Join one of two DEI4SME Conferences in FINLAND
DEI4SME final project's conference in Finland
Vaasa & Online, 11 November 2026
This event will focus on social sustainability in business and business education.
Time: November 11, 13:00-16:30 (EET time zone)
Place: online & D103, Tervahovi building, University of Vaasa campus, Wolffintie 32, 65200 Vaasa, Finland
All sessions will be hosted in English.
You can join this event in person (at the University of Vaasa campus, Vaasa) or online - choose your preference in the registration form.
PROGRAMME (minor changes remain possible):
13:00-13:10 Welcome words by:
- Outi Tomperi, Senior Adviser, International Higher Education Cooperation, Finnish National Agency for Education
- Maija Aarnio, Regional director, Rannikko-Pohjanmaan Yrittäjät ry /Suomen Yrittäjät (The Federation of Finnish Enterprises)
(hybrid: online & on campus)
13:10-13:40 Keynote "Managing Social Sustainability and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Small- and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs): Practice-informed academic perspective" by Aušrinė Šilenskytė, Assistant Professor of International Strategic Management, University of Vaasa, Finland & DEI4SME project leader (hybrid: online & on campus)
13:40-14:20 Panel discussion with SME representatives: "Why do DEI and social sustainability matter in SMEs?"
Panelists:
- Katarina Hellén, Research manager, VILPE
- Kimmo Kallioniemi, Founder & CEO, Amplon.io
- Tauno Kekäle, Senior Advisor, Merinova Technology Center
- Elina Lehtinen, Specialist, company services, Ostrobothnia Employment Services
- Anna-Carina Mohrholz, Head of Team International, IHK-Projektgesellschaft mbH Ostbrandenburg
- Tiina Partanen, Head of Sustainability, Foamit Corporation
- Benjamin Slotte, CEO, Vaasan Korttelihuolto
- Kaj Sundén, CEO, Finvacon Ltd
(hybrid: online & on campus)
14:20-14:50 Presentation "Tools, insights, and educational resources for managing social sustainability and DEI in SMEs: An overview of the DEI4SME project outcomes" by Tiphaine Delecour, Doctoral researcher, University of Vaasa, Finland, and DEI4SME Project Coordinator (hybrid: online & on campus)
14:50-15:40 Round-table interactive workshop exploring digital tools, course, insights, books, and other educational resources that DEI4SME project has developed (hybrid: online & on campus)
15:40-15:45 Closing remarks (hybrid: online & on campus)
15:45-16:30 Coffee and Networking (on site only)
DEI4SME Conference & UN PRME Nordic Chapter's annual meeting
Vaasa & Online, 7-9 October 2026
University of Vaasa (UVA) Finland is pleased to host the UN PRME Nordic chapter annual meeting in Vaasa, jointly organised with the DEI4SME Conference 2026 featuring a superb programme around DEI: workshops, trainings, presentations, keynotes.
The meeting will take place in Vaasa, Finland, October 7-9, 2026 (on campus & online). Please note that some of the programme elements will be available only for participants taking part in person in Vaasa. All sessions will be hosted in English.
Some highlights from the DEI4SME Conference on October 8th:
9:45 – 10:00 Welcome from Adam Smale, Dean, School of Management (on campus only)
10:05 – 11:00 Interactive training for educators on how to use open access Digital tool for social sustainability management in SMEs (hybrid: online & on campus).
The ways to teach social sustainability through simulations based on open access digital tool, and how the digital tool can be used by graduates for managing social sustainability when working in SMEs.
11:00 – 12:00 Teaching social sustainability in business schools using cases: Presentation and insights from three open access collections (books and online repository) (hybrid: online & on campus).
The session also provides tips on how to teach social sustainability with cases in business and management studies.
13:00 – 14:00 Executive Keynote by Helena Rebane, CEO of AddSearch, award-winning SME, on "University-industry collaboration to promote responsible management education" (hybrid: online & on campus)
14:00 – 14:30 Coffee and networking with executives (on campus)
Registration:
- for attending face-to-face is due latest by September 1st (extended!), 2026.
- for attending online registration is open until September 20 (extended!), 2026.
PLEASE NOTE
Participation in the PRME Nordic Chapter meeting-related events are limited to colleagues attending the PRME Nordic Chapter meeting.
Participation in the DEI4SME Conference 2026 workshops and keynotes online is unlimited, and all educators interested in the topic and these sessions are welcome to register and join.