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Every year, the Student Union of Åbo Akademi University celebrates its annual ball on the weekend closest to 18 February, which is the birthday of the university’s founder Per Brahe. The annual ball of 2023 will be celebrated on 18 February in Vasa.
The Annual Ball Coordinator works closely with the the Student Union’s Board and staff to coordinate the preparations for the annual ball.
The Board of the Student Union has announced the position of Annual Ball Coordinator as vacant. Furthermore, the Board has determined a remuneration of 500 euros for the elected coordinator. The coordinator will be elected by the Board on 19 October.
If you became interested, please send your application to Board Member Esther Djupsund, esther@studentkaren.fi.
The deadline for applications is 17 October at 23.59 p.m.
The Kårkalenders, calendars for the academic year, have finally arrived to our service points. Come and get yours – for free!
The service point in Vasa will be closed today, 5 September, but normally both of the Student Union’s service points (Kåren in Åbo, and Havtornen in Vasa) are open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon to 3 p.m. Welcome!
Press release
17 June 2022
For immediate release
Meal subsidy for student restaurants must be increased
The economic situation has made the operating conditions of the student restaurants very critical. Inflation has raised prices significantly, but the restaurants can’t raise their prices to compensate as they are tied to the maximum price set by the Ministry of Education and Culture. The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University is concerned about the restaurants operating conditions and above all the possibility to be able to offer student meals in the future.
There is a risk that it will not be possible to open up all the student restaurants in the autumn, which in turn means that students will not be able to have lunch during the day. When students finally get to return to campus after two long years at a distance, there is an increased need to bring good and healthy routines into everyday life.
Students’ financial situation is tight from the beginning, which gives few opportunities for students to make savings. Students’ biggest expenses are housing and food – the only thing students can cut from in the long run is in food costs. At the same time, it is clear that a healthy and varied diet is a basic prerequisite for feeling good and maintaining a good study ability. The student meals also provide an important opportunity for students to spend time with their fellow students, something that is really needed now after the pandemic.
The goal of Kelas meal subsidy is to lay a foundation for healthy eating habits and well-being, as well as to promote university students study ability and energy. If meal subsidy can’t be increased, the quality of the food will deteriorate and there is a risk that the restaurants will have to close down their operations.
Student well-being has worsened significantly during the pandemic – we can’t allow the basic security that the student meals offer to end. An immediate increase in the meal subsidy is required to be able to guarantee student meals in the future as well.
For more information:
Veera Granroth
Chair of the Board
The Student Union of ÅAU
+358 50 401 3524
so@studentkaren.fi
Services and support during the summer months
Many feel lonely and anxious during the summer, we have gathered various support services that are available during the summer.
In case of emergency, seek out your closest emergency room or call 112.
Student Chaplains
If there is something on your mind during the summer that you would like to discuss, cyou can contact student chaplains Mia Pusa in Åbo or Hanna Jern in Vasa.
Mia´s details are: mia.pusa@evl.fi , 040-3417296.
Mia is attending a conference in Sheffield on 12/6-17/6 and has summer holidays on 22/6-17/7 and 1/8-14/8.
Hanna´s details are: hanna.jern@evl.fi , 044-4808327.
Study Psychologist
The study psychologists are available to all graduate students and help them when they get stuck in their studies. You can make an appointment with the study psychologists when you need support with issues such as study goals, study motivation, time management, stress, difficulties with your dissertation and other issues related to your studies.
In Åbo, the study psycholgists are Klara Schauman-Ahlberg and Sabina Nickull. E-mail: studiepsykolog@abo.fi
Please make appointments by e-mail or by phone. Please do not include sensitive information in the e-mails!
Mieli ry’s English Crisis Helpline
Phone number: +358 9 2525 0113 or you can also reach them through Whatsapp +358 40 195 8202. You’ll find their opening hours and more information on their website.
HelsinkiMissio
Crisis Services for Youth provides free and short-term counselling for young people, aged from 12–29. You don’t need any referral note or diagnosis, you don’t need to live in Helsinki and, if you want, you can talk anonymously.
Link to their website here.
Summer job helpline May – August
Receive help and advice on matters related to summer employment.
Link to website here.
Åbo Akademi University has budgeted an annual grant of 15 000 € to support the student associations.
Any association that has the sub-association status of the Student Union of ÅAU (ÅAS) has the right to apply for the grant for different kinds of activities that are inclusive and contribute to noticeable student association activities on ÅAU’s campuses in Åbo and Vasa.
The deadline for this year’s applications is 15 June 2022!
Read more here [link to ÅAU’s intra page – in Swedish] and contact studentcampus@abo.fi if you have any questions.
At the opening ceremony for the Academic Year 2022–2023 one of the ÅAU teachers will receive the title Teacher of the Year and a stipend from the bequest of Harry Elving.
Do you have a teacher who is great at their work, who is inspiring, present and goes above and beyond? Then you can nominate them to Teacher of the Year! Please send your nomination, with motivation no later than on Wednesday 25 May at noon.
The service points in Åbo and Vasa will be on summer break from the 26 May to 28 August.
If you have any questions please contact our serviceexpert Sandra i Åbo on kansli@studentkaren.fi or Amanda in Vasa on havtornen@studentkaren.fi.
Press release
27 April 2022
For immediate release
Recipients of a rose
The Student Union traditionally hands out roses to Åbo Akademi University’s personnel that have a high standard on their education or have otherwise inspired, helped, and motivated students in their studies. The recipients are chosen by the Student Union Board, based on nominations by students at ÅAU. To nominate, the student had to fill in the name and write a short motivation text for the said nominee.
”This year we received several good nominations. We want to thank all the students that took the time and nominated ÅAU personnel who have done an outstanding job during challenging times. This year we decided to pay attention to persons who have supported students and their wellbeing in a time when many students have had it tough”, says the Chair of the Board Veera Granroth.
The Student Union Board decided to hand out 12 roses. This is the 27th time the Student Union hands out roses to ÅAU staff.
Andrey Pranovich & Erik Östman
Foto: ÅAS bildbank
Mikael Nygård & Axel Pakarinen
Photo: The Student Union of ÅAU
This year these 12 people were awarded roses
Andrey Pranovich
researcher at the Natural Materials Technology Laboratory
Annamari Soini
Lecturer, Informaton Technology
Astrid Huopalainen
University Lecturer Business Economics
Hanna Acke
University Teacher Languages
Heidi Höglund
University Teacher Education
Linnéa Henriksson
University Teacher Social Sciences
Loukia Lindholm
University Teacher Languages
Magdalena Snickars
University Teacher Education
Martin Lagerström
Study Psychologist
Mikael Nygård
Professor of Social Sciences
Sabina Nickull
Study Psychologist
Sofia Jusslin
University Teacher Education
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Questions can be directed to
Veera Granroth, Chair of the Board,
The Student Union of ÅAU
+358 50 401 3524
so@studentkaren.fi
Astrid Huopalainen & Rudolf Tommos
Foto: ÅAS bildbank/ Photo: The Student Union of ÅAU
Students, spring is here!
Welcome to participate in the traditional celebrations of the May Day, that the Student Union of Åbo Akademi University, together with Finnish public broadcaster YLE, arranges at Vårdberget in Åbo April 30 at 6–7 p.m. The event will include a parade of flags, choir singing from Brahe Djäknar and Florakören, and a speech by Veera Granroth, the Chair of the Board of the Student Union of Åbo Akademi University (ÅAS).
Welcome to the largest annual student event and use the hashtag #ÅboWapp22 in your social media to share the celebrations with others.
After the celebrations at Vårdberget it is time to walk down to Kåren to continue the party at the traditional May Day dinner, with ÅAS and the Nations: Österbottniska Nationen, Åbolands Nation, Åländska Studentlaget, Nyländska Nationen and Östra Finlands Nation. A big student party is promised to all!
All the information about May Day in both Åbo and Vasa can be found on our own May Day page! Over there we will publish texts about how May Day is traditionally celebrated, since we have been unable to do it in a couple of years.
The service point in Vasa closed between 11.4 – 19.4.2022.
The service point will reopen on 20.4 and will then be open as usual: Mon, Wed, Thu between noon and 3 p.m. We will notify you if these times change. If you do not have a validation sticker on your student card, you can use the electronic student card Frank App for free.
You can also find service expert Amanda at Omstart on Monday 11.4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. For urgent matters, you can reach her on havtornen@studentkaren.fi.
The service point in Åbo closed between 11.4 – 19.4.2022.
The service point will reopen on 20.4 and will then be open as usual: Mon, Wed, Thu between noon and 3 p.m. We will notify you if these times change. If you do not have a validation sticker on your student card, you can use the electronic student card Frank App for free. You can be in contact with our Service Expert Sandra on kansli@studentkaren.fi while the service point is closed and she will get back to you when she can.
You can also find service expert Sandra at Omstart on Monday and Tuesday 11 – 12.4 at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.