What does it mean to be responsible for Communication at ÅAS?

As we are now looking for a new Board for 2026, this year’s Board will write short blog posts about their areas of responsibility and tell you a little more about what working in the Board entails.

Hi! Noomi here!

This year I’ve been working with Communications and City Relations in Vasa. When I applied to the Board, I already knew that Communications was the position I was most interested in. As the person responsible for Communications and City Relations, I knew I would get to work with things like social media (although it’s still the responsibility of all Members of the Board to create content for the social media channels we use) and to build connections with, among others, the City of Vasa and the other student unions.

Communications this year!

This year, my tasks have involved being responsible for Communications and City Relations in Vasa. In practice, this position is very much about keeping track of what’s happening in Vasa. I also contribute by creating, among other things, social media content for the Vasa section.

Another important part of the communications role is maintaining contact with the City of Vasa. This has involved meeting with representatives from the city and from Vasek to discuss what matters most to students in Vasa, and how to encourage them to stay in the city after completing their studies. In other words, how to make Vasa a more attractive city.

The Member of the Board responsible for Communication also works closely with the person responsible for Student Culture at various events organised by ÅAS in Vasa. Examples of these events include Fastlaskiainen (Shrove Tuesday event) and the hatting ceremony during May Day celebrations. This work often involves communicating information about the event and taking photos during the event for future social media use on ÅAS’ account.

Another important task that the person responsible for Communications has had is to work with the people responsible for student advocacy. A practical example of this is organising meetings with the Dean and maintaining contact with the advocacy team in Åbo.

What will the position look like next year?

Because of the Board’s restructuring next year, Communications and City Relations will no longer exist in the same form. These responsibilities will be divided among those Members of the Board whose area of responsibility will be Student Culture or advocacy. However, it’s important to remember to maintain contact with, among others, the city and to continue promoting Vasa’s perspective.

Board work is fun and rewarding – and now you have the chance to apply for next year’s Board!

Working on the Board has been both fun and rewarding. A practical example is that you get to learn what a job within an organisation looks like in reality. One of my favourite memories from the Board’s work was handing out roses to ÅAU Staff, which is something the Board does every year. The purpose of giving out roses is to show appreciation for people who are important to the students. Being able to hand out the flowers and see the reactions of those people was both very enjoyable and deeply meaningful.

In summary, I can highly recommend applying for the Student Union Board in Vasa next year! It is a role where you can be creative, make contacts and influence how ÅAS is seen and heard in Vasa.

Noomi Talvio
Member of the Board responsible for Communications and City Relations (Vasa)
The Student Union of ÅAU