UN PRME Nordic chapter annual meeting & DEI4SME Conference 2026

University of Vaasa (UVA) Finland is pleased to host UN PRME Nordic chapter annual meeting in Vaasa jointly organized together with the DEI4SME Conference 2026.

The meeting will take place in Vaasa, Finland, October 7-9, 2026 (on campus & online). Please note that some of the program elements will be available only for participants arriving to Vaasa. 

Please register to the event by August 15, 2026 via this online form: 

https://link.webropolsurveys.com/S/B78ED9287D9C0733

Program includes (minor changes may still be made):

Oct 7: 

University of Vaasa (UVA) Finland is pleased to host UN PRME Nordic chapter annual meeting in Vaasa jointly organized together with the DEI4SME Conference 2026.

The meeting will take place in Vaasa, Finland, October 7-9, 2026 (on campus & online). Please note that some of the program elements will be available only for participants arriving to Vaasa. 

Please register to the event by August 15, 2026 via this online form: 

https://link.webropolsurveys.com/S/B78ED9287D9C0733

Program includes (minor changes may still be made):

Oct 7: Arrival to Vaasa, exploring city and campus

For colleagues arriving early in the day, they are welcome to visit sessions in the ongoing conference Nordic resilience and European Identity - Building Responsible Partnerships in a Changing World at the University of Vaasa or enjoy walking or cycling around Vaasa, A Green Leaf City, - we will offer tips and suggest routes (on campus only).

 ----- Optional session, in collaboration with Nordic resilience and European Identity 2026 conference: (on campus only)

11.30 – 12.30: Welcome and presentation of the University of Vaasa [Tervahovi building, Room D304]

12.30 – 13.30: Lunch on campus [University Campus Restaurant]

13.30 – 14.30: Session on Responsible Internationalisation [Tervahovi building, Room D304]

----- sessions exclusively organized for PRME colleagues:

14:30 – 15:30 Campus tour to learn about designing carbon neutral, inclusive learning spaces in UVA campus (on campus only) [Meeting point near University Campus Restaurant]

15:30 – 16:30 Lab visit to explore research on energy innovations and how this translates to collaboration with industry and business education (on campus only) [Meeting point at Technobothnia Lab]

17:00 onwards: Free time in the evening, walking/Cycling in Vaasa

Oct 8: DEI4SME Conference program & PRME Nordic Chapter meeting:

9:00 – 9:45 coffee with networking (on campus only) [Tervahovi building, Levón Lounge]

9:45 – 10:00 Welcome from Adam Smale, Dean, School of Management (on campus only) [Tervahovi building, Levón Lounge] 

10:00 – 10:05 Overview of the day (hybrid: online & on campus): [Tervahovi building, Room B203]

----- DEI4SME workshops and keynotes (hybrid: online & on campus): [Tervahovi building, Room B203]

10:05 – 11:00 Interactive training for educators on how to use open access Digital tool for social sustainability. 
Within the DEI4SME project, UVA developed a digital tool for teaching social sustainability in business with simulations. This tool can also be used by graduates in their business practice. The session introduces this digital tool, ways to teach with it through simulation, 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.

The session introduces newly developed materials by the DEI4SME project team for educators: cases and two open-access books with teaching cases on social sustainability in business, including diversity, equity, and inclusion, in smaller businesses. The session also provides tips on how to teach social sustainability with cases in business and management studies.

12:00 – 13:00 Lunch [University Campus Restaurant]

13:00 – 14:00 Keynotes or panel with executives on university-industry collaboration to promote responsible management education. (hybrid: online & on campus) [Tervahovi building, Room B203]

14:00 – 14:30 Coffee and networking with executives (on campus) [Tervahovi building, Room B203 & Levón Lounge]

----- PRME Nordic Chapter meeting focused events:(hybrid: online & on campus) 

14:30 – 15:45 UN PRME Nordic chapter’s review of the yearly activities [Tervahovi building, Room B203]

15:45-17:00 UN PRME Nordic chapter’s planning upcoming annual events and planning upcoming annual events [Tervahovi building, Room B203]

18:30 Festive dinner in the city [Location will be confirmed closer to the event].

Oct 9: Departure home or colleagues are welcome to visit sessions in the ongoing conference Nordic resilience and European Identity 2026 at the University of Vaasa.

9.00 – 10.30 Keynote talk by Petri Uusikylä on the topic of trust in society, togetherness and hope. (topic may be subject to change) [Tervahovi building, Room D304]

12.00-13.00: Lunch on campus [University Campus Restaurant]

 ----- Optional session, in collaboration with Nordic resilience and European Identity 2026 conference: (on campus only)

11.30 – 12.30: Welcome and presentation of the University of Vaasa [Tervahovi building, Room D304]

12.30 – 13.30: Lunch on campus [University Campus Restaurant]

13.30 – 14.30: Session on Responsible Internationalisation [Tervahovi building, Room D304]

----- sessions exclusively organized for PRME colleagues:

14:30 – 15:30 Campus tour to learn about designing carbon neutral, inclusive learning spaces in UVA campus (on campus only) [Meeting point near University Campus Restaurant]

15:30 – 16:30 Lab visit to explore research on energy innovations and how this translates to collaboration with industry and business education (on campus only) [Meeting point at Technobothnia Lab]

17:00 onwards: Free time in the evening, walking/Cycling in Vaasa

Oct 8: DEI4SME Conference program & PRME Nordic Chapter meeting:

9:00 – 9:45 coffee with networking (on campus only) [Tervahovi building, Levón Lounge]

9:45 – 10:00 Welcome from Adam Smale, Dean, School of Management (on campus only) [Tervahovi building, Levón Lounge] 

10:00 – 10:05 Overview of the day (hybrid: online & on campus): [Tervahovi building, Room B203]

----- DEI4SME workshops and keynotes (hybrid: online & on campus): [Tervahovi building, Room B203]

10:05 – 11:00 Interactive training for educators on how to use open access Digital tool for social sustainability. 
Within the DEI4SME project, UVA developed a digital tool for teaching social sustainability in business with simulations. This tool can also be used by graduates in their business practice. The session introduces this digital tool, ways to teach with it through simulation, 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.

The session introduces newly developed materials by the DEI4SME project team for educators: cases and two open-access books with teaching cases on social sustainability in business, including diversity, equity, and inclusion, in smaller businesses. The session also provides tips on how to teach social sustainability with cases in business and management studies.

12:00 – 13:00 Lunch [University Campus Restaurant]

13:00 – 14:00 Keynotes or panel with executives on university-industry collaboration to promote responsible management education. (hybrid: online & on campus) [Tervahovi building, Room B203]

14:00 – 14:30 Coffee and networking with executives (on campus) [Tervahovi building, Room B203 & Levón Lounge]

----- PRME Nordic Chapter meeting focused events:(hybrid: online & on campus) 

14:30 – 15:45 UN PRME Nordic chapter’s review of the yearly activities [Tervahovi building, Room B203]

15:45-17:00 UN PRME Nordic chapter’s planning upcoming annual events and planning upcoming annual events [Tervahovi building, Room B203]

18:30 Festive dinner in the city [Location will be confirmed closer to the event].

Oct 9: 

Departure home or colleagues are welcome to visit sessions in the ongoing conference Nordic resilience and European Identity 2026 at the University of Vaasa.

9.00 – 10.30 Keynote talk by Petri Uusikylä on the topic of trust in society, togetherness and hope. (topic may be subject to change) [Tervahovi building, Room D304]

12.00-13.00: Lunch on campus [University Campus Restaurant]