Communication and corporate affairs at ÅAS

As we are now looking for a new board for 2027, this year’s board members will be writing short blog posts about their areas of responsibility and sharing what board work looks like in practice. Read more and submit your application here.

Please note that ÅAS uses Swedish as its working language! Applicants should have a good knowledge of Swedish. Other language skills will be seen as a strength.

Hello everyone, Bei here!

This year, I have served on the board with responsibility for communication and corporate affairs. Previously, this position was held by two board members, one in Vasa and one in Åbo. This year, the structure was changed so that one person is responsible for both locations, as well as the board’s communications as a whole. The position will function in the same way next year, so if you are interested in this role, you can apply regardless of your place of study!

What the day-to-day work looks like

As Communications Officer, I have had overall responsibility for ÅAS’s external communications from the board’s side. I work closely with ÅAS’s Communications Specialist, and together we plan and produce content for ÅAS’s social media channels.

Communications work is highly project-based. Whether it involves sharing information about what the board has been doing, upcoming events, or issues that are relevant for students, there is usually a deadline for when the information needs to be published. As a result, I often focus on one task at a time and move on to the next once it has been published.

In addition to creating social media posts that involve graphic design and visual communication, I also produce a large amount of written content. Depending on the topic, the tone of the texts can vary greatly, ranging from fact-packed news updates to upbeat promotional content for events.

To ensure that I always have material for posts, I also take photos wherever the board is active and document what is happening. This has meant travelling to Vasa several times throughout the year and photographing events there as well.

Corporate Affairs

Another part of my role is managing corporate affairs. In practice, this means that I oversee ÅAS’s partners, keep track of the agreements established for the year, and follow up to ensure that all agreed-upon collaborations are carried out as planned. Last year, the partnership packages that we offer were updated, which has made my work easier by making it clearer and more straightforward to present what we can offer to potential partners.

One of the largest projects related to corporate partnerships is securing sponsors for the Student Union Calendar, Kårkalendern, each year. This year, a cover design competition for the calendar was also organized for the first time. I had the pleasure of receiving all of the submissions, and it was genuinely one of the highlights of the spring to see so many excellent contributions come in.

Why Communications?

This is a constantly evolving position where the work is shaped by developments in student life and the wider world. A large portion of the tasks are carried out in Canva, so it is helpful if you are already somewhat familiar with the platform, although this is not a requirement. The most important thing is that you enjoy creating, planning, and working creatively.

Being responsible for ÅAS’s communications means having the opportunity to express yourself both visually and in writing, while also considering how ÅAS can best reach and engage its members.

In this role, I have been able to exercise my creative side, take initiative with new projects, and gain insight into how partnerships function within larger organizations. If you are interested in media, communications, or marketing and would like to gain concrete experience that will benefit you in your future career, this is the perfect position for you!

Matilda Bei Korkiala
Communication & corporate affairs
The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University