The Student Union of Tampere University joins the National Union of University Students in Finland and other student unions in the academic boycott of Israel in accordance with the decision made by the Council of Representatives on 23 September 2025. The Student Union of Tampere University condemns the genocide committed by Israel in Gaza and the apartheid against the Palestinians.
Israel has committed serious crimes against humanity in Gaza. According to the United Nations Special Committee (UN, 2024) and Amnesty International (Amnesty, 2024), Israel’s methods of warfare in Gaza fulfil the characteristics of genocide. In addition, Israel has used starvation as a weapon of warfare, prevented humanitarian aid from entering Gaza, and killed humanitarian workers in targeted strikes (UN, 2024).
The right to education is one of the most fundamental human rights. According to the UN, Israel has destroyed over 90 percent of the schools and universities in Gaza (UN, 2025). Israel’s military operations in Gaza (UN, 2024) and the persecution of Palestinians in the West Bank (UN, 2023) have rendered the lives and studies of Palestinians practically impossible. We are committed to the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in which education is at a central position. We condemn the scholasticide committed by Israel, as it delays the education of Palestinian children and youth by several years and causes multigenerational harm to social and economic development.
In recent times, there has been some progress in the form of a ceasefire in order to end Israel’s military operations and the suffering in Gaza. The ongoing peace process must ensure the freedom to live a safe and stable life for all. The international academic community must support the rebuilding of the universities in Gaza and help the destroyed universities in organising education and research. The children and youth in Gaza must be ensured access to education as soon as possible.
According to the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel (BDS, 2025), an academic boycott means refusing all academic and cultural collaboration with Israeli institutions and comprehensively boycotting Israeli institutions both nationally and internationally. The campaign also calls for the divestment from Israel by international academic institutions, for the institutional condemnation of the politics exercised by the State of Israel, and for the direct supporting of Palestinian academic and cultural institutions without requiring them to collaborate with Israeli institutions.
We demand that Tampere University and the Finnish academic community join in the academic boycott of Israel. Tampere University must critically evaluate its activities-related commitments and partnerships. The University must work to end both direct and indirect collaboration with parties that actively act contrary to the values of the University.
We encourage Tampere University to be active in protecting academic freedom. In addition to academic criteria, when granting scholarships for non-EU and non-EEA students, Tampere University should take into consideration human rights-related and humanitarian criteria.
An academic boycott is a way to promote creating lasting peace and ensure the rebuilding of life and education. Academic communities must bear their responsibility in realising human rights and academic freedom.
For more information
Laura Heino, Chair of the Executive Board
Adam Zeidan, Secretary General
Sources
BDS (2025, lokakuu). Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel.