Uniarts Helsinki management’s response to the Student Union’s open letter
The Student Union of Uniarts Helsinki addressed the Uniarts Helsinki Board and management an open letter on 4 June 2026. In the letter, the Student Union asks Uniarts Helsinki three questions concerning the suspended exchange agreement with an Israeli university, other cooperation with Israeli institutions and investment activities of the university. The university management discussed the topic with student representatives on 27 August 2026 and promised to deliver its answers to the questions in writing, as well.
The university finds it important to have an open discussion in the university community on questions related to war, human rights, international law and universities’ societal responsibility. We thank the Student Union and students for actively raising these questions.
Question 1: Exchange agreement
Uniarts Helsinki’s response:
The decision made by Uniarts Helsinki in 2024 remains in force. Uniarts Helsinki has suspended its cooperation with the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design until further notice.
The cooperation will not automatically resume if the situation changes. Any decision to continue the cooperation would require a new overall review by Uniarts Helsinki and a separate decision. The university would examine, among other things, the implementation of human rights and international law and whether the ethical and other prerequisites for cooperation are in place.
Question 2: Other collaborations
Uniarts Helsinki’s response:
Uniarts Helsinki has decided to refrain from cooperation with Israeli universities for the time being. The university reviews any potential cooperation on a case-by-case basis and as a whole. The review considers the implementation of human rights and international law, as well as the ethical prerequisites for cooperation. In addition, when considering possible cooperation, the university evaluates whether there is a mutual need and willingness to collaborate and whether the organisations’ operations, views and values are compatible.
Uniarts Helsinki is independently responsible for the review and decision-making concerning its cooperation activities. The review makes use of all relevant and reliable information. The PEAT guidelines may also be considered as one framework supporting the assessment, but Uniarts Helsinki does not commit in advance to any single external set of criteria.
Question 3: Investments
Uniarts Helsinki’s response:
Uniarts Helsinki does not make direct investments in individual companies. Investments are made through funds, and sustainability is promoted through the selection of funds, the requirements set for asset managers and the exclusion criteria applied by asset managers.
On 31 July 2026, the value of the university’s investment portfolio was approximately €113 million. At that time, the portfolio’s exposure to Israeli shekels was €5,890, or approximately 0.005% of the total value of the investment portfolio. The exposure is due to a passive fund that tracks the MSCI All Country World Index. Israel is included in the investment universe covered by the index.
The actively managed funds of Uniarts Helsinki do not include investments in Israel. The exclusion criteria applied by SEB to the passive fund have excluded 13 Israeli companies from the fund’s investment universe. The fund includes two Israeli companies that, due to the nature of their operations, do not fall within the scope of these exclusion criteria.
As Uniarts Helsinki does not make direct company-specific investments, the company-specific policy and divestment process proposed by the Student Union cannot be implemented as such. However, Uniarts Helsinki is responsible for the sustainability of its investment activities and promotes it through its choice of funds and asset managers, as well as by monitoring the sustainability and exclusion criteria in use.
Uniarts Helsinki is preparing a clearer description of the sustainability principles governing its investment activities. The Student Union will be informed directly about the progress of this work and the selected implementation approach.