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From left to right: Emilie Jäntti, Anton Gröning, Svea Välimäki, René Närhi, Lina Kronström, Emilia Melén, Karin Holmberg och Santeri Kylämäki.

Press release 26 November 2025 
The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University 
For immediate release 

The newly elected Representative Council of Åbo Akademi Student Union has today selected the board and presidium for the 2026 term. In the coming year, the Student Union’s activities will be led by a Chair of the Board who aims to strengthen advocacy work on both campuses as well as a Chair of the Student Union Council focused on making the council’s work more visible and increase interest in positions of trust. 

At its inaugural meeting on Thursday 27 November 2025, the Student Union Council elected the Board and Council Presidium for the year 2026. In addition, a Vice Chair and two expert members were appointed to ÅAS’s Financial Board. 

Svea Välimäki,  elected as Chair of the Board for the coming year, is studying English at Åbo Akademi University. Välimäki has previously served as Vice Chair of ÅAS’s board and has been active in several associations in Turku. As Chair of the Board, Välimäki aims to strengthen the Student Union’s advocacy and clearly communicate to students how they can influence their university. 

– I want to strengthen the Student Union’s visibility and advocacy on both our campuses and continue clarifying the Union’s role as the shared voice for all students. My hope is that every member feels secure knowing we are advocating for their interests. I want to maintain an ongoing dialogue with ÅA’s leadership and staff to convey students’ questions, needs, and concerns. Students’ voices should not only be heard, they should be taken seriously and influence decisions, says Välimäki.  

Lina Kronström was elected Vice Chair of the board. Anton Gröning, Santeri Kylämäki, and Karin Holmberg were elected as board members. The council decided to extend the application period for the two remaining board positions, hoping to find interested candidates from Vaasa. 

New Student Council Chairperson Aims to Highlight the Council’s Work 

Emilia Melén, De Rättvisa, who served as Chair of the Board during 2025, was elected as the Chair of the Student Union Council. 

-I’m really looking forward to the coming year, and it will be fun to get to know everyone in the new council. Next year, I want to focus on making the council’s work more visible and bringing the Student Union’s activities closer to its members. At the same time, I want to increase interest in taking on positions of trust by more clearly showcasing the work of the council and elected representatives. Thank you for your trust, I’ll do my best!

The rest of the presidium consists of First Vice Chair René Närhi (Gemensamma Vasa) and Emilie Jäntti (Liberala Studerande). 

The Financial Board has a new Vice Chair.

Minna Ingi was elected vice chair of the Financial Board. Jarkko Kaplin and Riina Forsman will continue as expert members of the Financial Board which manages the Student Union’s properties and investments. 


For more information, please contact  
Veera Gustafsson  
Secretary General, The Student Union of ÅAU  
gs@studentkaren.fi  
tel. 02 215 4652  

On 21 February, the Student Union’s 107th Annual Ball is organised in Åbo! To be able to organise the Annual Ball we require an Annual Ball Committee, and we are now looking for members to it.

The Annual Ball committee’s work is lead by the Annual Ball Coordinator, and is tasked with organizing the annual ball. No previous experience is required, only an interest and willingness to organise the Ball. Join the committee and learn how to organise large events! 

If you are interested, please send an application to the Annual Ball Coordinator Sofie Lehtovaara by e-mail to: sofie.lehtovaara@abo.fi. Submit your application no later than 24 November at 11.59 p.m. 

The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University (ÅAS) is now looking for a vice-chair for its Financial Board for 2026-2027.

To apply for a position in the Financial Board you need to know Swedish quite well. The administrative language of the Student Union is Swedish.

The Financial Board consists of a Chair, a Vice Chair and four members. The chairperson and vice-chairperson of the Finance Board must be members of the Student Union. As the Vice Chairperson of the Finance Board, you participate in the board’s meetings and activities. The Vice Chairperson also serves as the deputy to the Chairperson of the Finance Board. This role can be effectively carried out alongside full-time studies.

If you have any questions, you can contact the following people:

Chair of the Financial board

Hamish Simpson, edo@studentkaren.fi

Contact person in Vasa
Angelica Loo
angelica.loo@abo.fi

Contact person in Åbo
Emilia Melén
so@studentkaren.fi

The Election Committee has confirmed the results of the 2025 Student Union Council Elections, which took place on 3–6 November. A total of 1033 votes were cast, and despite a record number of candidates, voter turnout was lower than in the previous election in 2023.

At its meeting on 6 November, the Student Union Council Election Committee confirmed the results of the 2025 Student Union Council Election, and drew lots for the candidates who received equal comparison figures. In the 2025 Council Election, 1033 votes were cast, which means that 18,56% of all eligible student union members voted. The voter turnout fell from the previous Council Election in 2023, when the turnout was 23,07%. 

“It’s great to see students getting involved in the Student Union Council Elections, even though voter turnout has gone down. All the Electoral Associations got at least one seat, so the Council will have broad representation. I want to thank everyone who voted and, above all, everyone who stood as a candidate”, says Amanda Byskata, Chair of the Election Committee. 

FNT-listan received the most votes and seven seats in the Council

A total of 107 candidates from eight Electoral Associations ran in the Student Union Council Elections. The new Council consists of 25 Members of the Council and their Deputies. Their term of office is from 1 January 2026 to 31 December 2027. The new Council will hold its inaugural meeting on 27 November, when it will elect, among other things, the Student Union’s Executive Board for 2026.  

FNT-listan list received the most votes (26.7%) and won seven seats in the new Student Union Council. The second most votes went to Gemensamma Vasa (19.9%), followed by MK-listan (18.0%) in third place – both groups won five seats in the Council. Emilia Melén (De Rättvisa) got the most, 41, personal votes in the election.

“I am grateful for the trust placed in me and for being able to continue working for students and the Student Union. Our Electoral Association De Rättvisa did a fantastic job, and I am delighted to have been able to stand for DRV! Becoming a Member of the Council means a great deal to me, and I will do my very best to represent my fellow students.” says Emilia Melén (DRV), the vote magnet in the Student Union Council Elections.

Election results

The final results are shown below. Persons 1–25 are elected Members of the Student Union Council.

NamnElectorial AssociationAmount of votesComparison figures
1Tilde Strömsbäck FNT-listan28 276.00
2Julia AspholmGV 35 206.00
3Isabel Björklöf MK-listan16 186.00
4Kevin Hede FNT-listan27138.00
5Emilia Melén DRV41128.00
6Nea OlliGV 24 103.00
7Lina Hermansson MK-listan14 93.00
8Walter Törnwall FNT-listan27 92.00
9Anton Gröning SF-listan28 76.00
10Felicia Lindström FNT-listan22 69.00
11Kajsa GladerGV 23 68.67
12Artur EkmanDRV 25 64.00
13Julia Stenhammar MK-listan13 62.00
14Ronja Eklund DKL-listan19 58.00
15Ida Puskala FNT-listan19 55.20
16Niklas VaulanenRödgröna 23 53.00
17René NärhiGV 17 51.50
18Emilie JänttiLSK 21 50.00
19Tristan FrankMK-listan13 46.50
20Rebecca Ahlskog FNT-listan18 46.00
21Satu TahkoDRV 23 42.67
22Emma VikmanGV 17 41.20
23Erik MalmströmFNT-listan16 39.43
24Lina Kronström SF-listan19 38.00
25Minea Salminen MK-listan12 37.20
26Runa Åberg FNT-listan16 34.50
27Frida HolgersGV 16 34.33
28Melina LindholmDRV 10 32.00
29Greta Mäkelä MK-listan12 31.00
30Daniel Kass FNT-listan16 30.67
31Casper LooGV 13 29.43
32Jesper Öhman DKL-listan16 29.00
33Joel Saarinen FNT-listan14 27.60
34Malva Sjöblom MK-listan10 26.57
35Niko SandbergRödgröna 18 26.50
36Noomi TalvioGV 9 25.75
37Sofie LehtovaaraDRV 8 25.60
38Antonia Holmberg SF-listan16 25.33
39Svante Södergård FNT-listan12 25.09
40Ronja FastLSK 8 25.00
41Viktoria Björn MK-listan9 23.25
42Simon Sundström FNT-listan11 23.00
43Sonja NiemimaaGV 7 22.89
44Svea VälimäkiDRV 6 21.33
45Lotta Martin FNT-listan9 21.23
46Lotta Nurminen MK-listan820.67
47Hope KlemetsGV 7 20.60
48Robin Rönnback FNT-listan7 19.71
49Linda-Maria Frantz DKL-listan12 19.33
50Hannes Ulfvens SF-listan13 19.00
51Christel StillGV 6 18.73
52Axel Bondestam MK-listan8 18.60
53Gustav Johnsson FNT-listan7 18.40
54Rebecca AhertoDRV 4 18.29
55Charlotta EkmanRödgröna 5 17.67
56Julia Limnell FNT-listan6 17.25
57Emilia LervikGV 6 17.17
58Dennis Söderling MK-listan8 16.91
59Sabina OlinLSK 5 16.67
60Casimir Ruohomaa FNT-listan6 16.24
61Linn TurkkiDRV 4 16.00
62Oscar TallbergGV 5 15.85
63Max Kaituri MK-listan8 15.50
64Risto Ruohola FNT-listan4 15.33
65Julia KulttiGV 5 14.71
66Jasper Paalanen FNT-listan3 14.53
67Rasmus Österlund DKL-listan6 14.50
68Eddie Bäckström MK-listan7 14.31
69Santeri KylämäkiDRV 4 14.22
70Liam Söderlund FNT-listan3 13.80
71Johannes PerätaloGV 5 13.73
72Samuel Valjus MK-listan7 13.29
73Matti SaarinenRödgröna 4 13.25
74Minea Laakso FNT-listan2 13.14
75Johnny LindforsGV 4 12.88
76Bei KorkialaDRV 2 12.80
77Robin Holmström FNT-listan2 12.55
78Anton ÅkermanLSK 5 12.50
79Tony Bergman MK-listan612.40
80Aurora PeuralaGV 3 12.12
81Saga Kujansivu FNT-listan112.00
82Cassandra EwaldsDRV 1 11.64
83Aada Järvinen MK-listan6 11.63
84Oliver Söderström DKL-listan3 11.60
85Emilia GrönlundGV 2 11.44
86Martin Påwals MK-listan6 10.94
87Oliver PimenoffGV 2 10.84
88Sam SågforsRödgröna 3 10.60
89Sini Piippo MK-listan4 10.33
90Nora JakobssonGV 0 10.30
91Olivia LandénLSK 3 10.00
92Wilma Alho MK-listan3 9.79
93Benjamin Hjelt DKL-listan2 9.67
94Madeleine Lönnqvist MK-listan3 9.30
95Tony Rantanen MK-listan3 8.86
96Robin Seppälä MK-listan3 8.45
97Mi AdolfssonLSK 3 8.33
98Jacob Rönnberg DKL-listan0 8.29
99Maria SmedsMK-listan2 8.09
100Valentin Vainio MK-listan2 7.75
101Emilia Degerth MK-listan2 7.44
102Mikael Lehtinen MK-listan1 7.15
103Vilma SirénLSK 2 7.14
104Lucia Stenger MK-listan0 6.89
105Markus Huurinainen MK-listan0 6.64
106Alexander KruglovLSK 2 6.25
107Karin JyrkänkoskiLSK 1 5.56

Distripution of seats by Electoral Association

  • FNT-listan 7
  • MK-listan 5
  • GV 5
  • DRV 3
  • SF-listan 2
  • DKL-listan 1
  • Rödgröna 1
  • LSK 1
Electoral Association% of votes% of seats in the Council
FNT 26,7 %28 %
GV19,9 %20 %
MK-listan18,0 %20 %
DRV12,4 %12 %
SF-listan7,4 %8 %
DKL-listan5,6 %4 %
Rödgröna5,1 %4 %
LSK4,8 %4 %

For more information, contact
Veera Gustafsson 
Secretary General, ÅAS 
gs@studentkaren.fi 
tel. 02 215 4652

This year, the Student Union Council has decided to donate money to the Ärligt talat chat service.

One of the objectives of the Student Union of Åbo Akademi University (ÅAS) is to promote and advocate for the well-being of students. Therefore, the Student Union Council has decided to donate 1500 € to Ärligt talat – a Finnish-Swedish support chat service that offers free, anonymous and professional counselling with a low threshold for young people and young adults. The initiative to choose Ärligt talat as the recipient of the donation came from the Council group Gemensamma Vasa (GV).

“As most people know, many young people need someone to talk to, while healthcare queues are getting longer and longer. That’s why it feels natural to support an service provider that makes it easier and faster to get the help you need. Supporting Ärligt talat is therefore also a way for us to promote students’ mental health and well-being, which is something we at the Student Union stand for and want to do to give all students in Swedish-speaking Finland a chance to get help more easily when they are struggling,” says Member of the Council Herman Björk (GV), who proposed the Ärligt talat chat service as a donation cause.

Ärligt talat offers low-threshold support every weekday

Ärligt talat is a Finnish-Swedish support chat service for young people aged 13 to 29. Through the chat, young people can anonymously, free of charge and easily get in touch with professional counsellors such as psychologists, sex counsellors and social workers. Ärligt talat chat offers low-threshold support for young people struggling with mental health issues, study stress, relationships, loneliness or life questions. The chat is open from Monday to Friday.

“It takes courage to talk about how you feel, so when you are ready to take that step, help should not be far away. We are very grateful for ÅAS’ donation, which helps us to continue offering anonymous and free counselling by professional counsellors. With us, you can chat directly with a psychologist, without a referral or appointment, regardless of where you are in the country. Students can turn to us in both crises and everyday life – remember that you don’t have to be alone with your thoughts,” says Anna Valkeakari, development coordinator for the Ärligt talat chat service.

ÅAS makes an annual donation to an organisation whose activities are in line with the Student Union’s values. The Student Union Council decides each year on the recipient of the donation. By choosing to support the Ärligt talat chat service this year, ÅAS wants to make a concrete contribution to promoting students’ mental health.

Voting for the Student Union Council Election 2025 is now open! The voting is done electronically and you can vote at any time until Thursday 6 November at 3 pm. Click here to vote. You log in with your ÅAU username and password.

When you have voted you can also reward yourself with a free election overall patch, which you can pick up from the service points at Kåren or Havtornen! You do not need to prove that you have voted to get an overall patch.

If you do not already know which candidate you want to vote for, there is an election compass to help you choose the right candidate. You can find the election compass here.

If you want to be one of the first people to know the results in the election, you can participate in the election night event on Thursday 6 November at 6 pm in the lunch room at Kåren.

You can find all information on the election here

Work is currently underway at the departments in preparation for an educational reform. They have been tasked with evaluating the subject clusters and courses within their study programmes. The goal is to have fewer main subject specialisations per programme, fewer minor subjects, and a reduced number of elective courses within each subject cluster. For example, a main subject worth 60 credits should have a clearer structure showing which courses are included.

This work is based on Åbo Akademi University’s (ÅAU) new Strategy for 2025–2030, where one of the main goals is sustainable finances. The aim is to achieve a lower cost level, both within education and within the university’s overall operations.

The departments are currently reviewing how courses and subject clusters are perceived and what improvements can be made, in collaboration with the departmental councils and heads of subject. The departmental councils also include student representatives, but not all subjects have representation. The heads of subject are the professors with main responsibility for a subject. The head of department, who is the department’s chair and leader of the departmental council, carries significant responsibility for how the work is managed. After evaluating the subject structures and reviewing the course offerings, as well as identifying problematic courses, the departments will together develop proposals on how subjects and course clusters can be reorganised and reformed.

The time to influence the decisions is now!

It is now, while changes to study programmes and courses are being planned, that we students have the best opportunity to make a difference. Once decisions are made in spring 2026, it will be more difficult to introduce changes.

For students to understand what is happening and to be able to influence the process, we need access to information about what is being discussed. We at The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University (ÅAS) hope that ÅAU will include students throughout the entire process. Students should be able to submit questions or feedback regarding the work, and departments should include students directly, for example through surveys or question boxes. Students whose subjects are not represented in the departmental councils, as well as international students in English-language programmes, must also be considered.

The timeline is as follows

  • In December 2025, the departments will present their proposals for revised study programmes.
  • In February 2026, the Education Council will consider the proposals and take a position on ÅAU’s educational responsibilities.
  • During March–April 2026, the ÅAU Board will make final decisions regarding the university’s educational responsibilities.
  • From 2027 onwards, ÅAU plans to implement the new educational structures, but for now, preparatory work and situation reviews are underway at the departments.

To make it easier for students to provide input, ÅAS has created its own Question Box. Regardless of whether your department sends out its own survey or not, you can use ÅAS’ Question Box to submit feedback on courses, major subjects, minor subjects, or entire study programmes. You can also ask questions about the educational reform work in general. All feedback received will be forwarded to the departments.

It is important that we students make our voices heard about what we know best – our studies. We are the ones who know our study programmes best, as we are the ones following them and completing the courses. Therefore, it is essential that our perspective is placed at the centre and has an influence on the decisions being made.

The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University (ÅAS) is now looking for its Board for 2026. The Board is the Student Union’s executive body and works daily to advocate for students’ interests. The new Board will be elected by the Student Union Council on 27 November, 2025.

To apply for a position in the Board you need to know Swedish quite well. The administrative language of the Student Union is Swedish.

Why join the Board?

Do you want to make sure students’ voices are heard both at the university and on a national level? Do you want to improve students’ everyday life? Would you like to take on a leading role in a larger organisation and gain valuable experience for your future career? If you care about student life and want to learn new things, apply for the Board! All it takes is curiosity and a genuine interest in supporting other students.

Board members receive a compensation for their work, and the compensation will be increased for the 2026 term. In 2026, the Chair of the Board will receive 1,000€ per month for 11 months, and Board members will receive 800€ per month for 9 months.

Members of the Board are expected to be available during office hours and to take part in evening and weekend events. The Board works in cooperation with the Student Union staff.

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.

Composition of the Board in 2026

  • One Chair of the Board, elected in Vasa or Åbo.
  • Seven Members of the Board, one of whom also serves as Vice Chair.
  • One Member of the Board responsible for Social Policy (elected regardless of campus).
    • Social Policy (National and international social policy matters, student finances, sustainability within ÅAS and student life, student wellbeing, and equality among students.)

Three Members of the Board in Åbo with the following areas of responsibility

  • Higher Education Policy & International Affairs (national higher education policy, study-related matters within Åbo Akademi University (ÅA), international affairs at ÅA)
  • Communications (the Board’s communications, corporate collaboration, city relations)
  • Student Culture (development and safeguarding of student life, student traditions in Åbo, ÅAS’ associations, inclusion)

Three Members of the Board in Vasa with the following areas of responsibility

  • Student Culture (development and safeguarding of student life, student traditions in Vasa, ÅAS’ associations, inclusion, city relations)
  • Higher Education Policy & International Affairs (national higher education policy, study-related matters within Åbo Akademi University (ÅA), international affairs at ÅA)

Hur kommer ansvarsområdena att delas upp?

The Board distributes its areas of responsibility internally at its constitutive meeting, except for the Chair, the Vice Chair, and the Member responsible for Social Policy, these positions are elected directly by the Student Union Council on November 27.

Blog series from the 2025 Board

The 2025 Board will publish blog posts with a closer look at the different areas of responsibility and what they mean in practice. Links to these posts will be added here as they are published.

Information for applicants

If this sounds like something for you, send a freely written expression of interest by email to Angelica Loo or Emilia Melén.

All applications received by Monday 24 November, will be published on our website the following day. You can still apply after 24 November, but your application will not be published online.

To be interviewed, your application must be submitted no later than 26 November.
However, it is still possible to stand as a candidate until the start of the Student Union Council’s meeting on 27 November.

Your application should preferably include:

  • Name
  • Photo
  • A short description of yourself
  • Why you are applying
  • Which areas of responsibility you are interested in

How does the election work?

  • The Representative Council elects the ÅAS Board 2026 at its meeting on 27 November.
  • All candidates are interviewed at the Council’s evening session on 26 November.
  • Candidates for Chair will answer seven questions, five of which will be published on the website on 25 November. Board member candidates will answer six questions, four of which will also be published in advance on 25 November.

Do you have questions? Contact us!

We’re happy to answer any questions and look forward to receiving your application! You’re also very welcome to drop by the Student Union office in Havtornen or Kåren. The 2025 Members of the Board are also happy to share their experiences of working in the Student Union.


Contact person in Vasa
Angelica Loo
angelica.loo@abo.fi

Contact person in Åbo
Emilia Melén
so@studentkaren.fi

Don’t know who to vote for? Don’t panic – the election compass is here!

The National Union of University Students in Finland (FSF) has published an election compass for all the student unions that will organise student union council elections this year.

With the help of the election compass you can get to know the candidates for ÅAS’ Student Union Council Elections. Answer questions about things that are important for students, and after you answer all the questions, the compass will tell you whose opinions are closest to your own.

The Student Union of ÅAU (ÅAS) is looking for a project coordinator to organise the Fastlaskiainen event in Åbo. Fastlaskiainen is a traditional student event held annually on Shrove Tuesday on Vårdberget in Åbo in the form of a sledding competition between various student associations.

To organise the event in the best possible way, ÅAS will hire a coordinator responsible for the arrangements. The coordinator works closely with the ÅAS’ Board, especially with the Board Member responsible for student culture. The project coordinator receives a remuneration of 500 euros, and ÅAS’ Secretary General acts as the coordinator’s supervisor.

The work as project coordinator comes with various tasks

  • Coordinating and organizing the entire event
  • Program planning and handling registrations
  • Planning communication and marketing
  • Applying for permits (land lease, notice of a public event to the police and security planning), recruiting supervisors (security, first aid)
  • Booking spaces, procuring sound systems
  • Arranging cleaning after the event
  • Event development and final reporting
  • Other tasks as agreed


The role requires initiative, teamwork skills, organszational ability, and stress tolerance. You should proactively contact ÅAS’ Board and staff if you need assistance with your tasks. Previous experience in organising events and knowledge of Finnish, Swedish and English are considered advantages. If you have questions about the tasks, contact Member of the Board Melina Lindholm via evenemang-abo@studentkaren.fi.

Freely formulated applications should be submitted via email by 3 December 2025, at 11.59 p.m. to evenemang-abo@studentkaren.fi. The decision will be made by the Student Union Board at their meeting following 3 December, and the work will begin immediately after the coordinator has been elected.