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If you have a good comprehension of Swedish and want to be a part of the Student Union Council for the next two years. Here is the information of how you can run in the upcoming Council elections.
All candidates have to run on an election association’s list. The list of associations in this year’s election and their contact information can be found here. The required forms should be filled in and delivered to the ÅAS service point, either in Åbo or Vasa, before the deadline on Friday 29 October at 3 p.m. The forms (in Swedish) can be found here.
Please note: The work of the Student Union Council is done in Swedish, it is therefore important to have a good comprehension of the language to run in the election.
Statement 22 September 2023
Students have since 20 September occupied Aurum building in Åbo in protest against the Finnish government’s cuts. The Student Union of ÅAU (ÅAS) supports the demonstration and shares the concern with the demonstrators.
The budget negotiations and the planned cuts are causing concern among students. The demonstrations in the campus buildings in Åbo and other cities in Finland are clear examples of that. Cuts in housing allowance and the index freeze of study grants have major consequences for students’ finances, well-being and pace of study. The government’s plans affect both domestic and international students. ÅAS shares the concern with the demonstrators about the current development in society and supports the demonstration. ÅAS and the rest of the student movement have lobbied for the same issues and continues to do it.
The Student Union appreciates the support shown by the principals Mikael Lindfelt (ÅAU) and Jukka Kola (UTU) to the demonstration and the issue as a whole.
Nicolina Nordman
Chair of the Board
The Equality Committee of ÅAU consists of members of the staff and students at the University. There are two student representatives who both have substitutes in case they cannot attend meetings. We are now opening the call for two new substitutes.
Description of the committee’s work
The committee discusses and takes initiatives regarding all aspects of Equality, Equal treatment and accessibility. The committee is involved in the writing of the Equality Plan and Equal Treatment Plan for ÅAU, as well as the follow up on how the plans are implemented.
The committee works in English and Swedish. All materials are translated and the discussions at the meetings are interpreted.
Send your application before 2 October
The Student Union seeks persons with an interest in matters regarding equality and accessibility. The representative will be elected by the Student Union Board on Wednesday 4.10.2023. Send your application via abo.fi e-mail to kansli@studentkaren.fi before Monday 2.10.2023 at 23.59. You can include some text about who you are, what you study and why you want to represent the students in the committee!
Contact regarding the assignment and the election of the representative: Students’ Rights Expert Petra Lindblad, petra@studentkaren.fi
Freshers’ Fair is an event where both new and older students are welcome to participate. This is a yearly event every fall when students have returned to campus after summer break. At the fair you can get to know student associations, but also other organizations and companies. Here you can find a little bit of everything, such as overall patches, membership to associations and attend small competitions. Come and check out what they have to offer!
This year the fair will take place on Tuesday 19 September in both Åbo and Vasa. You can visit the fair in Vasa between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. in the lobby of Academill (Strandgatan 2). In Åbo you can visit the fair at Kåren (Tavastgatan 22) between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. It is free of charge to visit the fair but some of the overall patches and memberships cost.
Associations, organizations and companies can sign up for the fair through the following links:
To the fair in Åbo:
https://www.lyyti.in/Freshers_Fair_in_Abo_2023_9962/se
To the fair in Vasa:
https://www.lyyti.in/Freshers_Fair_in_Abo_2023_8224
Signing up is free of charge for associations under ÅAS.
Please contact evenemang-abo@studentkaren.fi if you have any questions regarding the event in Åbo and evenemang-vasa@studentkaren.fi about questions for the fair in Vasa.
The electoral register becomes valid on 18 September, but before that you have a chance to check that your name is on the electoral register, and you can vote in the Student Union Council Elections! You can find more information about the Elections on ÅAS site.
How do I know if I can vote or run as candidate?
If you are a member of ÅAS, you have the right to both vote and run as candidate.
If you are unsure whether you have the right to vote, you can check that your name is on the electoral register. You can do that in Åbo Akademi University’s service (open 13–18 September 2023)! When you click the link, a blank page opens asking for login information. You log in to the service by entering your short abo-username and password. Press ”sign in” (or ”logga in”). After a successful login, there will be a text on the top of the web page stating if you are on the electoral register.
The electoral register can also be checked at the Student Union service points, Kåren in Åbo and Havtornen in Vasa (check the opening hours on our website).
If you believe that there is such error in the electoral register that affects your right to vote or eligibility to run as candidate, you can ask the ÅAS’ Election Committee to correct the error. In that case, send an email to karval@studentkaren.fi during the time the electoral register is open for review.
The electoral register is based on data in Åbo Akademi University’s student register before 13 September 2023.
Come and get your free example of the calendar for the academic year (Kårkalender)! You can now find them at our service points Kåren and Havtornen, and at the student service desk in Gripen.
The Student Union of ÅAU (ÅAS) orders calendars for it’s members every year. You will find useful information, room for your own notes, flag days, and both ÅAS’ and the sub-associations’ important event dates in the calendar. Most of the costs of the calendars are funded by ads, and therefore the calendar is free of charge for all members of The Student Union.
Check ÅAS’ service points’ opening hours on our contact page or in the upper part of the webpage. Welcome!
Student unions AYY, HYY, ISYY, JYY, SHS, TYY, TREY, VYY, ÅAS, OYY, LTKY and ArtSU are dismayed at the state of the ongoing racism debate in society and demand concrete measures to eradicate racism. Racist statements made by people in high places have shown what is wrong with racism debate: people targeted by racism are not listened to, racist comments are diminished or taken as a joke, and the debate gets sidetracked. We need anti-racist actions, understanding and solidarity.
We agree with the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) that Finland should be a safe place to live and study. Finland is one of the most racist countries in Europe and has taken a step backwards in eradicating racism. Racist atmosphere and the immigration policy of the government programme undermine the unequal status and difficult situation of many students.
Racism normalises society that lives off hate, fear and discrimination. The power elite’s statements belittling racism and the lack of genuine anti-racist measures further increase conversational inequality in society. Raising awareness of the thoughts and experiences of people facing racism is of paramount importance in actively eradicating racism. The responsibility for tackling racism must be shared.
Institutions have the power and opportunity to influence the direction of racism debate and act in an anti-racist way but have failed to do so. Many have been silent. The silence around the issue and the lack of concrete measures show how complex and challenging the topic is. In the debate on racism, silence is not about avoiding conflict but about accepting racism. It is a privilege not to talk about or address racism.
We no longer want to hear empty talk; we demand anti-racist action from decision-makers.
Aalto University Student Union (AYY)
Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY)
The Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY)
The Student Union of the University of Jyväskylä (JYY)
The Student Union of Hanken School of Economics (SHS)
The Student Union of the University of Turku (TYY)
Student Union of Tampere University (TREY)
The Student Union of the University of Vaasa (VYY)
The Student Union of Åbo Akademi University (ÅAS)
Student Union of University of Oulu (OYY)
The Student Union of LUT University (LTKY)
University of the Arts Student Union (ArtSU)
Standing for Election to the Board of SYL
The National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) is going to elect a new Board for 2024. SYL is a student organisation which represents 140,000 students and is an umbrella organisation for all student unions in Finland. The organisation promotes students’ interests, in other words, they work towards a better every-day life for students.
Board work is full-time and requires living in the Helsinki metropolitan area. You get a monthly compensation for your work. The Board for 2024 (which consist of the President and six members) will be elected at the General Assembly on 17–18 November 2023.
If this sounds interesting, you can send us a declaration of interest with your own words to so@studentkaren.fi until 4 September. You can also contact SYL’s Vice President Pauliina Ryökäs, pauliina.ryokas@syl.fi, if you have any questions about SYL’s Board’s work.
Do you want to represent ÅAS at SYL’s General Assembly?
SYL’s General Assembly will take place at 17–18 November. Here is an excellent opportunity to get to know the Finnish student movement and have an impact on what the SYL Board will work on the following year. The Student Union of ÅAU will be represented by a delegation of six members and their deputy members.
Accordning to ÅAS’s administrative guidelines, the Student Union Council chooses the representatives for the delegation for SYL’s General Assembly. Send an informal letter of interest to so@studentkaren.fi no later than 11 September. The Student Union Council will meet up on 20 September and choose the delegates during that meeting.
The Election Committee has announced The Student Union Elections 2023
Every other year The Student Union of ÅAU (ÅAS) holds Student Union Elections, when we together elect a new Student Union Council to rule the Student Union during the coming two years. The Council is ÅAS’ highest decision-making body. You will get all the information about the election via this link.
Election dates
The election dates are 7 and 8 November, with advance voting held 24–27 October.
The announcement that describes all practicalities surrounding the election can be found in the Student union office and here. Questions can be sent to the election committee through karval@studentkaren.fi.
Important dates for the Student Union Election
Examination of the electoral register
The electoral register, based on the student register of Åbo Akademi University before 13 September 2023, will be provided for examination for the period 13–18 September 2023.
Agreement to form an election association
Agreement to form an election association is to be handed in no later than 19 September 2023 at 3 p.m.
The nomination of candidates for the election
The nomination of candidates for the election has to be finished and the filled in forms returned to the Student Union office by 29 September 2023 at 3 p.m.
Agreement to form an electoral coalition
A free form agreement to form an electoral coalition is to be sent to karval@studentkaren.fi by 2 October 2023 at 3 p.m.
The advance voting
The advance voting will also be conducted electronically. Advance voting begins 24 October 2023 at 9 p.m. and ends 27 October 2023 at 3 p.m.
The council election
The council election will be conducted electronically. Voting will begin 7 November 2023 at 9 a.m. and end 8 November at 3 p.m.
The service point in Åbo opens Monday 28 August, open between 12–3 pm.
During week 35 the usual opening hours apply, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday between 12–3pm.
After that, we are open Monday–Friday, noon to 3 pm throughout September!
At the service point, you can pick up a sticker for your student card, get a calendar, buy badges, say hello to the board or get help with any questions.
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok for updates and news!
If you have any questions, please contact kansli@studentkaren.fi.
Welcome to/back to student life and welcome to Kåren!