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The Student Union’s service points are closed during summer.
The service point in Åbo will be closed for the summer between 18 May and 28 August 2023.
The service point in Vasa will be closed between 16 May to 3 September 2023.
If you have errands to any of the service points or any questions, please contact kansli@studentkaren.fi (Åbo) or havtornen@studentkaren.fi (Vasa), and we can help you!
The Student Union Council has budgeted 5,000 euros for 2023 intended for project funds. You can read about the board’s decision down below.
When distributing these funds, the Board decided to consider the following criteria: Projects that promote student union community, sustainable development, well-being, the association’s activities, or the inclusion of international students.
To the Board’s delight, many applications were received, and the funds have now been distributed according to the principles above. The big question is, what have funds been granted for in practice?
Of the applications received, the Board has prioritized projects that also benefit other students in addition to the association’s own members. In this case, it has been about everything from various acquisitions and events to themed days and record recordings. In between, funds have been granted for renovation of a cabin, updating of the association website and for flags and marshal ribbons. As the share of money is limited, excursions and annual parties have been de-prioritized this time with reference to continuous activities and other sponsorship opportunities.
The Student Union wants to develop safer spaces at all events and in everyday activities and has therefore developed the policy for safer spaces.
The Student Union Council at Åbo Akademi University approved the Safer Space Policy at the meeting 7/22. The policy assumes everyone’s right to their own space, personal integrity, and the right to be heard and understood. The model for the safer space policy describes the process of individual and shared responsibility. The principles outline fundamental social rules that make sure everyone can feel safe and taken care of in all situations. The Student Union wishes that these principles are considered during all events and operations with associations and students. Safer spaces benefit everyone.
In case you are ever in a situation where you feel uncomfortable during an event and you feel that you cannot solve the issue by yourself, we urge you to contact the event organizers.
Safer Space Policy – The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University (ÅAS)
- Respect the mental integrity and bodily autonomy of others.
- Remember that you do not know another person’s boundaries unless you ask them.
- Never touch anyone without their consent.
- You have a right to ask for your own personal space.
- Never ridicule, taut, disregard, or humiliate anyone.
- Abstain from commenting on someone’s looks, gossiping, or maintaining stereotypes.
- Treat others as you would like to be treated yourself.
- Listen – do not make assumptions.
- Do not make assumptions based on looks or behavior. Never assume someone’s sexual orientation, gender, nationality, religious beliefs, social values, socioeconomic background, or health.
- Give space for others to join the conversation. Treat sensitive topics with respect.
- Listen and learn. Take in new information, people, and points of view without prejudice.
- Treat new situations as an opportunity to learn and evolve.
- Apologize if you have treated someone badly, be it either on purpose or by mistake.
- Be respectful.
The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University is an organisation that follows the safer space policy. This means that all activity within the organisation follows these principles. The principles are meant to create a sense of safety and understanding for all students within our student community. The principles are in place to remind everyone of respecting the boundaries of others and to call everyone to scrutinize their own behavior and be aware of areas where they can intervene to create a safer space.
The Student Union values equality, respect, and a safe space for everyone. The safer space policy is designed with the following values in mind:
- The right to be yourself and express yourself however you want to.
- The right to your own personal space.
- Respectful conversations.
- A safer environment for everyone.
- Zero tolerance for harassment or discrimination of any sort.
- Individual and collective responsibility.
How the Safer Space Policy looks in practice.
- We give each other space to be ourselves and express ourselves freely.
- We give each other physical space. We respect the personal space and physical boundaries of others.
- We do not make assumptions and instead ask respectful and polite questions. We should never assume someone’s gender, ethnicity, sexuality, relationship, level of education, political leanings, language, culture, health, or other personal characteristics.
- We should not make assumptions about anyone based on these characteristics.
- We make efforts to have a culture of respect when conversing. We do this by listening when another speaks, we let each other feel heard, and we do not make personal attacks.
- We do not use degrading language. We do not use racist, sexist, or ableist terminology in either serious or joking manners.
- If something has gone badly, we apologize and do better next time.
- We protect each other and look out for each other’s safety in all circumstances.
- We intervene when we observe something inappropriate happening, either by ourselves or with the help of someone else.
- When we remark upon problematic behavior, we do it respectfully and constructively.
- The Student Union does not tolerate any harassment or discrimination of any sort. The victims of harassment and/or discrimination are met with support and are always taken seriously.
- The communication for what issues can be taken to the harassment contact persons is clear both internally and externally.
- In case you are accused of inappropriate or bad behavior, you take the criticism to heart and make sure to do better in the future.
We all have a collective responsibility to act according to these principles and values. A safer space is achievable when the principles are followed. Nobody is perfect, everyone makes mistakes, but we can always learn from these mistakes.
Fees for student representatives in the ÅAU administration the academic year 2022–2023
The Student Union Board has on it’s meeting 10/23 decided on the size of the fee and what groups are eligible for the fee.
ÅAU has a sum per year that can be used as fees for students elected by the Student Union to act as student representatives in the governing bodies at the university. The Student Union Board decides which groups are included in the payment of fees. The fees are paid once a year, in the end of the academic year. All student representatives will receive information via e-mail on what information to provide for the payment to be made. If you have any questions, please ask the Students’ Rights Expert Petra Lindblad who is responsible for the administration: petra@studentkaren.fi.
The Student Union Board has decided that the fee for the academic year 2022–2023 is 23 euros per meeting. Governing bodies like the faculty boards are included in the decision as well as committees and working groups. The Equality Committee for ÅAU is the only group for now that works in both Swedish and English and has international students as representatives.
Press release
19 April 2023
For immediate release
The Student Union of ÅAU (ÅAS) traditionally hands out diplomas and roses to those in the staff of ÅAU that the students want to thank for their input, educational skills and for meeting the students with empathy and as individuals.
The students of ÅAU got to nominate staff and attach a short descriptive motivation of why they think the person deserves a rose. The Student Union Board has taken the motivations into consideration while deciding the recipients of a rose.
Empathetic and encouraging guidance and feedback had an important role in the nominations. Taking the mental well-being of students in consideration and the positive effects of the possibility to flexible studies, were some of the reasons why students decided to nominate lecturers. Even educational skills of the staff, and the ability to create a good learning environment, were especially appreciated according to the nominations.
The Student Union Board has decided to hand out 14 roses. This is the 28th year in a row that ÅAS observes ÅAU’s staff by handing out diplomas and roses for good work.
Nicolina Nordman, Pia Ahlback, Katja Sandqvist och Casimir Ruohomaa (Foto: Amanda Byskata)
This year these people were awarded roses
Pia Ahlbäck
Jannika Backholm
Marina Bendtsen
Kim-Erik Berts
Anders Brink
Linda Eriksson
Mikaela Heikkilä
Brita Jung
Mikael Kurula
Jonas Lagerström
Jutta Rosenberg
Katja Sandqvist
Kim Strandberg
Björn Vikström
Questions can be directed to
Nicolina Nordman
Chair of the Board,
The Student Union of ÅAU
+358 50 401 3524
so@studentkaren.fi
Marina Bendtsen och Lina Sjöberg
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 2024 will be celebrated on 17 February in Åbo.
The Annual Ball Coordinator works closely with 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 26 April.
If you became interested, please send your application to Board Member Amanda Byskata, samarbete@studentkaren.fi
The deadline for applications is 24 April at 11.59 p.m.
The new deadline for applications to faculty councils is moved to 11 April.
Under the application time we unfortunately did not get enough applications. Applications that we have already received are still valid, and those who have already applied don’t need to apply again.
Faculty councils are responsible for development of education in faculties, decide on education and teaching plans, confirm structure of examination and learning goals for degrees. Faculty councils of FPV and FSEJ have 5 student representatives, and 5 deputies. Faculty councils of FNT and FHPT have 4 student representatives, and 4 deputies.
Students elected for the posts need to know Swedish quite well, as the administrative language of Åbo Akademi University is Swedish
Deviating opening hours for the service points during Easter
The service point i Vasa will be closed the whole week of Easter, while the service point in Åbo will keep normal opening hours.
Both service points will be closed on Easter Monday 10 April. Our Service Expert in Åbo will answer any questions via mail (kansli@studentkaren.fi) while the service point in Vasa is closed.
Please note that the service point in Vasa will also be closed on Thurs 20 April due to our personnel is on training.
The differing opening hours are:
Mon 3 April Åbo open from noon to 3 p.m., Vasa closed
Wed 5 April Åbo open from noon to 3 p.m., Vasa closed
Thurs 6 April Åbo open from noon to 3 p.m., Vasa closed
Mon 10 April Åbo closed, Vasa closed
Thurs 20 April Åbo open from noon to 3 p.m., Vasa closed
The Student Union traditionally hands out roses to a few in the Åbo Akademi Univeristy’s staff that have a high standard on their education or have otherwise inspired and motivated the students in their studies.
Please, nominate the person that you think deserves a rose! The deadline is 31 March. To nominate you simply fill in the form in the link.
Åbo Akademi University is going to update the university’s brand identity. We are now looking for two student representatives for the reference group.
Åbo Akademi University will begin the planning of a new brand identity during the Spring of 2023.
The university is looking for two student representatives who want to give the students’ perspectives on the project. The project will be led in Swedish.
Send an application stating your interest to Member of the Board Amanda Byskata (samarbete@studentkaren.fi) on 14 March at 11.59 p.m. at the latest.