Diversity, equity, and inclusion

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) at SEFI 2025

We’re proud to introduce a series of inclusivity initiatives designed to welcome and support participation  from across the engineering education community. Our goal is to make SEFI 2025 accessible, enjoyable, and enriching for everyone. On this page you will find information about:
DEI iniatives
Free Childcare
Scholarships

DEI iniatives

The SEFI 2025 conference will continue on the initiatives from earlier SEFI conferences. Read more below:

Quiet workspace

We acknowledge that conferences can be socially demanding and sometimes overwhelming. To support your well-being, a quiet workspace where you can take a break, focus, and recharge as well as write email and concentrate is provided at the 5th floor (top floor) of PinniB in the ecumenical campus chapel Taivaanranta

Wellness Activities

For a break during the conference, check out the wellness activities near campus and downtown. These options help you balance conference time with your physical and mental well-being.

Fragrance-Free policy

It is recommended to avoid using strong perfumes during SEFI, as some fragrances may cause symptoms for others and can affect our respiratory health. Members of the SEFI community are encouraged to minimize their use of fragrances during the conference.

Gender-neutral toilets

Both gender-neutral toilets and toilets physically accessible for people with restricted mobility are available on campus. You can find gender-neural toilets from:

• Part A in Main Building (Päätalo) (A011, A012, A128a,A214g,  A222, A223)
• Part B in Main Building (B04a, B04b, B04c)
• Part C in Main Building (C04, C05)

Conference Accessibility

Accessibility to the buildings is ensured by ramps, elevators and automatic doors. New elevators have voice control and many elevators also have Braille buttons. The Main auditorium and many of the conference spaces are equipped with induction loops that can be used to transfer speech wirelessly to the hearing aid.

Stay Hydrated

Remember to drink enough water! Tap water in Finland is of excellent quality—safe, clean, and refreshing. You are welcome to refill your reusable water bottle at the water stations located across the campus whenever needed.

Dietary Restriction

There are daily vegan and vegetarian options available in the campus restaurants. Do not hesitate to ask the restaurant staff for an option that suits your dietary needs. 

Tampere University Safer Spaces Policy 

As space is created by people, it is important that we all foster an open atmosphere where everyone feels welcome and accepted for who they are. In addition to the SEFI Code of Conduct the Safer Spaces Policy of Tampere University applies to all the premises, events and activities of Tampere Universities in physical, psychological social and digital contexts. 

Free Childcare

We recognize that attending a conference while managing caring responsibilities can be a significant hurdle for many participants, especially for parents and guardians of children. This challenge can deter talented individuals from participating and contributing to our event.

To support attendees who are responsible for children, we are thrilled to offer limited sponsored childcare services during the SEFI 2025 conference. Up to 10 children can be provided care, selected on first-ones-to-register-get-in basis.

Childcare will be arranged in a space reserved from Marriot Courtyard Tampere City, a hotel across the street from the conference venue. The nursemaids are provided by Äidike -childcare service.

Free childcare is available for up to 10 children. Places will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. You can book childcare when registering for the conference, provided there is availability. If you need to secure a place for your child before completing your registration, please contact: sefi2025@taloevents.fi

Scholarships for Students and Early Career Researchers

Financial constraints should not be a barrier to accessing new knowledge and networks. Students and early career researchers from low-income and underrepresented countries often face significant obstacles in attending international conferences.

We are committed to fostering diversity and inclusion by offering scholarships (up to 400,00€)  that reduce registration fees for newer researchers and students. These scholarships are designed to empower students and early career researchers, enabling them to share their work, learn from others, and build essential networks.

Logistics for the scholarship

Criteria for application

• You are a student or an early career researchers (up to 7 years of research activity post doctoral degree)
• The geographic location of your institution matches EU widening criteria or Low/Lower middle income countries
•  You have made a submission to the SEFI 2025 conference (e.g., practice paper, research paper, workshop). Your submission does not need to have been accepted.
• Scholarships will be offered in priority of (i) order in which applications were received and (ii) Geograpical diversity

Applying for the scholarship

To express your interest in this service, apply by free form application to sefi2025@taloevents.fi. You should include:

• your personal information, including country
• your institution
• which paper(s) you have sent to the conference
• your students status (bachelor, masters, PhD,…)
• your highest completed degree and the year of graduation
• any other information you see as pertinent to the conference scholarship application

Application deadlines

• Applications must be received by May 31st, sent to sefi2025@taloevents.fi
• Decisions will be communicated by June 16th , i.e. before end of early-bird rates for those who do not receive it.
• Acceptance of scholarship MUST be confirmed by June 20th (or else it will be offered to the next person on the list).