Aalto University Summer School
Everything you need to know about Summer School! Make this summer unforgettable and experience the best of Aalto University and Finland under the Nordic summer sun.
Managing Diversity and Inclusion
Whether you’re a future leader or passionate about making a difference, this course is your first step towards creating a better, more inclusive environment.
Teaching period:
-
Application period:
30.1.2026 – 31.5.2026
Course format:
Campus
Duration:
2 weeks
part-time
Course level:
Undergraduate
Field of study:
Business and Economics
Credits:
2 ECTS
Organiser:
Aalto University
Tuition fees:
1270€
Early Bird offer at Aalto University Summer School
Through engaging discussions, hands-on group projects, and real-world cases, you’ll gain the skills to manage diversity and inclusion in different settings and learn how to build stronger, more innovative teams.
This summer course provides an overview of the principles, practices, and challenges associated with managing diversity and inclusion within organisational settings. Throughout the course, you will engage with various aspects of diversity and inclusion, from foundational concepts to practical applications, and develop the skills necessary to foster an inclusive environment in various situations. Emphasis will also be placed on developing individual self-awareness for effectively navigating diversity and inclusion challenges, as well as critically reflecting on current organisational diversity and inclusion practices such as equal opportunity policies, diversity hiring strategies, and inclusive leadership programs.
This course unfolds through a dynamic mix of lectures and interactive activities, including group discussions and case studies. Participants are encouraged to apply theoretical insights in practical scenarios and develop their understanding and skills in managing diversity and inclusion in various contexts.
Summer School Alum Story: Why diversity and inclusion matter – learnings from this summer
This summer’s course shows students that no organisation can afford to overlook its commitment to this topic, neither now nor in the future.
Pre-assignments, online
- An online implicit association test and a written reflection (100 – 400 words)
10 – 21 August 2026: Lectures and workshops on-site at Aalto University campus
- Daily lectures and workshops (Monday-Friday) between 09-12
- The final day of the course is reserved for the final presentations.
- Optional social program in the evenings
| WEEK 1 | Monday 10 August |
Tuesday 11 August |
Wednesday 12 August |
Thursday 13 August |
Friday 14 August |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning (9-12) | Intro to Diversity&Inclusion | Organisational Aspects | Diversity across Cultures |
Efforts in Organisations |
Inclusive Leadership |
| Afternoon |
| WEEK 2 | Monday 17 August |
Tuesday 18 August |
Wednesday 19 August |
Thursday 20 August |
Friday 21 August |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning (9-12) | Discrimination&Self-Awareness | Design&Diversity | Diversity in Teams | Critical Reflections | Final Presentations |
| Afternoon |
Alongside the lectures, students have independent work, either in groups or individually. Students can coordinate with their teammates to complete these assignments outside of teaching hours.
The total workload of the course includes both contact lectures and the estimated amount of independent work. Some of the courses also include pre- or post-assignments as part of the independent working hours.
-> Find the total course workload below
After the course, students will learn to:
- Identify the key concepts and dimensions of diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion and their significance in organisational contexts.
- Explore the historical and global development of diversity and inclusion practices and analyse their effectiveness and challenges within organisations.
- Recognise and mitigate biases and discrimination and understand the social construction of diversity categories across different cultures.
- Develop self-awareness for navigating diversity and inclusion issues and be able to reflect on diversity and inclusion practices critically.
The course assignments include:
- Individual assignment (online, before the course starts): You will be provided with a link to do an online implicit association test. You are expected to write a reflection on your results and any new realisations or thoughts it provokes.
- Group assignment (to be submitted on the final day of the course): The group assignment is to create a program that could help elevate people’s awareness of diversity and inclusion from a unique perspective that you believe deserves more attention. There is no required format. Your program can take any form, such as a drama performance, interaction workshop, presentation, video, or any other creative format you choose. For instance, it could be a drama performance reenacting an experience of exclusion, a short documentary with interviews from underrepresented groups, or an art piece visually representing diversity and inclusion. Each team’s presentation or performance is limited to 15 – 20 minutes.
Course workload
Lectures and practical sessions 30h
Individual assignments and group work 24h
Total workload 54h (2 ECTS)
The course is graded as pass/fail.
Please note that the undergraduate courses offered by Aalto University Summer School can not be included in Aalto degree studies.
This course does not require previous experience in the topic. Applicants to this course must have completed a high school or vocational degree or equivalent by the time the course starts. However, you do not have to be a degree student at a university to participate in our courses.
Additionally, all summer school course students must be 18 years or older, as it is the legal age in Finland.
Please include a motivation letter or video in your application. In your motivation letter or video, describe your motivation for taking this course. The recommended length for the motivation letter is 150-250 words, and 1-2 minutes for the video.
Tuition fees for Summer School courses
One course: 1270€ (incl. VAT 25,5%)
- The course fee includes academic course sessions and assignments, an official digital Aalto University certificate and support from the Summer School team. The fee does not cover accommodation, daily meals, or transportation during the course
- Unfortunately, Aalto University Summer School does not offer scholarships for participants.
Social program fee
More information about the social program coming soon!
If you need a visa, we recommend applying by April 15th 2026.
- This is to ensure that we have enough time to process your application and that you have time to make the tuition fee payment, book a visa appointment and wait for the application to be processed.
- You can apply and be accepted to the courses after April 15th. In that case, we recommend that you pay at your earliest convenience so that we can deliver your invitation letter to you promptly.
- According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland, the processing time for a visa application is 15 days. However, the processing time may be longer if a more detailed application examination is required.
Learn about the Aalto University Summer School cancellation terms. You will receive the full terms before making the payment and confirming the course participation.
Summer School Teacher Interview: Creating impact with the Managing Diversity and Inclusion summer course
This summer, Aalto University Summer School is launching a new course called Managing Diversity and Inclusion, exploring practices and challenges associated with diversity and inclusion within organisational settings. We spoke with course instructor Linyu Liu to learn more about what students can expect.
Teacher Information
Linyu Liu is a doctoral researcher at Aalto University School of Business with a rich academic background that spans several countries, including China, Germany, and Norway. She recently completed a visiting scholar position at Stanford University as part of the SCANCOR program.
Her doctoral research delves into the complex interplay between talent management and diversity & inclusion across multiple organisational levels, spanning from corporate policy to employee experiences. Her fieldwork was conducted in the R&D centers of a Finnish engineering multinational corporation in both China and India, allowing her to shed light on these topics from a cross-cultural perspective.
Additionally, she is utilising a spatiolinguistic approach to understand gender issues within organisations, emphasising the role of informal space in perpetuating the dominant gender ideology. Her research offers practical implications for organisations striving to integrate sustainability and diversity into their people management policies and practices.
Summer School Team
Summer School social programme and events
Get to know your coursemates and Finland through engaging extracurricular activities and social events organised by the Summer School team.
Information for Summer and Winter School Applicants
Get to know the application guidelines and tuition fees.
Travel arrangements for Summer and Winter School students
Learn about the guidelines for visa application and budgeting for your stay during the summer course.