Scholarships from the Agneta and Carl-Erik Olin fund 2026
One or more scholarships are available from the Agneta and Carl-Erik Olin Fund for individuals pursuing a Licentiate or Doctoral degree at Åbo Akademi University who are members of the Student Union of Åbo Akademi University (ÅAS). Applicants are expected to have held positions within ÅAS and/or its affiliated student associations.
The scholarship is awarded to one or more recipients for a total duration of 19 months, at a rate of €2600 per month. Recipients are expected to conduct full-time research and submit a research report.
How to apply
Applications are to be written freely.
The application must include a
- CV that outlines the applicant’s involvement in the Student Union and its student associations.
- A research plan must also be attached, detailing the aim of the study, material, theoretical framework and working hypothesis, methodology, and any planned travel or need for laboratory facilities.
- A one-page summary of the research plan must be included.
- The application must also include information on any other funding applied for or granted for the same purpose, as well as the number of scholarship months requested.
A statement from the applicant’s supervisor must also be included and should be sent directly to ÅAS Secretary General Veera Gustafsson at gs@studentkaren.fi.
Applications must reach the Senior Council of the Student Union of Åbo Akademi University no later than 30 April 2026 at 11.59 p.m. Applications are to be submitted via electronic form.
Recipients to be announced in June
Decisions regarding the scholarship awards will be announced within June. Recipients are required to submit a report on the use of the scholarship to the Senior Council no later than two months after the scholarship period has ended.
For further information regarding the scholarship, please contact ÅAS Secretary General Veera Gustafsson at gs@studentkaren.fi.
Read time approx. 3 minutes
As a sexual health counsellor, I sometimes discuss loneliness with clients.
Loneliness can manifest itself in the form of a desire to have a partner; someone to do things with, share interests with, share everyday life with, share worries with, have sex with, and be close to both emotionally and physically. When it feels as though ‘everyone’ else is finding a partner, it can lead to a range of emotions, with loneliness among them.
Identify the underlying needs behind the desire for a partner
If you feel that you’d really like to have a partner but it feels like you’re not meeting the right person, my advice is to start by thinking about what it is you’re actually missing in your life, and is it really a partner who can help you with those desires or needs?
Do you want to go travelling but lack company, and find it difficult to do it on your own? Do you miss having sex with someone else because you want to feel close to them? Or because you feel emotionally secure in a relationship where there is sexual intimacy? Do you wish there was a safe person in your life to whom you could confide your secrets?
If you manage to get a handle on what you really want or need, it’s easier to find solutions for it. A partner doesn’t have to be the one who meets all your needs, and you can find other social connections to enrich your life and feel less lonely.
Many people associate sex with a partner, yet sex with oneself is completely free of expectations, and you don’t need to think about anything other than your own pleasure, exactly as you wish. There are many benefits to this too.
The role of loneliness in how we seek closeness, security and relationships
If you often feel lonely, it’s also easy to imagine that a partner would be the solution to everything, but that isn’t the whole truth either. You can feel lonely even though you’re in a relationship; perhaps you’ve lost touch with each other along the way and no longer know how to be with one another when they feel far away. Even though you live with the other person, you can still feel lonely.
If you feel lonely, it’s important to remember that there’s nothing ‘wrong’ with you. Fundamentally, humans are social beings who want to feel a sense of belonging to a group, but it’s also important to practice taking care of your own desires and needs without a partner.
Feelings of loneliness can manifest in one’s sexuality in various ways. It can affect one’s relationships, intimacy, sex drive, simply the nature of one’s needs.
Conversations as a path to support, understanding and professional help
Whatever your life situation may be, talking to someone is a good first step. It is often very comforting to talk about your feelings and tell someone how you are doing and how you feel. It could be a friend you’ve had since childhood or a stranger online; simply saying things out loud is often liberating. Often, you may also find that others can relate to your feelings or experiences.
For example, Nyyti and the University Chaplains can be helpful if you’re looking for someone to talk to. You can also get in touch with me, Nora Möller, who is a Sexual Health Counsellor. You’ll find all the information on the Student Union’s website. If you find that you then need other types of professional help to work through things more deeply that is also a good step on the way.
Nora Möller
Sexual Health Counsellor
The Student Union of ÅAU
Self-sufficiency trends, protein maximisation and rising egg prices are behind the decision to buy hens for Kåren’s courtyard.
As part of the refurbishment of Kåren Gården (Kåren’s yard) – or Kården – ÅAS and Kårkaféerna decided to build a chicken coop, inspired by the one that stood on the Kåren’s lot when it was purchased in 1925.
“We felt it was simply an obvious choice! We’ve noticed that it’s both trendy to consume plenty of protein these days, whilst egg shelves in shops are often empty. Furthermore, several students have expressed an interest in helping to look after the hens on the farm,” comments one of the initiative’s representatives.
The project is expected to contribute to both a stronger sense of community and a more sustainable campus life. The plan is for the hens to start supplying fresh eggs to the Kårkaféerna’s restaurants before the summer, and in the long term also to serve as an educational resource for interested students.
Chicken at Kåren’s courtyard in the 1920s. Photo from ÅAS’ archives.
Want to influence Åbo Akademi University? Apply to be a student representative on the Council of the Department of Natural and Health Sciences!
The Student Union of ÅAU has student representatives on the Council of the Department of Natural and Health Sciences. One more student is needed for the Council. If you are interested in the position – apply on Friday 6 March, the latest. The meetings are held in Swedish and therefor knowledge in Swedish is required.
More information in this news article’s in Swedish version.
The Election Committee has confirmed the results of the 2025 Student Union Council Elections, which took place on 3–6 November. A total of 1033 votes were cast, and despite a record number of candidates, voter turnout was lower than in the previous election in 2023.
At its meeting on 6 November, the Student Union Council Election Committee confirmed the results of the 2025 Student Union Council Election, and drew lots for the candidates who received equal comparison figures. In the 2025 Council Election, 1033 votes were cast, which means that 18,56% of all eligible student union members voted. The voter turnout fell from the previous Council Election in 2023, when the turnout was 23,07%.
“It’s great to see students getting involved in the Student Union Council Elections, even though voter turnout has gone down. All the Electoral Associations got at least one seat, so the Council will have broad representation. I want to thank everyone who voted and, above all, everyone who stood as a candidate”, says Amanda Byskata, Chair of the Election Committee.
FNT-listan received the most votes and seven seats in the Council
A total of 107 candidates from eight Electoral Associations ran in the Student Union Council Elections. The new Council consists of 25 Members of the Council and their Deputies. Their term of office is from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027. The new Council will hold its inaugural meeting on 27 November, when it will elect, among other things, the Student Union’s Executive Board for 2026.
FNT-listan list received the most votes (26.7%) and won seven seats in the new Student Union Council. The second most votes went to Gemensamma Vasa (19.9%), followed by MK-listan (18.0%) in third place – both groups won five seats in the Council. Emilia Melén (De Rättvisa) got the most, 41, personal votes in the election.
“I am grateful for the trust placed in me and for being able to continue working for students and the Student Union. Our Electoral Association De Rättvisa did a fantastic job, and I am delighted to have been able to stand for DRV! Becoming a Member of the Council means a great deal to me, and I will do my very best to represent my fellow students.” says Emilia Melén (DRV), the vote magnet in the Student Union Council Elections.
Election results
The final results are shown below. Persons 1–25 are elected Members of the Student Union Council.
| Namn | Electorial Association | Amount of votes | Comparison figures | |
| 1 | Tilde Strömsbäck | FNT-listan | 28 | 276.00 |
| 2 | Julia Aspholm | GV | 35 | 206.00 |
| 3 | Isabel Björklöf | MK-listan | 16 | 186.00 |
| 4 | Kevin Hede | FNT-listan | 27 | 138.00 |
| 5 | Emilia Melén | DRV | 41 | 128.00 |
| 6 | Nea Olli | GV | 24 | 103.00 |
| 7 | Lina Hermansson | MK-listan | 14 | 93.00 |
| 8 | Walter Törnwall | FNT-listan | 27 | 92.00 |
| 9 | Anton Gröning | SF-listan | 28 | 76.00 |
| 10 | Felicia Lindström | FNT-listan | 22 | 69.00 |
| 11 | Kajsa Glader | GV | 23 | 68.67 |
| 12 | Artur Ekman | DRV | 25 | 64.00 |
| 13 | Julia Stenhammar | MK-listan | 13 | 62.00 |
| 14 | Ronja Eklund | DKL-listan | 19 | 58.00 |
| 15 | Ida Puskala | FNT-listan | 19 | 55.20 |
| 16 | Niklas Vaulanen | Rödgröna | 23 | 53.00 |
| 17 | René Närhi | GV | 17 | 51.50 |
| 18 | Emilie Jäntti | LSK | 21 | 50.00 |
| 19 | Tristan Frank | MK-listan | 13 | 46.50 |
| 20 | Rebecca Ahlskog | FNT-listan | 18 | 46.00 |
| 21 | Satu Tahko | DRV | 23 | 42.67 |
| 22 | Emma Vikman | GV | 17 | 41.20 |
| 23 | Erik Malmström | FNT-listan | 16 | 39.43 |
| 24 | Lina Kronström | SF-listan | 19 | 38.00 |
| 25 | Minea Salminen | MK-listan | 12 | 37.20 |
| 26 | Runa Åberg | FNT-listan | 16 | 34.50 |
| 27 | Frida Holgers | GV | 16 | 34.33 |
| 28 | Melina Lindholm | DRV | 10 | 32.00 |
| 29 | Greta Mäkelä | MK-listan | 12 | 31.00 |
| 30 | Daniel Kass | FNT-listan | 16 | 30.67 |
| 31 | Casper Loo | GV | 13 | 29.43 |
| 32 | Jesper Öhman | DKL-listan | 16 | 29.00 |
| 33 | Joel Saarinen | FNT-listan | 14 | 27.60 |
| 34 | Malva Sjöblom | MK-listan | 10 | 26.57 |
| 35 | Niko Sandberg | Rödgröna | 18 | 26.50 |
| 36 | Noomi Talvio | GV | 9 | 25.75 |
| 37 | Sofie Lehtovaara | DRV | 8 | 25.60 |
| 38 | Antonia Holmberg | SF-listan | 16 | 25.33 |
| 39 | Svante Södergård | FNT-listan | 12 | 25.09 |
| 40 | Ronja Fast | LSK | 8 | 25.00 |
| 41 | Viktoria Björn | MK-listan | 9 | 23.25 |
| 42 | Simon Sundström | FNT-listan | 11 | 23.00 |
| 43 | Sonja Niemimaa | GV | 7 | 22.89 |
| 44 | Svea Välimäki | DRV | 6 | 21.33 |
| 45 | Lotta Martin | FNT-listan | 9 | 21.23 |
| 46 | Lotta Nurminen | MK-listan | 8 | 20.67 |
| 47 | Hope Klemets | GV | 7 | 20.60 |
| 48 | Robin Rönnback | FNT-listan | 7 | 19.71 |
| 49 | Linda-Maria Frantz | DKL-listan | 12 | 19.33 |
| 50 | Hannes Ulfvens | SF-listan | 13 | 19.00 |
| 51 | Christel Still | GV | 6 | 18.73 |
| 52 | Axel Bondestam | MK-listan | 8 | 18.60 |
| 53 | Gustav Johnsson | FNT-listan | 7 | 18.40 |
| 54 | Rebecca Aherto | DRV | 4 | 18.29 |
| 55 | Charlotta Ekman | Rödgröna | 5 | 17.67 |
| 56 | Julia Limnell | FNT-listan | 6 | 17.25 |
| 57 | Emilia Lervik | GV | 6 | 17.17 |
| 58 | Dennis Söderling | MK-listan | 8 | 16.91 |
| 59 | Sabina Olin | LSK | 5 | 16.67 |
| 60 | Casimir Ruohomaa | FNT-listan | 6 | 16.24 |
| 61 | Linn Turkki | DRV | 4 | 16.00 |
| 62 | Oscar Tallberg | GV | 5 | 15.85 |
| 63 | Max Kaituri | MK-listan | 8 | 15.50 |
| 64 | Risto Ruohola | FNT-listan | 4 | 15.33 |
| 65 | Julia Kultti | GV | 5 | 14.71 |
| 66 | Jasper Paalanen | FNT-listan | 3 | 14.53 |
| 67 | Rasmus Österlund | DKL-listan | 6 | 14.50 |
| 68 | Eddie Bäckström | MK-listan | 7 | 14.31 |
| 69 | Santeri Kylämäki | DRV | 4 | 14.22 |
| 70 | Liam Söderlund | FNT-listan | 3 | 13.80 |
| 71 | Johannes Perätalo | GV | 5 | 13.73 |
| 72 | Samuel Valjus | MK-listan | 7 | 13.29 |
| 73 | Matti Saarinen | Rödgröna | 4 | 13.25 |
| 74 | Minea Laakso | FNT-listan | 2 | 13.14 |
| 75 | Johnny Lindfors | GV | 4 | 12.88 |
| 76 | Bei Korkiala | DRV | 2 | 12.80 |
| 77 | Robin Holmström | FNT-listan | 2 | 12.55 |
| 78 | Anton Åkerman | LSK | 5 | 12.50 |
| 79 | Tony Bergman | MK-listan | 6 | 12.40 |
| 80 | Aurora Peurala | GV | 3 | 12.12 |
| 81 | Saga Kujansivu | FNT-listan | 1 | 12.00 |
| 82 | Cassandra Ewalds | DRV | 1 | 11.64 |
| 83 | Aada Järvinen | MK-listan | 6 | 11.63 |
| 84 | Oliver Söderström | DKL-listan | 3 | 11.60 |
| 85 | Emilia Grönlund | GV | 2 | 11.44 |
| 86 | Martin Påwals | MK-listan | 6 | 10.94 |
| 87 | Oliver Pimenoff | GV | 2 | 10.84 |
| 88 | Sam Sågfors | Rödgröna | 3 | 10.60 |
| 89 | Sini Piippo | MK-listan | 4 | 10.33 |
| 90 | Nora Jakobsson | GV | 0 | 10.30 |
| 91 | Olivia Landén | LSK | 3 | 10.00 |
| 92 | Wilma Alho | MK-listan | 3 | 9.79 |
| 93 | Benjamin Hjelt | DKL-listan | 2 | 9.67 |
| 94 | Madeleine Lönnqvist | MK-listan | 3 | 9.30 |
| 95 | Tony Rantanen | MK-listan | 3 | 8.86 |
| 96 | Robin Seppälä | MK-listan | 3 | 8.45 |
| 97 | Mi Adolfsson | LSK | 3 | 8.33 |
| 98 | Jacob Rönnberg | DKL-listan | 0 | 8.29 |
| 99 | Maria Smeds | MK-listan | 2 | 8.09 |
| 100 | Valentin Vainio | MK-listan | 2 | 7.75 |
| 101 | Emilia Degerth | MK-listan | 2 | 7.44 |
| 102 | Mikael Lehtinen | MK-listan | 1 | 7.15 |
| 103 | Vilma Sirén | LSK | 2 | 7.14 |
| 104 | Lucia Stenger | MK-listan | 0 | 6.89 |
| 105 | Markus Huurinainen | MK-listan | 0 | 6.64 |
| 106 | Alexander Kruglov | LSK | 2 | 6.25 |
| 107 | Karin Jyrkänkoski | LSK | 1 | 5.56 |
Distripution of seats by Electoral Association
- FNT-listan 7
- MK-listan 5
- GV 5
- DRV 3
- SF-listan 2
- DKL-listan 1
- Rödgröna 1
- LSK 1
| Electoral Association | % of votes | % of seats in the Council |
| FNT | 26,7 % | 28 % |
| GV | 19,9 % | 20 % |
| MK-listan | 18,0 % | 20 % |
| DRV | 12,4 % | 12 % |
| SF-listan | 7,4 % | 8 % |
| DKL-listan | 5,6 % | 4 % |
| Rödgröna | 5,1 % | 4 % |
| LSK | 4,8 % | 4 % |
For more information, contact
Veera Gustafsson
Secretary General, ÅAS
gs@studentkaren.fi
tel. 02 215 4652
This year, the Student Union Council has decided to donate money to the Ärligt talat chat service.
One of the objectives of the Student Union of Åbo Akademi University (ÅAS) is to promote and advocate for the well-being of students. Therefore, the Student Union Council has decided to donate 1500 € to Ärligt talat – a Finnish-Swedish support chat service that offers free, anonymous and professional counselling with a low threshold for young people and young adults. The initiative to choose Ärligt talat as the recipient of the donation came from the Council group Gemensamma Vasa (GV).
“As most people know, many young people need someone to talk to, while healthcare queues are getting longer and longer. That’s why it feels natural to support an service provider that makes it easier and faster to get the help you need. Supporting Ärligt talat is therefore also a way for us to promote students’ mental health and well-being, which is something we at the Student Union stand for and want to do to give all students in Swedish-speaking Finland a chance to get help more easily when they are struggling,” says Member of the Council Herman Björk (GV), who proposed the Ärligt talat chat service as a donation cause.
Ärligt talat offers low-threshold support every weekday
Ärligt talat is a Finnish-Swedish support chat service for young people aged 13 to 29. Through the chat, young people can anonymously, free of charge and easily get in touch with professional counsellors such as psychologists, sex counsellors and social workers. Ärligt talat chat offers low-threshold support for young people struggling with mental health issues, study stress, relationships, loneliness or life questions. The chat is open from Monday to Friday.
“It takes courage to talk about how you feel, so when you are ready to take that step, help should not be far away. We are very grateful for ÅAS’ donation, which helps us to continue offering anonymous and free counselling by professional counsellors. With us, you can chat directly with a psychologist, without a referral or appointment, regardless of where you are in the country. Students can turn to us in both crises and everyday life – remember that you don’t have to be alone with your thoughts,” says Anna Valkeakari, development coordinator for the Ärligt talat chat service.
ÅAS makes an annual donation to an organisation whose activities are in line with the Student Union’s values. The Student Union Council decides each year on the recipient of the donation. By choosing to support the Ärligt talat chat service this year, ÅAS wants to make a concrete contribution to promoting students’ mental health.
As a Communications Specialist at the Student Union of ÅAU (ÅAS), I am responsible for ÅAS’ communication, i.e. everything from newsletters to social media, photography and website development. I work closely with the Board and Staff to support them in creating content themselves. Proof reading texts is therefore also part of my weekly tasks.
It is important that everyday communication runs smoothly
The Board is the public face of ÅAS and makes most of the social media posts very independently, but if you are thinking of applying to the Board and are not comfortable with social media yourself, there is no need to worry; at the beginning of the year, I hold training sessions for the Board so that everyone has the time and opportunity to learn everything from the basics. I will also teach the Board to use WordPress and publish content on the website!
I am also in charge of ÅAS’ internal communication and have held training sessions on, among other things, how Teams and Outlook are used within the organisation, so that everyone has the same opportunities to participate in discussions regardless of location or if they for example have chosen to work remotely on a particular day.
Creating content requires time and planning
The Board is responsible for the Student Union’s day-to-day external communications, which is why we hold weekly communications meetings that all Members of the Board and Staff are invited to attend. At these meetings, we go through the plans for the upcoming posts on social media and on the website, and plan how future content will be realised and created – i.e. who does what, what kind of photos or videos are needed, and when they should be taken or filmed. ÅAS already has a fairly broad collection of different kind of tools that come in handy in content creating, such as a digital system camera, ring light, a stabilising gimbal for phones, and now, as the newest addition, a set of wireless microphones have arrived in both Vasa and Åbo to improve the sound quality of our videos.
For larger events and projects, it is then my turn to take the lead and design material for different communications channels. When the new Board gathers together for the first time, I take photos that I then post on the ÅAS website and a contact poster. I usually take photos of the entire Board at the same time, and it is also possible to take other photos, for example, to send to the media houses with press releases. I enjoy graphic design and have in recent years designed the animals on the Fastlaskiainen (Shrove Tuesday event) overall patches on a drawing tablet. Designing printed material and online guides is also part of my job, so I get to use almost the entire range of Adobe programmes in my work.
Accessibility and inclusion matter
The Student Union’s content must be accessible and inclusive, so these themes are always part of the training sessions I hold. I not only train new Members of the Board, but have also held training courses for Staff, ÅAS’ associations and Student Union Council Members, among others. Accessibility is something I am passionate about and have studied a lot, so it is something I actively promote in my work.
In recent years, ÅAS has become almost entirely bilingual in its communication, and we emphasise that all our members should have equal opportunity to access the information we share on our communications channels. This applies not only to different languages such as Swedish and English, which are the languages ÅAS communicates in, but also to writing and speaking in plain language, using short sentences (which I admit I could improve on myself) and sharing the same information on multiple channels, as not all our members are in social media and may not be reached by the information there.
Different areas of expertise can be combined in the work
As a Communications Specialist at the Student Union of ÅAU, I have been project manager for the acquisition of a new website. My studies in Computer Science came in handy in this project as I facilitated the entire planning process. It was also helpful in communication with the service providers. The project was, of course, carried out in close collaboration with the Board and Staff, who helped by participating in workshops I organised to restructure the navigation bar and by rewriting content in plain language, among other things.
Overall, my job is very diverse and rewarding, and there is always something new to learn and to develop.
Mari Frelander
Communications Specialist
The Student Union of ÅAU
I am employed at the student union as an expert in higher education policy, student social benefits, well-being, and student rights. My job is to support union members, associations, elected representatives of ÅAS, and student representatives in the ÅAU administration. I have held the title of student representative since the job descriptions for ÅAS employees were updated a few years ago. We initially considered calling me an “advocacy expert,” but fortunately decided that sounded too complicated and dry. The title Students’ Rights Expert is more descriptive; I hope it signals that “yes, you as a student should get in touch, and I am happy to help.”
ÅAS advocacy work
ÅAS’s mission is to make students’ everyday lives as good as possible. We, the employees, are here to support the union board and the student council. I work closely with the union board by providing background information on student health, accessibility issues, and national regulations related to education. We often write texts together or make plans for campaigns.
I am involved as the Student Union contact in ÅAU’s Equality Committee and Crisis Support Group, and I also participate in meetings on student well-being and in collaborative groups with the Student Health Care Services.
Decision-making at ÅAU
One of my tasks is to handle the practical aspects of electing student representatives to various groups within ÅAU. I also organize training for the student representatives and answer their questions so that they can influence ÅAU’s decision-making as effectively as possible. The contact and communication between ÅAS and the student representatives is important so that we are all aware of what is being planned and decided at ÅAU. Especially now, when major changes may occur in education and course offerings, it is a priority to maintain close contact with everyone involved in the work.
How the Students’ Rights Expert can support individual students
I assist individual students in problem situations, for example, by finding out which rules apply to courses and examinations at ÅAU or which organizations can support international students. I often participate as a support person for students in meetings with ÅAU staff regarding, for example, suspicions of plagiarism or violations of the rules of conduct. My role is always to view matters from the students’ perspective and to ensure that students’ rights are upheld. This applies both if a course teacher has not followed the ÅAU rules and if a student has not followed the ÅAU rules.
What happens if I get in contact with the Students’ Rights Expert?
It is up to you what happens! I am happy to listen to what you are thinking about and answer questions or provide information, or provide contact details. If you do not want that, we will never take a question further to anyone else. All emails and everything we discuss are confidential.
Petra Lindblad
Students’ Rights Expert at ÅAS
petra@studentkaren.fi
It’s time for the International Students’ Survey! Your answers provide valuable information as to how ÅAS can improve and develop – and by answering the survey you also get a chance to win a 15€ gift card!
In this survey, you can share your thoughts on how you have experienced both your studies and also your student life outside of them! The point of this survey is to hear your thoughts on how we could improve YOUR student life. There are leading questions where you have the possibility to elaborate on your experiences or thoughts – all of which are very important to us.
Your answers provide valuable information as to how we, the Student Union, can improve and develop!
As a part of the survey, we are raffling off 5 gift cards to the K-stores, worth 15€ each. To participate in the raffle, just leave your abo-email address at the end of the survey. Your answers will remain anonymous, even if you choose to participate in the raffle!
Work is currently underway at the departments in preparation for an educational reform. They have been tasked with evaluating the subject clusters and courses within their study programmes. The goal is to have fewer main subject specialisations per programme, fewer minor subjects, and a reduced number of elective courses within each subject cluster. For example, a main subject worth 60 credits should have a clearer structure showing which courses are included.
This work is based on Åbo Akademi University’s (ÅAU) new Strategy for 2025–2030, where one of the main goals is sustainable finances. The aim is to achieve a lower cost level, both within education and within the university’s overall operations.
The departments are currently reviewing how courses and subject clusters are perceived and what improvements can be made, in collaboration with the departmental councils and heads of subject. The departmental councils also include student representatives, but not all subjects have representation. The heads of subject are the professors with main responsibility for a subject. The head of department, who is the department’s chair and leader of the departmental council, carries significant responsibility for how the work is managed. After evaluating the subject structures and reviewing the course offerings, as well as identifying problematic courses, the departments will together develop proposals on how subjects and course clusters can be reorganised and reformed.
The time to influence the decisions is now!
It is now, while changes to study programmes and courses are being planned, that we students have the best opportunity to make a difference. Once decisions are made in spring 2026, it will be more difficult to introduce changes.
For students to understand what is happening and to be able to influence the process, we need access to information about what is being discussed. We at The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University (ÅAS) hope that ÅAU will include students throughout the entire process. Students should be able to submit questions or feedback regarding the work, and departments should include students directly, for example through surveys or question boxes. Students whose subjects are not represented in the departmental councils, as well as international students in English-language programmes, must also be considered.
The timeline is as follows
- In December 2025, the departments will present their proposals for revised study programmes.
- In February 2026, the Education Council will consider the proposals and take a position on ÅAU’s educational responsibilities.
- During March–April 2026, the ÅAU Board will make final decisions regarding the university’s educational responsibilities.
- From 2027 onwards, ÅAU plans to implement the new educational structures, but for now, preparatory work and situation reviews are underway at the departments.
To make it easier for students to provide input, ÅAS has created its own Question Box. Regardless of whether your department sends out its own survey or not, you can use ÅAS’ Question Box to submit feedback on courses, major subjects, minor subjects, or entire study programmes. You can also ask questions about the educational reform work in general. All feedback received will be forwarded to the departments.
It is important that we students make our voices heard about what we know best – our studies. We are the ones who know our study programmes best, as we are the ones following them and completing the courses. Therefore, it is essential that our perspective is placed at the centre and has an influence on the decisions being made.