ÅAS elects board for 2025 – Emilia Melén elected as the new Chair of the Board
Pictured (from left to right): Svea Välimäki, Niko Sandberg, Emilia Melén, Kevin Hede, Melina Lindholm, Erik Malmström, Angelica Loo and Emma Soini.
Press release
29 November 2024
For immediate release
The Student Union Council of Åbo Akademi Student Union (ÅAS) held its meeting on Thursday, November 28, 2024, where it elected the board and presidium for the 2025 term. The 2025 board consists of the chairperson and six board members, five of whom are based in Åbo and one in Vasa. At the meeting, a chair and a member for ÅAS’s financial board were also elected.
Emilia Melén has been appointed as Chair of the Board for 2025. Melén is studying sociology at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Business, Economics and Law at Åbo Akademi. She served on the student union board in 2024, being in charge of student culture and has been active in several student associations across campus. As chairperson, Melén aims to strengthen advocacy efforts and make ÅAS membership even more relevant and meaningful:
“I want to ensure that students’ voices are better heard in our advocacy, that our activities are current and relevant, and that membership feels meaningful,” says Melén.
Niko Sandberg was elected Vice Chair of the Board, and Jennifer Lindgren, Svea Välimäki, Melina Lindholm, Sofie Lehtovaara, and Emma Soini were elected as board members.
New Chair of the Student Union Council to Strengthen Representation and Voter Turnout
Kevin Hede (FNT list) was elected as Chair of the Student Union Council. Hede has previously been active in the council and student life, including serving as Chair of Kemistklubben rf in 2024. As Chair of the Student Union Council, he plans to ensure that all perspectives are considered in decision-making and to increase member engagement:
“As Chair of the Representative Council, I want to ensure that all perspectives are heard and that decisions are well-founded. I also aim to boost voter turnout in the student council elections,” says Hede.
The rest of the Presidium includes First Vice Chair Angelica Loo (Gemensamma Vasa) and Second Vice Chair Erik Malmström (FNT-list).
At the meeting, a chair and a member for the ÅAS Financial Board were also elected. Hamish Simpson was chosen as Chair, and Rasmus Piippo as a member. The Financial Board manages the Student Union’s properties and investments.
With its new board and presidium, Åbo Akademi Student Union looks forward to a year where student interests and engagement remain at the center of its activities.
For further inquiries, please contact:
Sandra Österlund
Secretary General,
02 215 4652,
gs@studentkaren.fi
About two weeks ago Åbo Akademi University declared their intention to make the change from physical diplomas to electronic diplomas for graduates. Since the paper diploma and its accompanied red folder have a high cultural and traditional value, many students have been alarmed by the news. The Student Union has been in contact with the university throughout the year to discuss this change and argued for the physical diploma to remain. As the chair of the board, I have gathered some of the main points from these discussions and will present these in the text below. I also want to explain the Student Union’s opinions on this issue.
First, regarding the difference between the diploma and its folder; the diploma is an examination document that is legally binding and shows examination from the program, and grades from each course. The folder is handed out during the graduation ceremony, with the diploma in it.
Åbo Akademi University is the last university in Finland which still has the physical paper diploma. Removing this extra work from the university’s personnel would ease their labor and give them time to focus on other important tasks.
The university could use an electronic database as long term storage for the original copies. The signing process of the diploma would be significantly faster. It is also more convenient to apply for work when the diploma is given in an electronic format. To ensure that a diploma is not a copy, it would be easier and faster to go through an electronic database.
To be valid, the current diploma must be made of a special paper with a sigil, water stamp, and signed by hand. These diplomas are very beautiful, but the making of them requires a lot of work. I myself value the old diplomas but can see the benefit in electronic diplomas. Moving the juridically binding document to an electronic database is a good direction. This creates the opportunity to get electronic copies of the diploma, which students have been asking for.
So, what is the future of the physical diploma? We have many students who prefer a physical document over an electronic version. The Student Union has proposed that when asked, students would be able to get a physical diploma for free. The university has taken this wish into account and will give out physical copies of the diploma at graduation ceremonies. What will the diploma look like? The official diploma will be the digital and a physical copy will also be given. The Student Union wishes that a copy with the sigil and water stamp would still be available.
Back to the folder. The university has for a long time used a red folder with golden tassels and the ÅA logo in silver. This folder is beautiful especially when compared to the paper folders other universities use. We want to keep it for its traditional importance. The Student Union will lobby for keeping the folder for graduation ceremonies.
Jonne Kunnas
Chair 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.