School of Business Diversity and Inclusivity Fund

Towards a diverse and inclusive student pool and faculty

The School of Business aspires to have a diverse and inclusive student pool and faculty. Business is one of the most powerful ways to change the world. When diverse talents are celebrated, there are opportunities for conducting better business which in turn leads to a better society.

We actively work towards supporting current and future members of our community with diverse backgrounds. We care about the wellbeing of our students and faculty by showing respect and treating everybody fairly. We are also committed to enhancing a sense of community and sense of place – both physical and virtual – among our members. We believe that the wellbeing of our community rests on good leadership at all levels. (see https://www.aalto.fi/en/school-of-business/equality-diversity-and-inclusion-at-the-school-of-business)

Application period

• The School of Business Diversity and Inclusivity Fund has one or two application period(s) per year – now open from 2 May until 31 May in 2024. Awarded projects should start by May 2025 at the latest, and the funding is to be used by the end of 2026.

Funding

• The budget for a single project should not exceed 5000 euros.

Rules and conditions

• All projects must abide by the Aalto Code of Conduct.
• This funding is not intended to cover already existing activities.
• All funded projects will be expected to have one of the team members write a news story for the Aalto University webpage about their activities within 4 weeks of the project completion at the latest.
• The funding is open to all members of staff and students who are affiliated with the School of Business.
• The proposals will be evaluated based on potential impact, based on the level of support the project will provide, and the number of people it will reach.
  • We encourage projects that are not limited to one department or student club;
  • An impactful project could provide substantial help to a small group, or a small amount of help to a large group.
• All projects will be considered, however to avoid duplicating efforts, collaboration may be suggested between two similar applications, or between an application and an already existing project.
• Applications will be judged by a committee led by the Associate Dean of Research and final decisions will be approved by the Dean.
• Salaries are funded only in very exceptional cases, so please contact the committee chair person (information below) before sending your proposal if this is what you need funding for.
• The committee members are happy to be consulted on potential proposals before submission, and potential applicants are encouraged to get in touch with us before finalizing their proposal.
• The School of Business Communications team will assist in promoting the project, but the main responsibility for promotion remains with the project teams.

For inspiration, some projects that have received funding:

• Aalto BIZ Case Development Center project
• Monthly workshops to build a sense of community among doctoral students
• Inviting foreign economists working in the Helsinki region to network