Emilia Melén’s, ÅAS’ candidate for the FSF Board, presentation

FSF, the National Union of University Students in Finland, is the umbrella organisation for Finland’s student unions and works to promote and represent students’ interests at the national level. Every year, a new FSF Board is elected at FSF’s General Assembly in November.

A few weeks ago, during FSF’s Autumn Seminar, all the candidates gave a short speech explaining why they are running for the board. ÅAS’ candidate Emilia Melén gave her speech in three languages (Swedish, English and Finnish) so that everyone could understand at least some bits. In this post, you can read the whole speech in English.

Emilia Melén

Hi everyone!

My name is Emilia, I’m 25 years old and I study political science at Åbo Akademi University in Åbo. Throughout my studies, I have been active in several associations, which eventually led me to the student union.

I joined the board responsible for student culture, but quickly realised that what I am most passionate about is development and making concrete improvements to students’ everyday lives, advocacy work. The following year, I became Chair of the Board. It was tough. I cried a lot, laughed a lot, and bought quite a few sweet treats with my board members and friends.

But most importantly, I learned how students, when we work together, can actually create change.

In 2025, Åbo Akademi University went through a major organisational reform. At one of my first meetings with the university leadership, we were told that the number of faculties would be reduced from four to two. As Chair of the Board, I asked: “How will this be communicated to students?”

The university leadership went silent. And the answer was that it would not be communicated to the students. The following days were hectic, and the board got to work. We wrote a statement built around one simple truth: Students have the right to know what is happening at their university. Without students, there is no university.

We called our Rector and organised a discussion panel where students could ask their questions directly to the university leadership. We were heard, and together we found solutions. These discussion panels have continued ever since.

That is the experience I want to bring with me to FSF: uplifting students’ voices. I have learned that true advocacy work happens only with good communication. Us working with advocacy need to have the bravery to speak up for those who aren’t in the room speaking.

Students have the right to be heard. And without students, there is no future for Finland.

I will do this wholeheartedly.

Thank you!