Gender quotas for physical education teacher's training violate the Equality Act (TAS 217/2017, issued on 7 January 2020)

The Ombudsman for Equality has issued a statement on the student selection criteria of the University of Jyväskylä's Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences. According to current student selection practice in the University of Jyväskylä, gender quotas are used when inviting applicants to the second stage of entrance examinations for the subject group of the biology of physical activity and sport pedagogy, as well as in the final student selections.

The Ombudsman for Equality considered that the University of Jyväskylä has not been able to adequately justify its use of gender quotas in student selection. The practice is thus in violation of the Equality Act.

The Ombudsman for Equality consulted the University of Jyväskylä's Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, the Ministry of Education and Culture and Liikunnan ja Terveystiedon Opettajat ry (Association of Physical and Health Education Teachers) for the statement. The University of Jyväskylä was also provided the opportunity to issue a statement separate from the account of the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences.

The University of Jyväskylä was requested to notify the Ombudsman for Equality of the measures taken in response to the statement within six months.

08.01.2020