The Big Heart award 2025 goes to Heini Pensar

Heini Pensar has promoted equality and equity, in particular by helping international staff to integrate into the University of Vaasa and the city of Vaasa, and by promoting neuro-friendliness at the University of Vaasa and in the Master's programmes she has led.

Heini has a long background of working and living abroad. He knows what it is like to live in a new country without a familiar safety net.

– At the time, I considered local friends to be invaluable, because through them I felt part of the people of the country. Now, as a mother of young children, I am no longer travelling, but the University of Vaasa brings the world to me. I have the opportunity to create cultural experiences for my children and local friends. At the same time, I want to be the colleague who opens the doors to their home.

Heini talks a lot about appreciating people for who they are, and telling that appreciation in the workplace.

– A neuro-friendly school is close to my heart. It means that in our pedagogical work we consider the different abilities of students to learn, develop and demonstrate their learning. For me, the Big Heart Award is a beautiful and heartfelt token of appreciation from my work community, which we are building together.

In addition to the prize, two honorary mentions were awarded. The recipients are Marja Vettenranta, Subject Area Administrative Manager, and Professor Mohammed Elmusrati. The emphasis for both was on caring for, helping and valuing colleagues and students, regardless of their backgrounds.

This is the seventh time that the annual University of Vaasa Big Heart equality award was given. The Big Heart award may be given to a person or a group that has promoted equality in the university community. The award is given by the equality and non-discrimination working group according to nominations presented by the university community. Any member of the university community may nominate a member of the university community or a person or group from outside the community whose activities are closely tied to the university. There were 24 nominations in total this year. The winners were decided by the University of Vaasa equality and non-discrimination working group.