Four of the presentations examined gender equality work at higher education institutions and its central concepts such as gender and gender justice, diversity, equality, and inclusion. Anti-racism and anti-sexism work was also discussed, as it has become an increasingly prevalent form of consideration within HEIs. Additionally, the successes and challenges of ongoing gender equality work at higher education institutions, identified gaps, and further research needs were pointed out – for example, mainstreaming gender education for all students and staff in HEIs. In addition to long-term institutional engagement, constant work by local practitioners with sufficient resources is needed to keep research-based gender equality work ongoing within the HEIs.

Two presentations specifically addressed the health and well-being of university students in Arctic Universities from the points of view of experiences of loneliness and feelings of belonging through nature connectedness. The question of experienced loneliness was elaborated among HEI students as connected to their life span experiences of loneliness. Nature connectedness was addressed in a paper that elaborated on a pilot study arranged by the study services of the university to enhance feelings of belonging through meaningful engagement with local nature. Both studies concluded with further needs for related sex and gender-sensitive policy and practice development at HEIs.

The last presentation focused on country food harvesting practices through seasons and gendered knowledge, showing the needs, importance, and benefits of situated knowledge co-creation by local practices living from and within nature. The presentation closed the session before a joint lunch. During the break, the book proposal on Intersectional Gender Equality in Arctic Knowledge Production was further elaborated.

The presentations illustrated the kind of research questions, data generation and analysis methods, as well as produced results, and further questions that can emerge when sex and gender analysis are properly considered in various phases of research.

Sex, gender, or intersectional analysis, nor intersectional gender equality, was not explicitly in other stream or session titles. We sincerely hope that the analytical dimension was present in discussions, due to the valuable insights that it may provide for future research and for sustainable development.

The call for chapter proposals for an anthology “Intersectional Gender Equality in Arctic Higher Education Institutions” is open until the end of the year 2024. Please contact Mervi Heikkinen, mervi.heikkinen@oulu.fi.

The session was part of the activities of the Thematic Network on Gender in the Arctic Knowledge Production.

Session Details:

Title: 4.4.3 Intersectional Gender Equality within Academia - Exploring Sustainable Futures in the Arctic

Time: 01/06/2024, 11:00 - 12:30 Location: Stormen Concert Hall - Room: Kammersal

  • Advancing Gender Justice in the Arctic: Exploring a 9Genders Curriculum Oleksandr Kondrashov - Thompson Rivers University
  • Analysing notions of gender in equality plans Kirsti Lempiäinen – University of Lapland
  • Anti-sexism and anti-racism work at HEIs. Intersectional perspectives from Northern Finland Viktoria Niebel - Ruhr University Bochum
  • Complexifying Gender, Diversity and Inclusion and Feminist Practices in Higher Education Sarah Musubika - UiT The Arctic University of Norway
  • Loneliness experiences among northern Finnish young adults and the role of Arctic higher educational environments Anna Reetta Rönkä - University of Oulu
  • Wellbeing from nature – a pilot research on university students’ nature connectedness in the Arctic Riitta-Marja Leinonen- University of Oulu 
  • Bringing country food from land to table: Gendered Nattilingmiut knowledge of reliable harvesting practices Emmelie Paquette - Carleton University