Kategoriat
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.
The Associations’ Fair will be held on Thursday 2 March in Åbo and on Wednesday 8 March in Vasa. The Associations’ Fair is a perfect opportunity to get to know the Student Union’s sub-associations, become a member in them, and buy some new overall patches. It doesn’t matter if you are a fresher or an older student – everyone is welcome!
Associations’ Fair in Åbo Thurs 2 March at 4–6 p.m.
The Associations’ Fair will be held at Kåren. Write down 2 March in your calendars, and come and meet all the sub-associations!
When? Thurs 2 March at 4–6 p.m.
Where? Kåren (Tavastgatan 22, Åbo)
Price? Free of charge!
Information for associations and companies
Would your association or company like to participate in the fair? You can register via Lyyti.
The registration is open and will be closed on 28 February at 11.59 p.m.
Associations’ Fair in Vasa Wed 8 March at 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
The Associations’ Fair will be held at the lobby in Academill. Write down 8 March in your calendars, and come and meet all our sub-associations!
When? Wednesday 8 March at 11 a.m.–2 p.m.
Where? Academill’s lobby (Strandgatan 2, Vasa)
Price? Free of charge!
Information for associations and companies
Would your association or company like to participate in the fair? You can register via Lyyti.
The registration is open and will be closed on 5 March at 11.59 p.m.
The Student Union Council is electing Chairpersons for two of the Student Union’s committees on 3 March 2023.
The two committees are the international committee and the environmental committee.
To apply to the position you have to be a Student Union member. Apply by sending a message stating your interest to fo@studentkaren.fi. Deadline for the applications is 2 March 2023 8 p.m.
Environmental Committee
Being the Chair of the Environmental Committee has been fun and rewarding. You get to know new people and discuss important and current events. Environment and sustainability are important topics, especially to students, and it is important that the Student Union supports it.
One of the best things I got to do last year was to be a member of the group organizing the Sustainability holds us up, uphold sustainability project lead by the National Union of University Students in Finland. Through the projects I got to meet students from student unions all over Finland, and got to learn more about how students and student unions can influence in environmental and sustainability issues.
– Amanda Byskata, Chair of the Environmental Committee
International Committee
I was delighted to be elected as the Chair of the International Committee in 2022. During this year, I could work in a multicultural environment, organizing events and fostering a sense of belonging of international students to the university. It not only helped me meet new people who inspired me a lot but also boosted my teamwork and communication skills.
– Mariana Moretti Carvalho, Chair of the International Committee
The Student Union of ÅAU celebrated its 104th birthday
On 18 February, on Count Per Brahe’s birthday, the Student Union and its associations gave the Count Student Union’s greetings at his statue in Åbo. The annual ball will be held on 23 September in Vasa.
Paupertas a linea – above the poverty line
In her speech, Chair of the Board Nicolina Nordman highlights the financial situation of students. On the wreath are the Latin words ”paupertas a linea” which refers to ”above the poverty line”. That is also the slogan for the National Union of University Students in Finland’s (SYL) election campaign for the parliamentary elections this year. With this gesture, the Chair of the Board Nordman wants to highlight the students’ weak situation, which in the long run leads to a reduced sense of security. An increase of 100 euros would contribute to the increased well-being of students, according to Nordman.
Scholarships and awards
Senator Julius Nummelin’s political science award for the best master’s thesis of the Faculty of Political Science
This year the Senator Julius Nummelin’s political science award was given to Jesper Eklund, for their master’s thesis Vem litar finlandssvenskarna på? En jämförelse av det sociala förtroendet hos svensk- och finskspråkiga i Finland.
Award of Companionship
The committee decided to give the Jaeger-Captain Paul Wallenius’ Award of Companionship to Ines Latvala, Benjamin Finell, Herman Björk and Christa Borgman.
Styrelsenål award pin
141. Nora Möller
142. Nicolina Nordman
143. Casimir Ruohomaa
144. Lenita Boullenger
145. Vanessa Björklund
146. Amanda Byskata
147. Samuel Skifvars
148. Lina Sjöberg
149. Kajsa Viitamäki
150. Pernilla Bagge
151. Ines Latvala
Brahevingarna award pin
599. Veera Gustafsson
560. Michelle Storm
561. Ida Nordell
562. Jonatan Wikström
563. Veera Granroth
564. Måns Vikström
Brahevingarna med lyra award pin
134. Matias Martelin
Havtornen celebrated its 15 years as our student union building, and today we will launch a new website to replace the 15-year-old one. You can also find a new booking calendar on the renewed havtornen.fi.
When the Student Union of Åbo Akademi University celebrated Havtornen and its 15 years as a student union building, we presented a draft of the new webpage for the first time. Even if the project only were in the early stages, the feedback on the project was very positive.
Information and the booking calendar for the student union building have earlier been found on the student union website for years while havtornen.fi – Havtornen’s own website – has been dormant for a long time. Havtornen.fi was launched at the same time as the inauguration of Havtornen 15 years ago, and now it has gotten a new breath of life!
You can from now on find the history of and information regarding Havtornen all in one place – and of course: the all-new booking calendar at havtornen.fi. Welcome!