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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!
Student representative to the art council for choosing works of art for the new building, Astra
A student representative is needed for the group that will choose works of art for the outdoor spaces and interior of the new building Astra at the Åbo campus (“the new Gadolinia”).
A competition will be announced in September and the student representative will be a member of the art council that elects works of art among the submitted alternatives. Firstly, artwork for the outdoor spaces will be chosen, later the art for the interior. The planning of the premises and the outdoor areas is important as Astra will contain spaces that all students at the Åbo campus will use.
The Student Union seeks a person with an interest in art and study environment for the role as student representative in the council. The representative will be elected by the Student Union Board on Wednesday 6.9.2023. Send your application via abo.fi e-mail to kansli@studentkaren.fi before Tuesday 5 September 2023 at 11.59 p.m. You can include some text about who you are, what you study and why you want to represent the students in the choosing of art for the new building!
Contact regarding the assignment and the election of the representative: Students’ Rights Expert Petra Lindblad, petra@studentkaren.fi
The Student Union has been publishing the Valpurgis magazine Errores every year since 1933. For 90 years the magazine has been sold, or handed out, almost every 30 April. The archive of magazines at Kåren is large, but mainly analogue.
Thanks to financing from the alumni association the Student Union is able to have someone work with the digitalization of the magazine during the summer. The hopes are not only that the archive will be safer with digitalization, but that the previous editions might be able to be published on the web for everyone to read and enjoy.
Please note that all Errores editions are only available in Swedish.
Press release
8 June 2023
For immediate release
Seniorernas Råd (the seniors’ council) of the Student Union of Åbo Akademi University (ÅAS) annually awards one or more scholarships from Makarna Olins fund. Applicants are required to have held positions within the Student Union or its sub-associations. The size of the scholarship is 2300 euros per month, for a total period of 38 months.
Scholarship recipients
At its meeting 26 May 2023, Seniorernas Råd has decided that this year’s scholarships will be given to:
Melanie Rydgren (FPV, health sciences) for the thesis “Green caring – Digital health services role in climate-friendly welfare practices”, 13 months.
Rasmus Marjanen (FHPT, general history) for the thesis “Modern-Day Veterans. Historical developments in veteran identity among Finnish and Swedish peacekeeping- and crisis management personnel from 1956 onwards”, 12 months.
Nina Nyman (FHPT, gender studies) for the thesis “From Online Activism to Archival Activism – Ethical Care and Aftercare of the #metoo-action #dammenbrister”, 8 months.
Carl-Gustaf Stenvall (FNT, cell biology) for the thesis ”A link between world”: Cytoplasmic keratins and nuclear lamines in proliferation and cancer of colon epithelial cells”, 5 months.
Questions can be directed to
Veera Gustafsson
Secretary General
02 215 4652
gs@studentkaren.fi