Recipients of diplomas and roses

The Student Union of ÅAU (ÅAS) traditionally hands out diplomas and roses to those in the staff of ÅAU that the students want to thank for their input, educational skills and for meeting the students with empathy and as individuals.

The students of ÅAU got to nominate staff and attach a short descriptive motivation of why they think the person deserves a rose. The Student Union Board has taken the motivations into consideration while deciding the recipients of a rose.

Empathetic and encouraging guidance and feedback had an important role in the nominations. Taking the mental well-being of students in consideration and the positive effects of the possibility to flexible studies, were some of the reasons why students decided to nominate lecturers. Even educational skills of the staff, and the ability to create a good learning environment, were especially appreciated according to the nominations.

The Student Union Board has decided to hand out 15 roses as well as one bonus rose. This is the 29th year in a row that ÅAS observes ÅAU’s staff by handing out diplomas and roses for good work.

Ilia Gugenishvili, Emilia Melén and Jonne Kunnas

This year the following people were awarded roses

Ann-Sofie Smeds Nylund

Camilla Svens-Liavåg

Klas Backholm

Maria Björkman

Bodil Haagensen  

Roland Nylund

Anki Stenkull-Aura

Anna Schmidt

Ann-Catrin Östman

Mikael von Numers

Eva Henriksson

Jan-Erik Lönnqvist

Nanuli Silagadze

Jaana Aaltonen 

Ilia Gugenishvili

This year the Executive Board elected to award an extra bonus rose to a person from outside the Åbo Akademi University staff, that students wished to thank.

Leif Jahn
Employed by Kårkaféerna

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Questions can be directed to

Jonne Kunnas
Chair of the Executive Board
The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University
+358 50 401 3524
so@studentkaren.fi

Julia Michelsson, Sini Eriksson, Camilla Svens-Liavåg and Jan Welroos

The Student Union traditionally hands out roses to a few in the Åbo Akademi Univeristy’s staff that have a high standard on their education or have otherwise inspired and motivated the students in their studies.

Who do you believe deserves a rose? You can nominate any ÅAU staff member. Send us your suggestion, with a motivation. To nominate you simply fill in this form. The deadline for nominations is 31 March.

The Orpo government is at it again. This time, it is the universities’ funding model that is reviewed and possibly changed.

Universities in Finland have autonomy over their operations and finances, but money is always something that universities need. Some of the funding comes from external factors, such as donations or corporate cooperation, but most of the funding by far, comes from the state. Funding from the state is also the easiest for universities to predict and rely on in the annual budget. Small changes to the funding model can therefore have a major impact, and tens of millions of euros are paid to the country’s universities. Funding is therefore the strongest policy instrument the state can use to influence the activities of universities.

The Ministry of Education and Culture has asked for comments on its proposal to change the way universities receive funding from the state, and the Student Union has issued a statement. I would like to highlight two of the most important changes proposed, as well as our comments.

More money for a degree completed within the target time.

Currently, if you as a student complete your degree within the target time, the university will receive €17,096, which is 1.5 times more than if your degree is completed 12 months after the target time deadline. The Ministry for Education and Culture proposes that the coefficient for a degree completed within the set time limit would be raised from 1.5 to 1.8.

The Student Union opposes an increase in the coefficient for a degree completed within the target time. The Government’s reforms so far have already made students’ everyday lives more difficult, and more and more people are forced to work alongside their studies as other sources of income are tightened. In addition to being forced to work while studying full-time, there is also greater pressure on you to graduate on time. Not all students are able to complete their studies on time due to family situations, learning difficulties or disabilities, for example.

Raising the coefficient would also put more pressure on universities to get students to complete their studies on time. This, in turn, tightens the already limited resources universities have to support their students. Instead of the state providing more money for on-time graduations, could it be invested in supporting students?

More money for admitted first-time applicants 

At present, the university does not receive money for first-time applicants who are admitted. The proposal here is to introduce a proportion of money that would go to universities based on how many first-time applicants are admitted. ÅAS strongly opposes this proposal as well.

This would mean that universities would have to increase their quotas for first-time applicants, and if you at some point in your life have accepted a study place, it would be more difficult to continue your education or to change your studies to another subject. Quite simply, it means that universities are penalized financially by admitting students who have already at some point accepted a study place.

Another change related to this, is the proposal to lower the coefficient of a second degree from 0.7 to 0.5. This means that if you have another bachelor’s degree, universities would receive more than € 10,000 less compared to a first-time applicant who graduates on time. This change would also penalize universities and lead to poor incentives for admissions.

Especially now that universities are suffering from major financial problems and the state is proposing changes to the funding model, it is important to look at and debate what effects the changes may lead to. The picture we see from the changes is that the students’ everyday lives are under additional pressure to finish on time, and that the university management is forced to think about how this puzzle can even be put together.

The Orpo government is proposing increased tuition fees for students coming from countries outside of the EU and EEA, reintroduce an application fee, and that students who are working alongside their studies no longer be eligable to obtain a residence permit for work, but must be registered as students. All to attract more international students.

For a long time, education in Finland has been considered to be of high quality, and Finland has been praised by the rest of the world for investing in education. What is the reason for this or what is Finland doing right? Admittedly, there are many reasons, but one of the main ones is that we have invested in making education accessible and, above all, free of charge. Everyone should have access to education, it is a right not a privilege. However, this is not the reality for everyone.

The Orpo government has recently presented a proposal proposing amendments to the Universities Act and the Universities of Applied Sciences Act. The essence of the proposal is that it intends to increase tuition fees for students coming from outside the EU and EEA countries, to reintroduce an application fee, and to “prevent evasion of tuition fees” by ensuring that students who work alongside their studies cannot obtain a residence permit for work but must be registered as students.

The reasoning behind this is that the key economic policy objective of the Government Programme is to achieve sustainable growth. The purpose of the increase in tuition fees is to secure the finances of universities and to secure the financing of studies of Finnish students in higher education institutions. Tuition fees will be increased to cover all costs arising from students from outside the EU and EEA. The Government Programme also aims to increase the number of international students in Finnish higher education institutions, and to increase the number of international students in higher education institutions further, the incentives to stay in Finland after graduation will be increased.

This raises a lot of questions; How will these changes achieve the objectives of the Government Programme? How can higher tuition fees lead to more international students? How will the change in residence permits make working in Finland after graduation attractive? What does “tuition fees covering all costs of students from outside EU and EEA countries” mean? Above all, it raises the question: Which of these changes will increase the incentive to come to Finland to study and then want to stay and work after graduation?

Finland’s main way of attracting international students has been its reputation as a country with high-quality education. This is still an important attraction factor, but how long can we live on a reputation alone? Reality quickly sets in, and reputation is no longer enough. We know that living in Finland is becoming more and more expensive, while at the same time benefits are being cut. We also know that not everyone feels welcome or safe in Finland, something the government could perhaps consider in its proposal. Given how phrases such as “prevent evasion of tuition fees” do not give the most welcoming impression, for example. When considering the discussions that took place in the summer of 2023, it does not get a better tone either. If we neither can afford nor want to take on international students, why do we?

Higher education in Finland must be genuinely free of charge, financially accessible to all, and opportunities for education must not depend on a person’s socio-economic background. Tuition fees that contribute to inequality in education must not occur and, if tuition fees exist, they should be kept to a minimum. Admissions should be fair, not differentiate between different groups, and all parts of the admissions process should be free of charge. Higher education must be possible at all stages of life, even if you are working at the same time. We should encourage contact with working life and work experience already during studies.

Funding for universities must be predictable and adequate. Central government funding to higher education institutions should not be dependent on income from tuition fees, open university course fees or contract education fees. National special tasks must also be considered in the funding of universities, and funding systems must support university autonomy and the long-term development of education and research. Adequate funding for universities is important to ensure sufficient resources for teaching and research.

If the Orpo Government really wants to implement the objectives of the Government Programme, it should rethink and realise that there are more effective ways. If we want educated people with high levels of skills, increase the number of international university students, attract labour to Finland and balance the state budget, what is proposed is downright counterproductive.

Amanda Byskata

The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University

The Student Union Council has decided to make a donation to All Our Children that promotes equality for children and young people, and works on eradicating racism and discrimination.

The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University (ÅAS) has always strived to be an inclusive and safe place for all students, regardless of their background or experiences. This year, when ÅAS’ presidium considered which organisation to donate to, All Our Children was an obvious recommendation. All Our Children is an organisation devoted to promoting equality for children and young people, with a special focus on eradicating racism and discrimination. 

– We are determined to not only talk about the fact that everyone is welcome in our organisation, but to also work for it actively. Racism and discrimination have no place in our society, and not in our student union. We cannot stand idly by when we see disturbing news about racism in our government, or anywhere else in society. We must act and try to resolve the situation, says the Chair of the Student Union Council, Ines Latvala.

The Student Union is here for all students, regardless of their background, and ÅAS strives to create a community where everyone can feel included and welcome. Active work in condemning and eradicating racism is not only right, but a necessity. ÅAS stands side by side with organisations such as All Our Children in the fight against racism and discrimination. By donating to their work, the Student Union of ÅAU hopes to be able to contribute to a better and more inclusive future for everyone.

Together, we can make real difference and show that racism has no place in either our operations or in society.