project launched in 2021 to develop the sorting options in office, lobby and break facilities, and sorting stations were specifically added to the lobby facilities of buildings. As part of the project, sorting stations have been acquired for more than 40 locations and plans drawn up to further increase their number in 2024.  
• We have actively developed the efficient internal circulation and re-use sales of furniture to be phased out, as these constitute a major single waste type. 
• We introduced the irtaimistorekisteri.fi service as a tool for external designers and the HY247 furniture team. The register contains images and descriptions of unused furniture that can be relocated. From the register, designers can reserve furniture for their design sites. Products that do not find a new home are transferred to the Kiertonet.fi website for sale. Through the Kiertonet service, we sold a total of 687 pieces or sets of furniture in 2023, with sales totalling €99,171. Since 2017, a total of 2,886 items have been sold through Kiertonet for €442,463. Most of the items have been furniture. In addition to these figures, equipment and furniture have been sold through the City of Helsinki’s circular economy cluster network. 

TREND IN THE AMOUNT OF WASTE 

• To the extent possible, University staff and students recycle and sort their own waste. Every year, the amount of waste generated is monitored in eight categories. 
• In 2023, the total waste generated at the University’s properties and facilities was approximately 2,384 tonnes. Most of the waste originated in facilities, which accounted for 1,576 tonnes of the total. 
• Most of the waste from facilities is mixed waste. In 2023, the amount of paper waste decreased, but that of plastic waste and biowaste increased. Overall, the waste generated in facilities increased by 5% from 2022. With the University’s properties included, the total waste decreased by 1.2% from 2022. 
• We strive to recycle waste as comprehensively as possible. In fact, the recovery rate of waste from facilities is almost 100%. Of the waste, 56% is utilised as material and 44% as energy. The recycling rate in 2023 was 56%. 

SUSTAINABILITY AND RESPONSIBILITY GOALS AS PART OF PROPERTY PROJECTS 

• The demolition of the University buildings in Ruskeasuo, which had reached the end of their lifespan, began in April. We set the goal of recycling 90% of all construction materials. The University is involved in the Circular Economy Cluster Program of the City of Helsinki, which aims to promote innovation, business operations and climate goals in line with the circular economy. 
• A new building for the Helsinki Upper Secondary School of Natural Sciences was completed on Kumpula Campus, paying heed to the circular economy and carbon neutrality goals. In the planning of the school building, the goal was to achieve the smallest possible carbon footprint. The recycling of materials was taken into consideration, for example, by transferring the granite plates in front of the entrance from the courtyard of the University’s renovated Main Building. 

OTHER EXAMPLES

• Since 2019, the University of Helsinki’s IT Centre has operated a centralised recycling service for the responsible recycling and disposal of IT equipment and accessories. The centre collects and sorts recyclable devices into equipment for the aftermarket and those to be used as raw materials. In total, 2,596 devices entered the aftermarket while 1,333 devices ended up as raw material. 

⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2023 report. 

The promotion of SDG 13 is reflected in the sustainability and responsibility plan for 2022–2024, particularly in two priority areas for daily operations: 

1. Carbon neutrality: We will develop the calculation principles of our carbon footprint and make concrete climate emissions reductions. We will achieve carbon neutrality in 2030.
2. Responsible investing: We wish to be the most responsible university investor in Europe. Our investments are regulated and guided by our Principles of investments and spending policy, Principles of responsible investments, and Investment plan. In summary, our investments need to cover our responsibilities to the university itself, its partners, society, as well as the environment.

SDG 13: Climate Action related measures listed in the Sustainability and responsibility plan 2022-2024, that were implemented by the end of 2023 include the following

• We will draw up a carbon neutrality roadmap for the University. In this roadmap, we will define sub-targets and proposed actions for reducing and compensating for climate emissions from different operations, enabling us to achieve our objective of carbon neutrality in 2030. Take a look ⇒ Roadmap for carbon neutral university by 2030
• We will implement guidelines for hybrid work to make more efficient use of work facilities and reduce staff commuting. We will reduce recruitment-related travel, for example, by conducting job interviews, teaching demonstrations and site visits remotely with the help of digital tools. 

Other examples of actions during 2023 to promote the SDG 13: Climate Action

• WE REDUCED OUR CARBON FOOTPRINT: The reduction of emissions from 2022 was largely due to the purchase of carbon-neutral electricity, for which we bought guarantees of origin for nuclear power. In procurement, we primarily used suppliers committed to low-carbon operations. Over the course of the year, new travel guidelines and catering recommendations were drawn up, with the aim of reducing the carbon footprint of travel and food in the coming years. The cafeteria operators also made efforts to reduce the carbon footprint of lunches and catering and to offer sustainable options. At UniCafe cafeterias, for example, vegan and vegetarian options accounted for 48% of all lunches sold. 
• A total of 4,470.5 MWh of renewable electricity and thermal energy was produced, corresponding to 2.5% of the total energy consumption of all University buildings. The goal is to increase this figure to 10%. In 2023, solar and geothermal heating systems were completed for the accommodation facilities for researchers at Tvärminne and the new building in Hyytiälä. Measures taken to improve energy efficiency in University properties implemented during the year amounted to a savings of 45 MWh. 
• The Atmosphere and Climate Competence Center (ACCC) Flagship, coordinated by the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR), received an excellent rating in the interim assessment of the Research Council of Finland. ACCC will continue conducting research on the climate and climate change and their impact until 2028. The ACCC Impact Week and the ACCC-FASN Science Conference brought together hundreds of participants to discuss topical research and the impact of science. ACCC was also one of the official partners of the Finnish pavilion at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai. 
• The Safer Climate network continued its work at the intersection of research, civil society and the arts. In 2023, the themes of the network’s expert contributions and events included climate security, citizen participation, climate and death, as well as the relationship between the climate and mental health. In September, the first ever Climate Security Festival was organised to gather experts from a range of fields to consider the relationship between the climate and security. 
• We designed a professional specialisation programme in climate expertise, with the Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research (INAR) coordinating its establishment. The programme brings together toplevel expertise in climate science, businesses and public sector operators, responding to the growing demand for climate expertise in various sectors of the labour market. The first 60-credit programme began in spring 2024. 
• The Climate Change and Biodiversity Now event series at Think Corner took a multidisciplinary view to questions related to the sustainability transition. The series reached more than 2,200 people on site at Think Corner and over live streams. 

⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2023 report. 

Examples of actions during 2023 to promote the SDG 14: Life below water

PROMOTION OF RESEARCH ON LIFE BELOW WATER

• Over €219,000 in donations to Baltic Sea research. 

SCIENCE EDUCATION ON LIFE BELOW WATER

• Tvärminne Zoological Station organised, for example, a children’s research camp and marine research workshops for families. In addition, the station organised two adult–child art workshops under the theme the Unknown Baltic Sea in the summer in cooperation with the John Nurminen Foundation and the Helsinki Artists’ Association. 

Examples of actions during 2023 to promote the SDG 15: Life on land

PROMOTING LIFE ON LAND BY ENGAGING THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY 

• We established two new meadow plots on Viikki Campus. We also organised meadow walks for those interested.  
• Over the course of the year, nine morning coffee sessions open to the entire community were organised on the theme of biodiversity. Presentations from the University’s own researchers and students as well as invited experts were heard at the events. 
• We organised a planning workshop for a survey on ecosystem services and natural capital open to the entire community. The workshop was attended by teaching and research staff, and specialists from University Services and students. The survey will be carried out in a researcher-led manner in 2024 using methods that engage the community 

MAKING BIODIVERSITY VISIBLE 

• To celebrate its centenary, the Natural History Museum introduced a number of new initiatives in its operations. The highlight was the anniversary exhibition Festival in the Forest, specifically designed for children. Guided tours to the museum’s underground facilities were a new offering, presenting extensive collections ranging from insects to stuffed animals. The first six grades of comprehensive schools constituted the largest group participating in the guided tours, with adults taking second place. 

SOCIETAL INTERACTION ON LIFE ON LAND

• Several of our researchers serve as experts in the multidisciplinary and independent Finnish Nature Panel, Finnish Climate Change Panel, Expert Panel for Sustainable Development and Finnish Forest Bioeconomy Science Panel. Over the course of the year, the panel members contributed to a range of public engagement and communication activities. For example, experts from the Finnish Nature Panel representing the University of Helsinki responded to listeners’ questions on the Yle Radio programme Luonto-Suomi. In addition, the Finnish Forest Bioeconomy Science Panel, which began its term of office at the beginning of the year, launched operations by drafting recommendations for the government term 2023–2027. 
• In October, the Research Centre for Ecological Change (REC) participated in organising the Biodiversity Leadership Course for 25 Finnish corporate leaders. Senior management from major companies (including the CEOs of Metso and Fortum) participated on the course, which was co-organised by the research space Puistokatu 4, the Climate Leadership Coalition and the Forum for Environmental Information. The event was aimed informing corporate leadership about biodiversity and inspiring them consider it in their corporate strategies

OPEN EVENTS AND PODCASTS ON THE THEME

• The Avoimella otteella (‘An open approach’) podcast of Helsinki University Library discussed, among other topics, habitat destruction and the possibilities of interdisciplinary approaches in tackling complex challenges, such as climate change and biodiversity.  

⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2023 report. 

SDG 16 measures listed in the Sustainability and responsibility plan 2022-2024 that were implemented by the end of 2023

• GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT - Targets and indicators:
  • We will publish a sustainability and responsibility plan for each implementation planning period, outlining the University’s key sustainability and responsibility targets, actions and responsible units and persons, and promoting the transparency of our sustainability and responsibility efforts.
  • We will develop our sustainability and responsibility reporting by publishing an annual sustainability and responsibility report, incorporating information on the University’s related efforts. Key results will be reported annually to the rector and vice-rectors. In addition, key sustainability and responsibility actions will be summarised in the University’s annual review.
  • We will incorporate sustainability and responsibility themes permanently into the target negotiations between the rector and the units.
  • We will establish the University of Helsinki Sustainability Fund 2022  to support the University’s sustainability research, teaching and public engagement activities.
  • An annual discussion of the sustainability and responsibility framework will be added to the agendas of the University’s committees and councils. As part of this annual review, the committees and councils will explore, in particular, the implementation of UNIFI’s theses on sustainable development and responsibility and of the University’s sustainability and responsibility plan, and will assess development needs in their field. 
  • We will survey how the perspective of sustainability and responsibility can be better linked to the University’s quality assurance efforts and thinking. We will examine indicators of responsibility and sustainability suitable for the University. 
  • We will participate in the annual Times Higher Education (THE) Impact Ranking 
• RESEARCH -Safe research and teaching environment:
  • We will contribute to protection of threatened scholars through actions within the Scholars at Risk network, and related funding arrangements. We will chair the Finnish section of Scholars at Risk in 2022–2023.
• SOCIETAL INTERACTION - Research-based knowledge in decision-making:
  • We will support decision-making and public discussion, promoting sustainable social development founded on research-based knowledge. We will organise Finland’s largest sustainability science conference, the annual Sustainability Science Days, together with Aalto University.
  • We will support the role of national advisory panels on science and research. Coordination responsibility for the Finnish Expert Panel for Sustainable Development in 2021–2022. Coordination of the communications of the Finnish Climate Change Panel and the Finnish Nature Panel.
• SOCIETAL INTERACTION - Responsible partnerships:
  • We will update the ethical guidelines for business collaboration. We will draw up guidelines and, possibly, forms for the assessment of business collaboration partners involved in research.

Other examples of actions during 2023 to promote the SDG 16: Peace, justice and strong institutions

• The University of Helsinki’s Rule of Law Centre is collaborating with a number of universities, the Centre for Legal and Judicial Training in Mozambique, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime to develop the rule of law in the Southeast African country. The purpose of the collaboration is to promote democracy and human rights as well as eradicate corruption. Read more about the collaboration on the University website. 

⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2023 report. 

The promotion of SDG 17 is strongly reflected throughout the sustainability and responsibility plan for 2022–2024. It is an integral part of the different aspects of sustainability and responsibility, as well as the following priority areas: 

1. GOVERNANCE AND MANAGEMENT - Possibilities for sustainability action: We will reinforce the opportunities of our staff, students and alumni to promote both a more sustainable future and a sense of inclusivity.
2. RESEARCH - Sustainability research and global partnerships: We will consolidate the University’s high-quality sustainability research as well as communicate on it together with our partners. We will develop global partnerships, perspectives and expertise.
3. RESEARCH - Safe research and teaching environment: We will take action to ensure that research can be conducted in safe conditions without the threat of violence or persecution by contributing to the protective measures provided to researchers and students in need of protection.
4. RESEARCH - Responsible research: We will provide a systematic university and unit level approach to the promotion of open science and research, good scientific practice, and the responsible management of research data.
5. TEACHING - Sustainability in education: We will ensure that the sustainable development goals are included when applicable in the objectives and contents of all degree programmes. We will strengthen the skills of doctoral students in all fields in solving challenges for sustainable development.
6. TEACHING - Global partnerships: We will develop partnership-based collaboration with universities in the Global South, increasing opportunities for mutual training and professional development, while enhancing the knowledge capital of the students’ home countries.
7. TEACHING - Continuous learning: We will develop sustainable development into a spearhead in continuous learning and will promote national and international collaboration in sustainability studies. We will strengthen staff skills in the promotion of sustainable development. 
8. SOCIETAL INTERACTION - Research-based knowledge in decision-making: We will strengthen the University’s role as an influential global social force by supporting decision-making and public discussion founded on researchbased knowledge and deepening collaboration with various stakeholders.
9. SOCIETAL INTERACTION - Responsible partnerships: We will ensure that sustainable and responsible operating methods are part of all our partnerships and events. We will strengthen sustainability and responsibility expertise and thinking in the University’s entrepreneurship and innovation activities.
10. SOCIETAL INTERACTION - National and international cooperation: We will continue to engage in open national and international cooperation with other higher education institutions to promote sustainability and responsibility efforts.

The progress of measures related to the priority areas will be reported on in the Sustainability Highlights reports. 

SDG 17 measures implemented by the end of 2023

• We will increase strategic doctoral researcher positions in the multidisciplinary research themes of sustainable development by selecting 10 multidisciplinary doctoral researchers focused on these themes.
• We will strengthen our global partnerships, for example, by establishing an exchange programme for Early Career researchers working at African universities, connected to the goals of sustainable development.
• We will implement One Health Early Career Champions collaboration together with the University of Nairobi.
• We will host UniPID (Finnish University Partnership for International Development), and support the network’s actions for the establishment of responsible global academic partnerships, including their initiative to devise ethical guidelines for academic collaboration with the Global South. 
• We will develop a micro-skills programme in sustainable development as part of the Una Europa network and will offer the programme as part of our continuous learning provision.
• We will update the ethical guidelines for business collaboration. We will draw up guidelines and, possibly, forms for the assessment of business collaboration partners involved in research. 
• We will support the role of national advisory panels on science and research. Coordination responsibility for the Finnish Expert Panel for Sustainable Development in 2021–2022. Coordination of the communications of the Finnish Climate Change Panel and the Finnish Nature Panel.
• We will participate actively in the Finn-ARMA and UNIFI sustainability groups as well as in various international networks (e.g., IUCA, SDSN Northern Europe). Active participation and promotion of sustainability and responsibility in international networks, such as the LERU and UNA Europa networks.

⇒ Read more about our efforts on Sustainability Highlights 2023 report.