She works as a project manager at the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland. Yeasmin is an active academic and a social activist whose research has a high and direct impact on the society. Yeasmin received the award on Friday at FUURT’s International University seminar held at Aalto University in Espoo. “Our union is for all academics. The Academic of the Year award is not only a sign of high scientific merits, but it also reflects our diversity. This year we emphasise our international nature. The status of international researchers at Finnish universities and in the Finnish society forms a part of our foundation and we will continue to build a better future for all academics in Finland,” says Maija S. Peltola, President of the Union, while presenting this year’s Academic of the Year.

Nafisa Yeasmin graduated from the University of Rajshahi in Bangladesh as a Master of Laws. She has previously worked as a lecturer at Prime University in Bangladesh. In 2006, Yeasmin moved to Rovaniemi, after which she studied Finnish and eventually began to work. She has worked with immigrants on matters related to their well-being for a long time.