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My name is Veera, and I work as the Secretary General of the Student Union of ÅAU (ÅAS). The Secretary General’s tasks include leading the Student Union’s Advocacy Sector. I work closely with the staff and the Board (especially the Chair of the Board), but also with the Presidium of the Representative Council (that is, the Chair and two Vice Chairs), the Executive Director of ÅAS, and external partners such as the Secretary Generals of other student unions.
Depending on who I’m working with, my role can look a little different – sometimes it’s about developing our activities, and sometimes it’s about putting decisions into action.
Together with the Board and the Council
As the title suggests, I act as secretary in many of the Student Union’s bodies, for example during Board and Representative Council meetings. The Council meets around eight times a year and decides on the major matters of the organisation, such as the budget and action plan, and appoints student representatives to various bodies within Åbo Akademi University.
The Board meets every other week (except during the summer and Christmas holidays) and makes more day-to-day decisions – for example, choosing the Fastlaskiainen coordinator, organising events, or deciding who represents ÅAS at different occasions.
Together with the Chair of the Council and the Chair of the Board, I make sure that decisions are carried out.
Budgets, Grants, and Balance
In addition to administrative tasks, I’m also responsible for financial follow-up. I handle grant applications, support the Board with corporate partnerships, and make sure each month that we stay within the budget set by the Council.
I also help the Board with financial matters, such as event budgeting or planning new purchases.
Strategy Work and Development
In 2025, one of the Secretary General’s key tasks has been to update ÅAS’s strategy. In this process, my role has been to gather input, listen to different opinions, and weave them together into a shared vision..The strategy is one of our most important documents – it guides nearly everything we do in our everyday work through our values and long-term goals.
Excel, History, and a Love for Numbers
Besides all that, I really enjoy working with Excel and data! Over my years at ÅAS, I’ve worked a lot on collecting and analysing data to understand how our organisation has developed – for instance, when it comes to scholarships: how has their size changed over the past 20 years?
I also love digging into old minutes and annual reports to see what ÅAS used to be like and how we’ve evolved over time.
You can contact me about almost anything! And if I don’t know the answer, I’ll help you find the right person who does.
My name is Amanda, and welcome to a look into my everyday life as a Service Expert here in beautiful Vaasa.
ÅAS operates in two cities – Åbo and Vasa – and we have Service Experts in both locations. Our jobs are quite similar, but at the same time, they each have their own unique sides. As Service Experts, we’re here for our student union members – to answer questions and take care of our service points.
The best part of my job is the close contact I have with students and our associations here in Vaasa.
What does a typical week look like?
My work is a wonderful mix of different tasks and can vary quite a lot from week to week. The most consistent part, however, is our service point, which I keep open twice a week. You can stop by if you want to buy student union items such as overall patches, ribbons, or student cap lyre, or if you need a sticker for your student card.
A large part of my work also involves answering emails and managing our facilities in Havtornen. In addition to the ÅAS office, Havtornen also includes a living room and a sauna, which we rent out to students, our associations, and even outside guests. As a student union member, you get a discount when booking these spaces – highly recommended!
I handle all the practical aspects of the rentals and make sure our spaces stay clean and in good condition.
Other responsibilities
In addition to these tasks, I also manage our starter packages, which we rent out to exchange students. The starter kit includes things like a duvet, pillow, pot, glass, plate, and cutlery – and I take care of the inventory. This means I get to both welcome our exchange students when they arrive in Finland and wave them off when they head home.
I also serve as one of ÅAS’s two harassment contact persons and am available for students who have experienced harassment, inappropriate treatment, bullying, or other difficult situations. I also meet with associations and their boards to provide training on preventive work and how to handle such situations at their events.
I listen, help put thoughts into words, and support students in figuring out how to move forward. As a harassment contact person, I’m bound by confidentiality, and it’s always up to the person who reaches out to decide what steps to take next.
That little extra
During my years here in Havtornen, I’ve also had the chance to do some exciting things – organizing a 15th-anniversary celebration for Havtornen, creating a timeline (photo wall) in the elevator corridor, updating the Havtornen website, and contributing as one of the writers for ÅAS’s history book Vårdträdet X!
As a Service Expert, I’m here to help you – our student union members and our special associations. I’m happiest when students or board members drop by Havtornen to take care of an errand or just to chat for a bit.
If the door to our office here in Havtornen is open, you’re always welcome to come in and say hi – so please, stop by!
Amanda Ehn
Service Expert in Vasa
havtornen@studentkaren.fi
As a Communications Specialist at the Student Union of ÅAU (ÅAS), I am responsible for ÅAS’ communication, i.e. everything from newsletters to social media, photography and website development. I work closely with the Board and Staff to support them in creating content themselves. Proof reading texts is therefore also part of my weekly tasks.
It is important that everyday communication runs smoothly
The Board is the public face of ÅAS and makes most of the social media posts very independently, but if you are thinking of applying to the Board and are not comfortable with social media yourself, there is no need to worry; at the beginning of the year, I hold training sessions for the Board so that everyone has the time and opportunity to learn everything from the basics. I will also teach the Board to use WordPress and publish content on the website!
I am also in charge of ÅAS’ internal communication and have held training sessions on, among other things, how Teams and Outlook are used within the organisation, so that everyone has the same opportunities to participate in discussions regardless of location or if they for example have chosen to work remotely on a particular day.
Creating content requires time and planning
The Board is responsible for the Student Union’s day-to-day external communications, which is why we hold weekly communications meetings that all Members of the Board and Staff are invited to attend. At these meetings, we go through the plans for the upcoming posts on social media and on the website, and plan how future content will be realised and created – i.e. who does what, what kind of photos or videos are needed, and when they should be taken or filmed. ÅAS already has a fairly broad collection of different kind of tools that come in handy in content creating, such as a digital system camera, ring light, a stabilising gimbal for phones, and now, as the newest addition, a set of wireless microphones have arrived in both Vasa and Åbo to improve the sound quality of our videos.
For larger events and projects, it is then my turn to take the lead and design material for different communications channels. When the new Board gathers together for the first time, I take photos that I then post on the ÅAS website and a contact poster. I usually take photos of the entire Board at the same time, and it is also possible to take other photos, for example, to send to the media houses with press releases. I enjoy graphic design and have in recent years designed the animals on the Fastlaskiainen (Shrove Tuesday event) overall patches on a drawing tablet. Designing printed material and online guides is also part of my job, so I get to use almost the entire range of Adobe programmes in my work.
Accessibility and inclusion matter
The Student Union’s content must be accessible and inclusive, so these themes are always part of the training sessions I hold. I not only train new Members of the Board, but have also held training courses for Staff, ÅAS’ associations and Student Union Council Members, among others. Accessibility is something I am passionate about and have studied a lot, so it is something I actively promote in my work.
In recent years, ÅAS has become almost entirely bilingual in its communication, and we emphasise that all our members should have equal opportunity to access the information we share on our communications channels. This applies not only to different languages such as Swedish and English, which are the languages ÅAS communicates in, but also to writing and speaking in plain language, using short sentences (which I admit I could improve on myself) and sharing the same information on multiple channels, as not all our members are in social media and may not be reached by the information there.
Different areas of expertise can be combined in the work
As a Communications Specialist at the Student Union of ÅAU, I have been project manager for the acquisition of a new website. My studies in Computer Science came in handy in this project as I facilitated the entire planning process. It was also helpful in communication with the service providers. The project was, of course, carried out in close collaboration with the Board and Staff, who helped by participating in workshops I organised to restructure the navigation bar and by rewriting content in plain language, among other things.
Overall, my job is very diverse and rewarding, and there is always something new to learn and to develop.
Mari Frelander
Communications Specialist
The Student Union of ÅAU
I am employed at the student union as an expert in higher education policy, student social benefits, well-being, and student rights. My job is to support union members, associations, elected representatives of ÅAS, and student representatives in the ÅAU administration. I have held the title of student representative since the job descriptions for ÅAS employees were updated a few years ago. We initially considered calling me an “advocacy expert,” but fortunately decided that sounded too complicated and dry. The title Students’ Rights Expert is more descriptive; I hope it signals that “yes, you as a student should get in touch, and I am happy to help.”
ÅAS advocacy work
ÅAS’s mission is to make students’ everyday lives as good as possible. We, the employees, are here to support the union board and the student council. I work closely with the union board by providing background information on student health, accessibility issues, and national regulations related to education. We often write texts together or make plans for campaigns.
I am involved as the Student Union contact in ÅAU’s Equality Committee and Crisis Support Group, and I also participate in meetings on student well-being and in collaborative groups with the Student Health Care Services.
Decision-making at ÅAU
One of my tasks is to handle the practical aspects of electing student representatives to various groups within ÅAU. I also organize training for the student representatives and answer their questions so that they can influence ÅAU’s decision-making as effectively as possible. The contact and communication between ÅAS and the student representatives is important so that we are all aware of what is being planned and decided at ÅAU. Especially now, when major changes may occur in education and course offerings, it is a priority to maintain close contact with everyone involved in the work.
How the Students’ Rights Expert can support individual students
I assist individual students in problem situations, for example, by finding out which rules apply to courses and examinations at ÅAU or which organizations can support international students. I often participate as a support person for students in meetings with ÅAU staff regarding, for example, suspicions of plagiarism or violations of the rules of conduct. My role is always to view matters from the students’ perspective and to ensure that students’ rights are upheld. This applies both if a course teacher has not followed the ÅAU rules and if a student has not followed the ÅAU rules.
What happens if I get in contact with the Students’ Rights Expert?
It is up to you what happens! I am happy to listen to what you are thinking about and answer questions or provide information, or provide contact details. If you do not want that, we will never take a question further to anyone else. All emails and everything we discuss are confidential.
Petra Lindblad
Students’ Rights Expert at ÅAS
petra@studentkaren.fi
Since the Student Union operates in both Åbo and Vasa, there is also a service expert in both cities. As a service expert, I am here to help with all kinds of matters that Student Union members may have. Three days a week, we have the service point at Kåren . You can come there to get answers to questions or buy union merchandise such as overall patches, ribbons, or student cap lyre.
Common questions that the Student Union members might have are about the membership and what it entails, i.e., what benefits you get. These include inexpensive student lunches, discounts on public transportation, and various forms of counseling.
Other questions are about associations and where they can arrange meetings or parties, and which spaces at Kåren you can use (spoiler: all spaces on the second floor can be booked for meetings and exercise completely free of charge, and for parties you pay no rent, only for food and drinks).
If you are a member of an student association, you can book items for annual parties or other festive celebrations via ÅAS – like a schnapps bell, the Finnish flag or a marshal rod. I am also happy to help with association matters. If your association wants to update its statutes, I will gladly read through the statutes and brainstorm ideas with you on how to improv them, or to simply be an extra pair of eyes.
As a service expert, I am here to help you as a Student Union member or part of one of the student associations. You are very welcome to contact me if you have any questions!
Service expert in Åbo,
Nora Möller
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
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.
My name is Svea, and this year I’ve had the chance to be Vice Chair of ÅAS, as well as being responsible for Communication and Business Collaboration in Åbo. When I applied to the Board, I knew I wanted to do work that was both creative and varied, which is exactly what this opportunity has given me!
What does it mean to be Vice Chair?
The Vice Chair is a subsidiary position that is elected at the same time as the rest of the Board. The role can be held by any of the regular Members of the Board, either in Åbo or Vasa. As Vice Chair, I’ve worked to support the Chair in various tasks and stepped in whenever the Chair has been absent. For me, the work has mainly involved keeping a good overview of what the Chair is doing, so I can seamlessly take over if needed. The position therefore requires the ability to work under time pressure, take responsibility, and provide leadership when necessary.
What does it mean to be responsible for Communication and Business Collaboration?
As the person in charge of communication in Åbo, I’ve had overall responsibility for ÅAS’ external communication for the Board. I work closely with ÅAS’ Communications Specialist and the Communications Board Member in Vasa; together, we plan and produce material for ÅAS’ social media channels.
A large part of my work this year has involved creating different social media campaigns. During the spring, for example, these included ÅAS’ campaign for Wappen 100 (May Day 100 years) and content for social media ahead of the municipal and county elections, aimed at increasing student voter turnout. In the autumn, my main responsibility has been the “Meaningful Membership” campaign, which aims to clarify and explain what ÅAS actually does, so that the student union members know what their student union fee goes toward.
This is a constantly evolving position, influenced by what’s happening in student life and in the world around us. Much of the work is done in Canva, so it’s helpful if you’re somewhat familiar with the program, but it’s not a requirement. The most important thing is that you enjoy creating, planning, and working creatively! Being responsible for ÅAS’ communication means expressing yourself both visually and in writing, while also thinking about how ÅAS can best reach its members.
In addition to communication, I’ve also been responsible for business collaboration. This mainly involves maintaining contact with ÅAS’ various partners and working to expand our collaborations. Over the year, I’ve focused on updating our collaboration packages so that ÅAS can more easily establish new partnerships in the future.
Business Collaboration, as part of my role, has allowed me to use both my social and creative sides, while gaining insight into how collaborations work within larger organisations. It’s a perfect area for anyone interested in communication and networking, who also enjoys taking initiative and starting new projects.
Why apply?
Serving on the Board has been challenging, but above all, incredibly rewarding. If you’re interested in media, communication, or marketing, and want to gain hands-on experience for your future career, this is the perfect position for you!
Take the chance and apply! <3
Svea Välimäki
Vice Chair – Responsible for Communication and Business Collaboration
The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University
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! Niko here!
This year I have been working with the responsibility for higher education policy, or if we follow the exact description of my position, this year it is “Higher Education Policy (national higher education policy matters, study-related matters within ÅAU).”
Higher education policy is an area of responsibility that always involves something new. It is a role that lives in the moment, especially since it is so closely tied to what Åbo Akademi University (ÅAU) does. This year it has been about following up on the new organization at ÅAU and on property-related issues. Even though the year has been shaped by these two major changes, there is always something new just around the corner.
What will the area of responsibility look like next year?
Next year national higher education policy issues and study-related matters within ÅAU will continue to be part of the role, but in addition it will also include responsibility for International Affairs within ÅAU. The area of responsibility is also divided between Turku and Vaasa, which means that you and your counterpart in the other city will share the duties. Major themes next year will include ÅAU’s continued work on its study programs, further development of International Affairs as a natural part of The Student Union’s activities, and following up on ÅAU’s property development.
If you want to read more about what it means to be responsible for international affairs, check out board member Sofie’s blog here.
But what does the person responsible for Higher Educational Policy actually do?
The main thing you will be working with is advocacy. In everyday life advocacy can take many different forms. It can, for example, mean meeting with ÅAU staff in a certain subject to discuss problems with courses, collaborating with other student union actives in Finland on the right to multiple study rights, or talking with special associations about their needs.
Maintaining good contact with students is an important part of the work. Through other students you will hear about current issues and possible problems on campus. The work you do is for the benefit of the students. You will also meet regularly with ÅAU staff, everyone from the Rector to Study Advisors. Meetings are not limited to ÅAU either; during my two years on the board I have also met with several politicians, other student union actives, and various officials. Meetings and encounters, the entire social side of the job, are some of the best parts of the role.
But meetings and encounters are not the only things you will be doing. The everyday work also involves emailing, writing, and planning. A significant part of the working time goes into projects included in the Student Union’s current action plan. For example, that could mean preparing a report on environmentally friendly printing options or on student association spaces at ÅAU. The work is varied and changes every year. Some of the Student Union’s goals are long-term and continue over several years, but in general, the specific tasks change a bit every year.
This is a very brief overview of what a person responsible for higher educational policy does. It is an area of responsibility with plenty of opportunities to make a real impact on students’ everyday lives. The work we do is always by students, for students.
Apply to the board! You will not regret it!
Niko Sandberg
Responsible for Higher Educational Policy
The Student Union of ÅAU
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, Jennifer here! <3
A year ago, when I applied to the Board, I knew that Social Policy was the area of responsibility I wanted. I knew that social policy involves a lot of questions about wellbeing, which is something that I am passionate about. However, I was a bit unsure of what exactly the role would include if I were elected. That is why I want to write this blog post, to share the information I wish I’d had when I was considering applying to the Board.
Social Policy This Year
To begin with, it is good to know that next year, the position as the Member of the Board responsible for Social Policy will not be tied to a specific city. This means that you can be responsible for Social Policy whether you study in Åbo or Vasa. As the Member of the Board responsible for Social Policy, your main focus is the overall wellbeing of students. This also includes topics such as students’ finances and equality — important issues that have a major impact on students’ everyday lives. The Board’s work can vary a lot from year to year, but to make it a bit more concrete, I want to share some examples of what I have been working on this year.
In the spring, for instance, I organised an election panel to prepare for the county and municipal election, helped arrange the blood donation event at Åbo Svenska Teater, and compiled a members’ survey that the Student Union sends out to all students at ÅAU every other year. In the autumn, I organised a wellbeing week and put together a report based on the members’ survey responses. Throughout the year, I have also taken part in meetings with the Student Health Service (FSHS), as well as in our internal weekly meetings. For example, we have an advocacy meeting once a week with the other Board Members responsible for advocacy work. I have also participated in a few interviews on topics relevant to my position. Alongside all of this, I have helped out with other projects that the Board has been working on. You never have to work alone at the Student Union. The Board Members collaborate and support each other, and there is also a lot of help available from our knowledgeable Staff.
You’ll do great, so apply!
Many of the things I have mentioned as examples are things that would have felt a bit intimidating to me a year ago. But my time on the Student Union Board has been extremely educational, and I have had the chance to try so many new things. I have challenged myself, and now that almost a year has passed, I can really see how much I have learned and grown. If you want to help improve everyday life for your fellow students and you are interested in wellbeing issues in general, I strongly recommend applying to the Student Union Board. You will do great!
Jennifer Lindgren
Responsible for Social Policy
The Student Union of ÅAU
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.
Hey, hey, it’s Sofie here! <3
This year, I have been responsible for International Affairs in both Åbo and Vasa, and the description for my position this year has been: International affairs at ÅAU in Åbo and Vasa, international higher education policy issues, and CHARM-EU.
International affairs had not been its own area of responsibility within the Board until 2025. Before that, the Member of the Board responsible for communications also handled international affairs. This year has therefore been about finding ways forward and identifying what needs to be developed within the international sector. Among other things, I have personally worked on ways to better include international students in the student culture here at Åbo Akademi University (ÅAU).
How does the area of responsibility look like next year?
Next year, the composition of the Board will change so that international affairs and higher education policy become a joint area of responsibility, where the Board can work together with a focus on including an international perspective in advocacy work as a natural part of the operations. This is something I have also worked on extensively this year – that the continuity and development of international affairs as an area of responsibility is maintained within ÅAS in the future, as well as how different networks, working methods, and ways to increase inclusion can be developed.
But what does the person responsible for international affairs actually do?
To make it as concrete as possible, it mostly involves advocating for international students at ÅAU by maintaining contact with the students themselves, as well as with the staff at ÅAU responsible for international affairs. Maintaining these contacts is the most important part, as it is where advocacy and influence work are most effective. In addition, the role also involves representing students and maintaining contact with CHARM-EU’s student representatives.
As the person responsible for international affairs, you also work closely with the rest of the advocacy sector at the Student Union of Åbo Akademi University (ÅAS) on issues regarding education at ÅAU, as well as students’ well-being and finances. What is especially important in this area of responsibility is to keep track of the international perspective.
Everyday work involves a lot of writing, including emails and other texts. This year, for example, I have worked on an International Guide about student life at ÅAU and about the Student Union for international students, as well as a survey to help map how we can better advocate for international students.
The role also involves attending many meetings and connecting with both ÅAU staff and other actors in EU matters. A fun experience this year has been participating in a panel discussion at Europaforum, where we talked about sustainable education, had interesting guests and a full audience of people interested in EU.
Sofie Lehtovaara
Responsible for International Affairs
The Student Union of ÅAU