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The year is 2030, and you let out a sight of relief. You take a look at your bank account, and you see that your financial aid covers your monthly expenses once again. When you contacted the student healthcare services about seeing a psychologist, you got an appointment within a month. You read the news and see that the government has halted the loss of biodiversity. This could be the future if the National Union of University Students in Finland’s (SYL) campaign goals for the parliamentary election are reached.
The advance voting period for the parliamentary election has already started, and you are choosing a candidate to cast your vote for. What is important to you as a student?
Did you know…?
- Student financial aid has only been raised with 4 € since 1992. If you follow the index adjustment, it should be 143 € higher.
- Finland’s student financial aid is the weakest within the Nordic countries (Sweden 340 €/ month and Denmark 838 €/ month).
Why is the student financial aid so low?
- Study success – completed credits has decreased since 2017.
- Time spent on studies – on average, we study 3.5 hours less per week than in 2016 (perhaps because student financial aid is not enough, leading to many students being forced to work as well as study).
- Students’ well-being – there is no simple way to summarize this point.
- Generational debt – the share of student loans has more than doubled since 2017.
We must move the students away from the poverty line
We can state that most of it is crap, and something has to be done. Students live below the poverty line despite taking out student loans or working on the side of their studies. The purchasing power of the student financial aid has decreased by approximately 134 € since 2017. The cost of living is skyrocketing, interest rates are growing, and students are not doing well.
No other social group in Finland lives on as low an income as students do right now. SYL is lobbying to increase the student financial aid by 100 €. Such an increase would lead to students moving away from the poverty line (hence #abovethepovertyline). Students could study with a secured income – what an utopia!
How do we reach this goal? Well, by students voting. No one will pursue the interests of students unless we do it ourselves. The voting percentage in the last Parliamentary elections was 55 % among the youngest age group of 18 to 24. Although the percentage of young voters has increased in recent years, there is still a lot of work to do.
Do yourself a favor and vote in the general election (and bring a friend).
The parliamentary elections are approaching and so is the advance voting. In Finland, every Finnish citizen who turns 18 on election day at the latest has the right to vote. The right to vote is universal and equal, which in practice means that everyone has a vote that is equally valuable. Voting is a right and not an obligation.
Why should you vote, then? By voting, you influence the society. Your vote is important and makes a difference. In the upcoming parliamentary election, representatives who will work on issues that affect you and your everyday life daily, will be elected. By voting, you take a stand on major and minor issues. If you have an opinion, there is reason to vote, and without a vote there is no right to complain either.
It is common knowledge that voter turnout among young people tends to be relatively low. Voting is one of the cornerstones of a functioning democracy. If young people do not use their voice, there is also no one who can represent them in the framework of decision-making. Of course, the loss of a single vote is not catastrophic. The problem arises when many choose to refrain from voting, because then who will make our decisions?
It can be difficult to know how to vote and which party is pursuing a policy that is to one’s own advantage. This uncertainty can lead to abstaining from voting. The election compass is an excellent and simple aid. For the curious, The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University also organizes panel debates in both Åbo and Vasa during the spring. In Vasa, the panel debate will be held on 7 March, while in Åbo it will take place on 20 March. During each occasion, invited parliamentary election candidates discuss issues that affect students’ everyday life.
See you on the election day!
–
Vanessa Björklund
Member of the Board
The Student Union of ÅAU
Dear students, both younger and elder, now it is time to start the semester. For the first-year students, it is clear that the most things are new and exciting, but now we are in a situation where we don’t have just one but 4 grades that haven’t had the opportunity to experience a normal year of studies. That is a huge majority of all the students.
Do you not have any idea in which room your next lecture is, don’t worry, most of the others don’t probably know it either. Don’t be afraid to ask regardless of what it is about, that is the only way you will learn.
And you, dear older students, do you feel like you should know more than you know and do you feel like you missed out on the biggest part of your studies? You shouldn’t worry in that case either, now we just have to take back the time we have lost and make the best of it. Let’s live this semester like we all were first-year students again, meet lots of new people and accept the fact that sometimes all of us are a little bit lost. Take part in the different events organised by our associations, and ask your study mates from your course to join you at lunch or the sports event in the evening. There is something for everyone.
Now it is time to take back the time that we missed and experience a great start to the semester together. Let’s meet at campus and at events, and please contact us with a low threshold if you are wondering anything.
Veera Granroth
Chair of the Board, The Student Union of ÅAU
The Åbo Pride-week (22-28 August) has kicked off! Turku Pride continues the gay pride tradition and the LGBT human rights movement that started in 1969 at Stonewall Inn, New York. Turku Pride is a demonstration, a commemoration of Stonewall, a meeting point and a party!
The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University (ÅAS) will show its support for sexual diversity and gender variance. ÅAS will participate in the Åbo Pride-parade (27 August) in the Study in Turku-block together with ÅAU and other institutions of higher education. All students are welcome to march with us in the block! We will wear student overalls, but you can of course wear what you feel like.
Åbo Pride uses the safer space policy. This for example means that we may not assume anyone’s gender or sexuality, that harassment is not tolerated and that everyone has the right to be themselves and to feel safe. We are aware of our privileges, give each other space to be heard and respect each other’s boundaries. In case something goes wrong, it’s important to apologize and do better next time.
Support for students: ÅAS harassment contact persons
ÅAS offers support for students. Two Student Union employees who you can talk to in confidence to get help and support if you have been subject to inappropriate behaviour and jargon, bullying, discrimination, sexual harassment or violence. Harassment on digital platforms is as serious as any other form and a good reason to contact us. The Student Union’s harassment contact persons are Sandra Häggkvist and Petra Lindblad. You can contact them via trakasseri@studentkaren.fi.
Equality work at ÅAS
Everyone is welcome at the Student Union of Åbo Akademi University! You are unique, you are fully allowed to be your true self. ÅAS continually work on achieving equality and on combating different kinds of harassment. We have been involved in working on the new plan about equality, equal treatment and accessibility. We wish that Åbo Akademi University (ÅAU) will implement these as soon as possible. In this plan we have formulated the central aims for working on trans people’s rights and wellbeing in study and work environments. It is important for ÅAS that everyone feels safe and well-treated on campus. Physical and digital accessibility shall be supported further for inclusion and equal possibility to participate in studies and student life. We wish that ÅAU will implement a safer space policy. The examples above are from Åbo Pride’s webpage and the National Union of University Students in Finland’s (SYL) document about these principles.
See you on Saturday, come as you are and celebrate love in all its shapes!
References and inspiration
SYL’s Safe Place Policy (.pdf)
Statement: The Student Union supports Trans Rights
Sexual harassment has been much discussed in Finland in the recent weeks, and now also related to Åbo Akademi University (ÅAU). The Student Union of ÅAU (ÅAS) is concerned that the decision made in the current case, and the way in which the case has been communicated, creates a feeling of insecurity among our members. The actions taken gives the impression that it is not worth reporting situations where you have been mistreated. Reporting harassment and inappropriate treatment must always feel safe and as something worth doing.
We demand more from Åbo Akademi University. We want ÅAU to not just on paper and in fine words, to enable an everyday life where everyone feels safe and where you can trust that every case of reported harassment is taken seriously and handled correctly. It is also extremely important that you know what happens after a report is done, who handles the investigation and what the measures will be.
ÅAU has chosen to interpret that the harassment in question does not require measures, as it took place outside the staff’s working hours. We at ÅAS are worried about what signal this gives to students. Would ÅAU also choose not to do anything in a situation where unreasonable treatment takes place between staff and students at an event in the evening? ÅAS believes that clear rules and an open discussion are required on how such situations are handled. It is valuable that students and staff, for example, can have a Christmas party together, this kind of community should not be lost.
ÅAS has two harassment contact persons who support in situations where you feel unreasonably treated. Everything a student tells the harassment contact persons is confidential, and it is up to the students who contact them to decide what type of help they need to resolve the situation. ÅAS has two contact persons at all events, you can notify them, also anonymously, if you feel uncomfortable with something in the events or with another participant’s behavior.
ÅAS continuously educates the associations in how to counteract harassment and resolve conflicts. ÅAS’s support material, for example a student life guide, helps the associations to make the activities as inclusive and welcoming as possible. ÅAS does not accept any forms of unfair treatment, harassment or discrimination. It is important for ÅAS that everyone feels comfortable at our, and the associations’ events. It should also feel safe for everyone to study and work at ÅAU. ÅAS demands that ÅAU now takes the students’ concerns seriously and communicates clearly before the start of the semester what rules apply, and how reported situations are investigated.
Organising events as big as the event planned for Shrove Tuesday begins several months before the event. The Board of the Student Union of ÅAU opened up the application for the assignment as Shrove Tuesday’s coordinator as early as November 2021. Unfortunately, the person who was accepted for the task later had to resign from it later.
The Shrove Tuesday event in Åbo is organised together with the Study in Turku network. This includes many actors, including the City of Åbo and several universities. When the event planning began, there was no clarity in how the Corona restrictions would develop in the spring. When we became aware of the timetable for easing the Corona restrictions, the timetable was already too tight for the practical arrangements such as notifications to the police and getting security guards to the event.
Due to the lack of the Shrove Tuesday coordinator and the overly tight timetable, it is not possible for the Student Union to arrange a traditional Shrove Tuesday event this year.
Well, why cannot Shrove Tuesday be arranged in Vasa even though it is not possible to arrange in Åbo?
The Board decided that it would be more fair for our students that the event would be arranged in the same way in both places. We are a student union with members in two cities and we thought it would be unfair if the arrangements were very different depending on the location. This in addition with the Corona restrictions at the time when the decision was made were the main reasons why the board made this decision. We are happy to receive feedback so that we know how you think we should do in the future.
Shrove Tuesday 2022 is arranged online, but we warmly encourage our associations to arrange events both before and after the online event, and with the new guidelines from Åbo Akademi University, it is also possible to finally arrange events on campus. Hopefully we will see you on Zoom, the 1 March in Åbo and the 8 March in Vasa!
Are you having difficulties with coping in your daily life and studies? Are there any issues you need a hand with, but you don’t know who to contact?
If things are feeling heavy right now, help and support is available. Here we have a list of questions and answers, contact information and other things to take into account.
Have you considered taking a year off from your studies?
National Union of University Students in Finland has written a blog text about things that are good to consider, so we recommend that you read it before making your decision!
Can I stop studying because of corona?
Yes, it is possible. Before you decide to cancel your studies, you should think about whether it is smartest to complete a certain course or whole. Check e.g., with a study advisor or your assigned teacher, which is the most important thing to finish if you ever decide to continue studying. It may also make sense to complete a certain number of credits so that your current major can be counted as a short or long minor in an upcoming degree.
We recommend contacting the study psychologist to discuss everyday student life and what you want to do in the long run.
If you are suffering from mental illness, we advise you to contact the Finnish Student Health Service (FSHS).
Where can you get support for reading and writing difficulties?
Contact your faculty’s study advisor.
Is it possible to apply for support or a scholarship for non-study support due to forced closure of courses and internships?
If the university has not arranged courses due to the pandemic situation, it is an acceptable reason for a slower pace of study and KELA pays the student support as normally if you contact them about the matter.
How do I get sick leave for depression?
On KELA’s pages, there is information regarding support during illness.
Contact studinfo@abo.fi and ask what you need to do to pause your studies.
What can you do if you notice that there is too much work, e.g. halfway into the course?
It is good to start by contacting your lecturers about the situation and then the study advisor to decide what courses to complete in order to be able to move forward with your studies. During a pandemic, it is perfectly okay to check what is the absolute minimum to get through.
In what questions can you turn to the Student Union for help?
There is really no theme you could not turn to us with. We can help find the right person at ÅAU or elsewhere who can help you.
Does the Student Union have a representative who can help in cases where you need support in KELA issues or info on where to turn in disputes with KELA?
The Student Union’s Students’ Rights Expert Petra Lindblad is employed by the Student Union and can help students find the right support and information, she can also help with how to solve problems with KELA and everything you discuss is confidential.
Via studiestod@abo.fi you can reach the employees at ÅAU’s student services who can help sort out e.g. what information from ÅAU’s register that KELA needs.
Who can you contact about discrimination or harassment by lecturers?
The student union has two harassment contact persons who work with e.g. these issues. Their contact information can be found here.
ÅAU’s info for students who are discriminated against or harassed.
Who can you contact regarding excessive workload (more than what the course officially requires) and which is not remedied after discussion with the lecturer in question?
After discussions with the lecturer, it is recommended to contact the Head of the Subject. If the situation does not resolve, it is recommended to contact the Dean of the Faculty. The Student Union can also help you find the right person to contact with these issues.
Are you falling behind on your studies? Information about the project Nystart!
The project Nystart! wants to support students and prevent studies from being delayed or cancelled. There can be many reasons to why energy and motivation are lacking in daily life and the studies. Nystart! does outreach work for students who are in need of support. Here you can contact Nystart! They will help you and redirect you based on what your needs are. If you have any questions about Nystart!, contact project coordinator Kia Ikonen
Do you need tools and motivation to cope with the everyday study life? Information about the project VERNA
The project VERNA arranges webinars, courses, coffee breaks and student circles. The goal of the project is to strengthen students’ own resources and trust towards their own abilities in the student life. VERNA is a collaboration between Åbo Akademi University and Yrkeshögskolan Novia, as well as the student unions in each of the universities. For more information, contact project leader Dana Björkström-Jung.
Other information that can be good to have
- The association for students’ mental health Nyyti arranges chats in English and has very good material on its pages.
- Student health service and appointment booking. It is good to be in contact as soon as you feel that you need care, the queues are long for certain services.
- The study psychologists’ page contains many tips for studies.
- Financial support from the deacons at the local Evangelical Lutheran Congregations:
Everybody can ask for help from the deacons at the local congregation, you do not need to be a member. In a crisis, all people living in the city can get help from them, whether you are an atheist or belong to another religion. In addition to financial support, deacons can also give advice on other forms of support and help on how to maintain contact with various authorities.
In Åbo: On Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9–11 a.m., you can call the number 040 341 7460, or email eija.grahn@evl.fi or carita.eklund@evl.fi anytime. In Vasa; check out this web page. - The deacons who are experts on social welfare work can also help with information about help you are eligible for elsewhere. There is, unfortunately, no information in English on the web. If you are unsure about where to ask for help you can always contact our Students’ Rights Expert Petra Lindblad
- The University Chaplains offer discussion support in difficult situations. More about the University Chaplains in Åbo can be found here. More about the Student Chaplain Hanna Jern in Vasa can be found here (text on the web page only in Swedish).
- Outreach youth work Åbo
- Outreach youth work Vasa
All my life I have had a plan, a plan for what I will study, what I will do and what I will become ”what I will become when I have grown up”. Last week someone asked ”what are you going to be when you grow up?” and when I started thinking, my answer became in some way unclear because I do not know yet. It feels like the more opportunities that arise and doors are opened, the more uncertain I have become about what I want to do. I do not know if it’s about anticipatory anxiety, or if it’s because I have gained greater insight into all the different possibilities that exist and that that I now have all these possibilities to choose between.
Our career can be experienced as an important and large part of one’s life. You go to high school and maybe write big exams and get good grades so that you can continue with a higher education, in my case university, where you study with the goal of building a future career. Often when you think of the word “career”, you might think of the future and work in the form of a ladder where you climb higher up, or that you should become something big and and gain a good position at your job. The Swedish definition of the word career (karriär) is described according to the Swedish Academy’s dictionary as; ”Win, fast promotion, rising in rank, at top speed forward”. A description that in my opinion is not the best. However, the English word ”career” is defined as ”lifelong professional development”, which I think is a much better way of looking at your career.
I myself study to become a class and special teacher, which is a very clear profession and with my education there is a clear career path. For other degrees, it may, however, be the opposite. They provide endless opportunities with many open doors, but the question is whether you feel that you have gained skills for a clear profession to build your career on or not. Is it this feeling of uncertainty what triggers anxiety for the future? ”You can be whatever you want, all doors are open”. It is important that you are able to put your knowledge in a context, it is important that you get the opportunity to gain experience from your knowledge and it is important to reflect on yourself and your career.
If we follow the English definition, which I would like to emphasize, then career career does not only refer to what is to come/the future, but also, but also what you have already experienced, the choices you have made, knowledge you have gained and experiences from your whole life. One might even say that career is everything you have experienced from when you were born until today. So, what do I want to say with this? Well, that it not only is important to look ahead, but it is also equally important to reflect on different choices you have made in the past and why you are where you are today. Imagine that your career is like a train, you can always look back on which train you took in the past and why you got on that train, but you cannot hop on a train that has already passed.
Take a break from reading and think about the following questions:
What and who has influenced your choices?
What has been important to you in making your choices?
How do you see your future?
Where do you want to go and how do you get there?
I myself see my future as having endless possibilities. I can work with what I want, and I have had the opportunity to study things that suits me. I can, however, also imagine a certain pressure from the increasing study pace, the demands getting higher just as the possibilities are endless, so, anxiety for the future is understandable. For those of you who feel that you know what you want, continue the good work on the path you are on. For those of you who recognize yourself in the second option, I want to highlight another opportunity to discuss your career. An opportunity that may help and support those who do not know at all what they want to do, or also for those who have a goal but want support in reaching that goal. Åbo Akademi University Career Services offer services that support students and career guidance. It is important not to stare blindly on you own plan, but to also keep one’s eyes open for the opportunities that arise in everyday life and on the road forachieving your goals. So, seize the chances and opportunities that come your way, not everything needs to be planned.
More information about Åbo Akademi University Career Services’ services can be found here.
The Student Union lobbies for flexible ways of studying. Flexible studies mean that the students themselves can choose how, when and where they study. Digitalization in itself does not solve all problems, but it can be used as a support for a more equal and accessible education.
On October 4th, Åbo Akademi University held a meeting for students and members of faculty about real estate plans. Future plans of the campus in Åbo and the reality of the university’s financial difficulties were discussed. Blåkulla, Axelia and Gadolinia are examples of buildnings ÅAU will no longer use at the end of the year. Every faculty will have to look over their spaces and find economically sustainable solutions.
Education should not become completely virtual
During the meeting, it was mentioned that the Student Union wants more distance teaching and that being one of the reasons the usage of spaces needs to be reconsidered. It is true that the Student Union lobbies for alternatives to old-fashioned teaching, distance learning, but this is only a small piece of a much bigger cake.
Around 5000 people study at Åbo Akademi University. They are all in different stages of their lives, have different learning styles and have different needs in their everyday lives. What the Student Union therefore lobbies for is flexible ways of studying. Flexible studies mean that the students themselves can choose how, when and where they study depending on their circumstances in life, their health and other factors that affect their everyday life. The digital tools that have been developed during the pandemic can make this happen.
Digitalization in itself does not solve all problems, but it can be used as a support for a more equal and accessible education. It should be possible to attend a lecture from home if you feel a bit under the weather even after the pandemic is over, and to take courses virtually between the Vasa and Åbo campuses. Appropriate and available spaces will be just as important after the pandemic as they were before. The need of social contact between students has not vanished because of the global pandemic, in fact, quite the contrary. The pandemic has shown us how important social interaction is for the mental and physical well-being of a person.
ÅAU should conduct a survey about the students’ needs and wishes
The university has conducted a survey about the wishes and needs of the university personnel regarding how they wish to work after the pandemic. A corresponding survey about the students’ wishes regarding their studies and how they wish to study in the future should be conducted by the university as soon as possible. When a university faces challenges, they should be solved with the help of fact-based knowledge. Surveys show that students who belong to a community and feel well, achieve better academic results. Even in the future, students should have the right and opportunity to study on campus, to socialize with other students, and to relax on campus even if the education is digitalized and hybrid models for teaching are developed.
The associations are an incredible asset for ÅAU, and they do a lot of work in the building of the community feeling ÅAU is known for. Student life in both Åbo and Vasa is one of the biggest reasons that people apply to ÅAU. We cannot afford to make further cuts in the asset that are the associations. Short-term savings can have devastating effects on us, the students.
We appeal to Åbo Akademi University to take the need of available and appropriate study spaces seriously. Spaces for studies and the associations’ activities will be needed, now and always.
Joonas Karlsson
Chair of the Board
The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University
First, I would like to wish both old and new international students of Åbo Akademi University (ÅAU) a warm welcome. It is fantastic to see that all of you have taken an interest in our university, as well as Finland overall. My name is Emma Lundström, and I am a Member of the Board of the Student Union of ÅAU. Included among my various responsibilities as a board member are international affairs. This means that I am your contact individual from the Student Union regarding all matters, whether large or small.
Finland is a unique country with a rich history, distinctive culture, and incredible landscape. Although small, and mostly made up of forests (74% of Finland is covered by forests), this wonderful country has something for everyone. To help you get started in discovering everything Finland has to offer, I have compiled a list of some of the more noteworthy sights and sounds that can be found in both Åbo and Vasa.
Åbo:
Located in Turku Harbor on the banks of the Aura River and surrounded by a lovely park is Turku Castle. Built by the Swedes over 700 years ago, the castle offers a glimpse into how life was in Finland in the 13th century. You can receive a student discount upon admission, which means entry costs only 7 euros. A quick tip, a lot of attractions in Finland offer student discounts, so it never hurts to ask! Guided tours are also available and they can be booked here.
If history is your thing, Turku Cathedral is a must see. Also located on the banks of the Aura River and surrounded by Cathedral Square, the church overlooks the university, so you can’t miss it. The cathedral is from the 13th century and was originally built completely out of wood. Sadly, the cathedral was badly damaged in the Great Fire of Turku in 1827 and has been rebuilt since then.
If history is not your thing, or you just want a break from the city, Ruissalo has what you need. Located a short drive or bike ride from the city center, Ruissalo has multiple nature paths, scenic views of the archipelago, a botanical garden, and even a beach! If you time it right, you can catch a great view of the Viking Line ferry as it makes its way to Sweden. Quite the site! Another way to get to Ruissalo is to hop on the bus. Regardless of where you are trying to go, chances are a bus gets you pretty close. Timetables and more information can be found here.
As I mentioned earlier, the Aura River runs right through the city and offers various attractions of its own. Scenic views which make it perfect for a stroll. Alongside the river are numerous restaurants which offer something for everyone, including a taste of Finnish cuisine. There are also coffee shops and ice cream stands, as well as restaurant boats which offer a unique dining experience.
Vasa:
If you are studying in Vasa, or happen to be visiting, the Ruins of Vasa are a must see. The ruins can be dated back to the early 14th century, but were destroyed in the fire of 1852. The ruins are located in an area known as Old Vasa, which offers various experiences. One such is the Museum of Old Vasa. More info about the museum can be found here.
Another majestic sightseeing destination in Vasa is Replot Bridge. The bridge is the longest in Finland and spans over 1 kilometer! At its highest point, the bridge is over 82,5 meters above the sea. You can enjoy the breathtaking views with a car. However, if you are feeling daring and adventurous, why not bike? The bridge is located just 15 minutes outside of the city center after all.
When visiting Vasa, you should take a short drive out to the Kvarken archipelago. It is listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. You can spend a few hours or a few days here depending on the adventurer in you. There are various things to do in the archipelago. Among them include booking a fishing trip, hiking along a nature trail with breathtaking views, or tasting freshly caught fish in a one of the many nice restaurants.
I have now given you a few tips about what to do in both Åbo and Vasa. These are just ideas and by no means is this list comprehensive. There is so much more to discover in both of these great cities, and I challenge you to do just that! Try something new and fill your time here with experiences and memories that will last you a lifetime! Listed below are a few of the things I would suggest you do if you want to travel outside of Åbo or Vasa.
1. Visit the Santa Claus village in Lapland.
2. Have a picnic at Suomenlinna, located just outside of Helsinki.
3. Go skiing in Levi or Ylläs.
I want to end by again welcoming you to Finland, and more specifically to ÅAU! I hope you have an amazing time here and I wish you all the best in your studies. Stay safe, and I am sure I will see some of you around on campus, and I hope to see all of you online when we arrange events for the international students. Feel free to reach out with any issues, concerns, suggestions, or other matters. Remember, I work for all of you!
Emma Lundström, Board Member
emma@studentkaren.fi