Apply for ÅAS’ Member of the Board
The Student Union of ÅAU (ÅAS) is looking for a new Member of the Board for August–December 2024.
Please note that in order to apply for the ÅAS’ Board, you need to be proficient in Swedish as it is the Student Union’s official operative language.
You can find more information about applying for the position in the Swedish version of this news article.
The Student Union of ÅAU continues to work for the climate as the backyard of the Kåren building will be transformed into a root vegetable garden in collaboration with Kårkaféerna.
As a part of the Student Union of Åbo Akademi University’s (ÅAS) environmental plan to combat climate change, both the Student Union and Kårkaféerna have made significant efforts to promote locally produced food. To continue working for the environment, the backyard of the Kåren building will be transformed into a garden where root vegetables will be cultivated. Based on the results of Kårkaféerna’s customer questionnaire, the focus will primarily be on locally produced beetroots.
The Student Union is committed to environmental efforts in both campuses, therefore the terrace of the Havtornen building in Vasa will be converted into a fishing pier. Rumor has it that fish fingers are very popular at Academill, and ÅAS aims to compete in the local fish finger market and secure its share of the profit.
In the near future, ÅAS will recruit both gardeners and fishermen. Both the Student Union and Kårkaféerna hope that as many as possible will apply for these sought-after positions.
This news article is ÅAS’ this year’s April fool’s joke, and was made in collaboration with Kårkaféerna.
Nora Möller, who previously worked as The Student Union of ÅAU’s (ÅAS) Real Estate Coordinator, has now also been hired as a substitute Service Expert and Associations’ Expert. Möller will start in her new role on Thursday 1 February 2024.
From Thursday 1 February 2024 you can meet Nora Möller at the service point in Åbo. Möller has previously worked as ÅAS’ Real Estate Coordinator and taken care of, among other things, Tavasthem’s student apartments and the Kåren building. Now she has been hired internally and will continue in her duties as Real Estate Coordinator for ÅAS’ Financial Department while taking on new tasks as Service Expert and Associations’ Expert.
Nora Möller has taken on the task with eagerness and is motivated to serve the student union members at the service point and help ÅAS’ associations with various questions. Although Möller works mainly in Åbo, the ÅAS’ associations in Vasa can also contact her in any association-related matters. All our employees work for the student union members and associations on both campuses.
The opening hours at the service point in Åbo remain the same and Nora Möller will be at the student union members’ service at the service point on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays between noon and 3 p.m. at the Kåren building.
Press release
17 January 2024
For immediate release
The Student Union Council of the Student Union of ÅAU (ÅAS) has elected Sandra Österlund as substitute Secretary General. The Presidium and the Student Union Council are looking forward to working with Österlund, and Österlund herself hopes to create positive and meaningful experiences in her position. Österlund starts her work on 1 February 2024 and will stand in for Veera Gustafsson during Gustafsson’s parental leave.
Sandra Österlund, who was elected as the substitute Secretary General of ÅAS, is from Jakobstad and has a wide range of working experience and good knowledge of student unions’ work. Österlund is experienced in event planning, has studied sociology and has worked as a Service Expert at the Student Union. Kajsa Viitamäki, Chair of the Student Union Council, says that the qualities emphasized in the recruitment process were leadership, knowledge of financial management and experience of student unions’ advocacy work.
– Choosing Sandra Österlund as substitute Secretary General was based on her good leadership skills and extensive knowledge of the Student Union. The Presidium and the Student Union Council look forward to working with Österlund, says Viitamäki.
Österlund is very grateful for the Student Union Council’s confidence in her as Secretary General, and at the same time, she feels inspired to together with the Board and the Student Union Council to create positive and meaningful experiences for both those who work at ÅAS and the members of the Student Union.
– Being able to lead and contribute to the success of the organisation will be an exciting challenge and a valuable experience. I look forward to working together with the elected representatives and continuing the work together with ÅAS’ knowledgeable staff!” says Österlund about her new position.
For more information
Kajsa Viitamäki
Chair of the Student Union Council
Åbo Akademis Studentkår
fo@studentkaren.fi
+358 50 356 4611
ÅAS is now looking for a Secretary General for a temporary parental leave position from 1 February 2024, or as agreed. The location of the position is Åbo. The duration of the position is approximately one year.
Please note that in order to apply for the job, you need to be proficient in Swedish as the Student Union’s official operative language is Swedish.
You can find more information about the position in the news article in Swedish.
Press release
5 December 2023
For immediate release
The newly elected Student Union Council has today elected the Board and the Presidium for the year 2024. In the coming year, the Student Union’s activities will be led by a Chair of the Board who wants to work for students’ finances and well-being, and a Chair of the Student Union Council who will put focus on careful and respectful decision-making.
At its inaugural meeting on Tuesday 5 December 2023, the Student Union Council elected the Board and Council Presidium for the year 2024. The new Board consists of the Chair and seven Board members, of which the Chair and four Board members will work in Åbo, and three Board members will be in Vasa. In addition, a Vice Chair, a member, and two expert members for the ÅAS’ Financial Board were also elected.
Jonne Kunnas, who was elected as Chair of the Board for the coming year, is a pharmacist student at Åbo Akademi University. Kunnas has previously been a member of the Student Union Council, has been active in associations, and influenced in a trade union’s student association. Kunnas has a clear picture of what he wants to work for as the Chair of the Board of ÅAS.
– In my opinion, the Student Union should strive hard for a more stable financial situation for students, sufficient mental health care, and do long-term work for wellbeing and the quality of education. Within the Student Union, we should continue the work to ensure equal and appropriate operations in Vasa and Åbo. The Student Union’s members should get the best possible services for their membership fee, Kunnas says.
Amanda Byskata was elected as Vice Chair of the board. Niko Sandberg, Oscar Björkell, Emilia Melén, Jan Welroos, Julia Michelsson and Sini Eriksson were elected as Board members. Welroos, Michelsson and Eriksson will work in the ÅAS’ student union building Havtornen in Vasa, while Byskata, Sandberg, Björkell and Melén will work in the student union building Kåren in Åbo.
The new Chair of the Student Union Council emphasises the importance of careful and respectful decision-making
Kajsa Viitamäki (Rödgröna listan) was elected as the Chair of the Student Union Council. Viitamäki has been Vice Chair and responsible for social policy in the ÅAS’ Board in 2023, and will now continue her work within the Student Union as Chair of the highest decision-making body of ÅAS.
– I want to lead an active and committed Council where decision-making is done with care and respect for different perspectives, Viitamäki states.
The rest of the Presidium consists of First Vice President Jens Sabel (FNT-listan) and Second Vice President Angelica Loo (Gemensamma Vasa).
Max Lydman was elected as Vice Chair of the ÅAS’ Financial Board and Felix Nygård as a student member. Jarkko Kaplin and Riina Forsman will continue as Expert members. The Financial Board manages the Student Union’s properties and investments.
For more information
Veera Gustafsson
Secretary General
tfn. 02 215 4652
gs@studentkaren.fi
Call for a student representative to the VOAS board for 2024–2025.
The Student Union elects one member to the board of the student housing foundation in Vasa, VOAS (Vaasan opiskelija-asuntosäätiö). The board is elected for 2024–2025. The student representative will be elected by the Student Union Council at their meeting 4 November 2023.
More information about VOAS is found on their website. The working language is Finnish. Applicants need a level of Finnish that enables them to read materials and take part in discussions.
The board member will receive an attendance fee per meeting, the VOAS fee is about 180 euros. It is possible to attend the meetings per Zoom when needed. The representative needs to be in close contact with the Student Union, and follow the Student Union’s values and policy paper.
Apply the latest 4 December at noon. Sent the application via your abo.fi-address to kansli@studentkaren.fi. Tell us who you are, why you are interested in becoming a member of the VOAS board and why you think you could represent the students well.
Contact person regarding the election is ÅAS’ Students’ Rights Expert Petra Lindblad, petra@studentkaren.fi.
On Tuesday 5 December The Student Union Council will decide who will be elected to the Student Union Board, and other positions.
You can read the candidates’ applications in the Swedish version of this news article.
The application for the Student Union of ÅAU’s (ÅAS) Board of 2024 is now open and we have put together a small annual clock to give you an oversight of what the Board’s work entails and what we do during a year at ÅAS. What we have listed below is an overview of major events from the various areas of responsibility within the Board.
January
The new Board gathers in Åbo for the Board training and to get to know each other and the staff. The Board meets with deans, rectors and other members of staff at ÅAU, as well as try to be visible on campus so that students also get to know the new Board members. The Board will also arrange training for the student associations at ÅAU.
February
The Student Union traditionally organizes Shrove Tuesday, meaning Fastlaskiainen in both Vasa and Åbo, the Student Union’s Annual Ball and the Associations’ Fair at both locations. In addition, the Board participates in the seminar days, organized by the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) for all the Student Unions in Finland.
March
The Board allocates association and project funds. The Board prepares for and trains tutors for the upcoming academic year, and starts planning the search for sponsors for the next Student Union Calendar for the academic year, “Kårkalender”.
April
The Board hands out roses to a few chosen ones within the ÅAU faculties who have done an excellent job. In April it is also time for one of the spring’s major events in Åbo, the May Day eve celebration at Vårdberget on 30 April. In Vasa, students meet for the traditional event where the Topelius statue receives its graduation cap on May Day eve.
May
The Board eventually begins to wrap up the spring semester and starts to plan the upcoming fall events. While most of the Board goes on summer vacation halfway through the month, the Chair of the Board stays a couple of weeks to continue planning for the autumn together with the Student Union’s staff.
June/July
Summer vacation (or summer job)
August
The autumn starts with the Board getting together for a week to make plans for the autumn semester with the staff. In addition, the Board meets tutors, exchange students and freshers, while at the same time planning for the incoming semester.
September
The Board participates in various events for freshers in both Åbo and Vasa. In Vasa the sitz for exchange students is organized in cooperation with other universities. The Lilla Wappen-sitz takes place in Åbo the last Saturday in September, and in both locations Freshers’ Fair is arranged – this is a fair aimed to all new (and old) students where associations and companies can introduce themselves to students and sell merchandise and memberships. The Board also participates in the SYL autumn seminar.
October
In October, you barely have time to take a breather after a wonderful start to the semester before it is time for the rest of autumn’s events. This month a lot is going on in Vasa, the Board organizes a trip for exchange students and international master students together with ÅAU Sports, the pyjama-sitz for freshers together with SSHV from Hanken School of Economics, and of course Halloween Run together with other universities in Vasa. What about Åbo? There the Board arranges blood donations at Kåren where all the associations can participate and try to win the “Droppen”-cup.
November
The Board can relax a little bit, but only every other year, because in November (every odd year) the Student Union Council Election takes place. SYL also organizes General Assembly in November, where delegates from all the student unions in Finland elect a new SYL Board for the upcoming year. The Board also prepares the election for a new Board of our own as well as training for the spring’s tutors for the incoming exchange students.
December
The finish line is in sight for the Board, and the new Board will be elected in December. However, there is still a few events before the year is all wrapped up. On Independence Day, the traditional flag processions are held in both Åbo and Vasa. The Board also plans training for the new student association boards for January, and the annual Christmas party at Kåren to celebrate the year with the staff one last time before it is time for the old Board to step down from ÅAS.
Advocacy work and student associations are an important part of the Board’s work
In addition to all the things above, we still want to mention some important things that the Board does. Every month we have meetings with both the principals and the deans to raise attention to current matters. We sit in various work groups within and without ÅAU and are invited to events where people want to hear students’ thoughts and opinions. We also meet with politicians to raise our voice on national level and lastly; once a month, we meet with the Student Union Council, which decides what the Board should work on.
During our year on the Board, we have continual contact with our associations to discuss current matters, organize events, and to hear if they have ideas to improve ÅAU. Finally, we represent ÅAS at a lot of annual balls organized by our associations and other Student Unions around the country.
A year in the Board is much more than just a job
When we now summarize a year, this can perhaps feel intense, and it is. But a Board year at ÅAS is so much more than just a job. It is a community within the Board, opportunities to sit with people in rooms you would otherwise never have access to, and create unforgettable memories for both yourself, your Board, the staff and of course, for all the students at ÅAU.
The Board 2023
The Student Union of ÅAU
We have now opened the application period for the Student Union’s Financial Board!
For more information, read the news article in Swedish, or contact Lina (sopo-vasa@studentkaren.fi) or Kajsa (sopo-abo@studentkaren.fi).
N.B. In order to apply, you need to be proficient in Swedish as the Student Union’s official language is Swedish. For the time being, ÅAS is unfortunately unable to translate all the operations to English.