Diak aims to halt the trend towards greater inequality

Diaconia University of Applied Sciences (Diak) seeks to counter polarisation in society. The goal of its new strategy is to put an end to inequality in Finland.

Nearly one million people in Finland are at risk of poverty and social exclusion. As a result of inequality, some individuals miss out on the opportunities and welfare that society provides. This is evident in disparities in income and health, social exclusion and differing experiences of wellbeing and quality of life.

Diak, one of Finland’s largest higher education institutions in the social and health care sector, is known for its research on disadvantage as well as its expertise in promoting inclusion, community and equality. With its new strategy, the university has set itself the task of halting the trend towards greater inequality.

“Polarisation is clearly visible in the daily work of our graduates—social workers, health care professionals, interpreters and deacons. According to our research, people are struggling more than before, and an increasing number are falling through holes in the social safety net,” says Elina Juntunen, CEO and Rector of Diak.

Concern about growing inequality extends beyond professionals; the public at large is worried. A survey recently conducted by Taloustutkimus revealed that inequality and rising income disparities are among the greatest concerns for Finns today. Diak seeks to address this.

“Together with our partners, we want to halt the trend of growing inequality in Finland. Our vision is to create a sustainable society in which everyone can live a happy life,” Juntunen says.

An ambitious strategy

Diak’s strategy is ambitious. How does the university plan to stop the growth of inequality?

“We will achieve it through education, innovation and research,” Juntunen explains. “The education that Diak offers is tailored to meet the needs of working life. Our graduates are equipped with the professional skills required for work with the most vulnerable groups. We also strengthen our students’ commitment to demanding social and health care roles and to the prevention of inequality and the defence of human dignity.”

In addition, Diak plans to increase educational equality in Finland. The goal is to raise the national level of expertise.

“We offer accessible higher education opportunities for students from diverse backgrounds. We have long worked to bring groups that are under-represented in higher education—such as the Roma—into the academic sphere. Among other things, we have created study paths tailored to students from different backgrounds and launched campaigns to enhance their employment prospects,” Juntunen says.

Proven innovations that combat inequality

When it comes to innovations that slow the trend towards inequality, Diak already has a proven track record.

“Diak has developed solutions to prevent the polarisation of society. One example is the ZekkiPro digital tool, which was designed to support data-driven decision-making in social and health care services. It enhances the effectiveness and functionality of these services,” Juntunen explains.

The ZekkiPro tool is currently being piloted in several Finnish wellbeing services counties.

“Our goal is to be a force for change—a reformer of society and working life. The global news we hear today is often grim. We want to foster hope for a better future and demonstrate that solutions do exist when there is the will to act,” Juntunen says.

Diak’s new strategy for 2025–2028 was officially launched today, 24 January 2025. You can explore the strategy on Diak’s website.