Gender quotas in student selection (TAS 217/2017, issued on 7 January 2020)

The Ombudsman for Equality was called upon to assess whether the student admission criteria applied by the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Jyväskylä comply with the Act on Equality between Women and Men (609/1986). According to the student admissions practice, gender quotas are applied when inviting candidates to the second stage of the entrance examination for the group majoring in Sport Pedagogy as well as in the final selection at the University of Jyväskylä.

During the examination, the Ombudsman for Equality heard the University of Jyväskylä Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, the Ministry of Education and Culture and the Association of Physical and Health Educators in Finland. In addition, the University of Jyväskylä was provided with the opportunity to issue a statement on the examination concerning the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences.

The Ombudsman for Equality considered that there is no sufficient justification for the practice of applying gender quotas in student admissions at the University of Jyväskylä. Thus, the practice is in violation of the Equality Act. The University of Jyväskylä was requested to inform the Ombudsman of Equality within six months about the actions it has taken after receiving the statement.

08.01.2020