Kategoriat
Student Union of Åbo Akademi University
Press release 16 February 2022
For immediate release
The Student Union of ÅAU’s Council has on its meeting on 15 February chosen Veera Julin (Master of Science in Economics) as substitute Secretary General for the period 21 February 2022 – 15 March 2023. Julin has i.a. worked for The Finnish Society for Nature and Environment (FSNE) and for Swedish Youth of Finland (Svensk Ungdom, SU).
The appointed recruiting group concluded, that from all applicants, Julin was the one to best meet the requirements of the position. When choosing the substitute Secretary General, the emphasis was on the ability to take responsibility, effective working procedures, and experience about working in an organisation that has both employees and elected student representatives. Julin has previous background in the Student Union and her knowledge of the student culture and organising events was seen as especially valuable after two years of pandemic restrictions.
Julin convinced the recruiting group by her enthusiasm in developing the Student Union of ÅAU, and the group believes she will handle the position as the substitute Secretary General well.
When asked how she feels about her new position as a substitute Secretary General at the Student Union, Veera Julin replies cheerfully:
– I’m excited! I look forward to working with the student representatives and academic affairs.
The students are also very important for her and she is especially concerned about the student culture that has suffered a lot during the past years because of the Corona pandemic. Julin wishes that she can, together with the Student Union’s Board and employees, find solutions to revive the student culture in both Åbo and in Vasa where the Student Union’s members are mostly located.
– I am hopeful that we will be able to organise all the events that have been missed during the last few years, such as the May Day celebrations, the Student Union’s annual ball and different kinds of fairs.
Julin has a Master’s degree in Economics and has majored in National Economy. She graduated from Åbo Akademi University in 2021.
Veera Julin will start working as substitute Secretary General at the Student Union on 21 February 2022.
Questions can be directed to the Chair of the Student Union of ÅAU
Veera Granroth
so@studentkaren.fi
+358 50 401 3524
Photo: The Student Union of ÅAU’s image gallery
On Friday the government finally gave good news for students. By 2023 students’ income limits will permanently be increased by 50%. This means that students that get a study grant for 9 months can earn 18 000 euros without the study grant being changed. Even the Finnish Student Health Service gets increased funding for mental health services by one million euros per year during a four-year period.
The Student Union of ÅAU has worked a lot for these questions already for a long time. For example, The Student Union of ÅAU made a motion together with The Student Union of Hanken School of Economics about increasing the income limits to National Union of University Students in Finland’s General Assembly 2020.
Every year, the Student Union of Åbo Akademi University is celebrating its annual ball on the weekend closest to February 18th, which is the birthday of the university’s founder Per Brahe. The annual ball of 2022 will be celebrated on 24 September in Åbo because of the pandemic.
The coordinator for the annual ball leads the work of the committee which is started in the spring of 2022. The coordinator works closely with the office of the Student Union to coordinate the preparations for the annual ball.
The Board of the Student Union has announced the position of 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 24 February.
The Board has on its meeting on 24 February decided to extend the application period for the coordinator. The new date for when the Board chooses coordinator is on 10 March.
If you became interested, please send your application to Board Member Esther Djupsund, esther@studentkaren.fi.
The deadline for applications is 9 March at 23.59.
At its meeting on 2 February, the Åbo Akademi University Board has elected Mikael Lindfelt as the new Rector of Åbo Akademi University.
The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University congratulates Mikael Lindfelt on the new position and looks forward to a good collaboration.
The Student Union continues its advocacy work as an interest organisation and will also maintain its collaboration with the university’s management and the faculties for a well-functioning study environment. It is important to continue the discussions throughout the university community in order to find solutions to the challenges regarding communication and openness that have been highlighted over the past year.
Transparent everyday communication is still the most important thing for students for them to be able to complete their studies and feel welcome back on campus. The Student Union of ÅAU looks forward to working with the newly elected rector to develop communication on reforms and everyday routines so that students can feel involved and included.
Questions can be directed to
Veera Granroth
Chair of The Board
Student Union of Åbo Akademi University
+358 50 401 3524
The proposal for a property regulation plan that Åbo Akademi University (ÅAU) published on 1 February arouses great concern among students. The Student Union of ÅAU sees it as unsustainable if the plan is approved as such.
Spaces for associations are an essential part of student life. After two years of distance learning and limited opportunities to meet on campus investments in student life are required, not cuts.
During the autumn of 2021, Åbo Akademi University has made an agreement with the Student Union of ÅAU, to rent out the Geologicum property free of charge for use by the associations. The contract for Geologicum is valid until 2026 and it is uncertain whether the students will be allowed to use the building after that. Since the proposal in the property plan is to give up the use of all other buildings in the Geologicum block, the question arises as to what happens to association premises after the contract period. We at the Student Union are worried that the Geologicum building, which would be a complement to the existing association rooms, will be seen as a reason not to provide sufficient association spaces in Kvarteret Stjärnan (the block where Gadolinia now is).
We need guarantees that students’ needs are met in the property plan. Clarity on what spaces Kvarteret Stjärnan will include is needed before a decision to give up a number of other buildings can be made. We understand the economic realities, but believe that the proposal does not take into account the indirect effects of the changes. Dismantling the campus for students will be expensive for the university in the long run. Åbo Akademi University’s strength has always been the unique student life the university has to offer, with the proposed cuts, ÅAU will no longer attract new students to the same extent.
Association offices, club premises and storage spaces are not an extra luxury, but basic conditions for association members as they organize community-building activities.
Questions can be directed to
Veera Granroth
Chair of the Board
The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University
+358 50 401 3524
The Student Union seeks an Editor-in-Chief to write the traditional Student Union Walpurgis journal Errores S:tae Valpurgis together with an editorial staff. The journal will be released 30 April 2022.
Editor-in-Chief is in charge of the editorial staff’s work and is responsible for coordinating the making of the journal, such as the economy, the contents of the journal etc. The Student Union chooses the Editor-in-Chief. The editorial staff will be chosen based on the Editor-in-Chief’s suggestions at a later time.
The editorial staff will get an honorary which originates from two thirds of the possible economical surplus that the journal will generate.
The Student Union provides an interesting and challenging position of trust in a youthful and creative working environment. Desired abilities for the position as Editor-in-Chief include creativity, stress resilience, accuracy, efficiency, being systematic and the ability to cooperate.
Applications should be sent to the Member of the Board responsible for Student culture Esther (esther@studentkaren.fi) at latest 23 February 2022 at 15.00 p.m.
For more information, please contact Esther Djupsund (esther@studentkaren.fi)
Note that Errores is usually published in Swedish.
We are sorry to inform you that the Student Union of ÅAU have decided to cancel the 103rd Annual Ball on February 19th of 2022 due to current restrictions and the situation with the pandemic. The board will further investigate possibilities to arrange the Annual Ball later this year.
The service point in Vasa is closed until further notice
Our service point in Vasa is closed until further notice due to the deteriorating corona situation and restrictions. You can contact our Service Expert Amanda at havtornen@studentkaren.fi or 06 324 7225, on Mon, Wed and Thurs between noon and 3 p.m. In urgent matters that require a visit to the office, please contact Amanda for possible special arrangements.
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 schedule an appointment with Amanda or send your student card to the Student Union Office via postal services, to get a validation sticker. For more information see our website.
The service point in Åbo is temporarily closed
The service point in Åbo remains open for the time being. We are open as usual today (10.1) but closed for the rest of the week. The service point opens again on the 17th of January and is back to normal opening hours: Mon, Wed and Thurs from noon to 3 p.m.
You can be in contact with our Service Expert Sandra at kansli@studentkaren.fi while the service point is closed and she will get back to you when she can. In urgent matters, you can call 06 324 7255 or try contacting one of our other staff members.
The Student Union has issued a statement about the importance of improving Trans Rights nationally and at ÅAU. The Student Union supports the citizens’ initiative “Oikeus olla – the right to be” for fairer trans legislation in Finland.
The statement also lists suggestions for improved equal treatment at ÅAU; mandatory staff training on equality and equal treatment, clear information about gender neutral toilets, and a possibility to be enrolled in the student register as the name the student wants to use, and with an identity other than woman/man.
Letting all students and staff know that they are welcome on campus and in the academic community promotes well-being and success, as well as for the individual as for the organisation. The Student Union encourages both individuals and organisations to learn more about Trans Rights and what one can do to promote equal treatment .
The service points in both Vasa and Åbo are closed between 14 December 2021 and 9 January 2022.
You can visit the service points before the holidays on Monday 13 December during opening hours.
We are open as usual again on Monday 10 January 2022 between noon and 3 p.m.