ÅAS Board thank you for this year

ÅAS Executive Board would like to wish you all a wonderful holiday season and a Happy New Year. Over the past year, we have had the opportunity to actively work for the benefit of students, something for which we are immensely grateful.

Within student culture, many positive developments have taken place. During the autumn, the new association guide was launched, and we also produced English descriptions of student songs to make our traditions more accessible. We had the honour of organizing Vappen 100 at Vårdberget and have continuously worked together with the student associations to ensure that the light-hearted and joyful aspects of student life continue to thrive.

In terms of advocacy, a major focus has been on facilities and students’ need for suitable spaces for both studying and student life. We also organized a Wellbeing Week with the aim of highlighting the university’s wellbeing contacts. In the spring, we launched a membership survey and actively worked to draw attention to the municipal and county elections, both through social media and by organizing an election panel. Throughout the year, we have also maintained regular contact with ÅAU, with discussions largely focusing on the importance of effective communication and ensuring that students’ voices are heard within the university.

During the year, a new position was also introduced within the Board: International Affairs. This has allowed us to place greater focus on how we can improve advocacy for international students. The work has taken many forms, including the concept of “International Week,” a survey aimed at international students, and the launch of an international handbook that guides students through their studies and student life at ÅAU. We have also strengthened our contacts both within and outside the university. Collaboration with the CHARM-EU network and the work on a panel at Europe Forum have broadened our international network, not only within Finland but across Europe, and have been highly educational.

Overall, we have seen how students at ÅAU have actively made their voices heard and influenced their university. This year’s student council elections attracted a record number of candidates, and there was great interest in the new student representative positions in the spring. These developments clearly demonstrate how strongly students wish to make an impact and how significant that impact can be.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to all students who have followed our work throughout the year and been part of this journey. We now hope that you all find time for rest and recovery. Take care of yourselves and enjoy the holidays.

The ÅAS Board of 2025 thanks you and warmly wishes the Board of 2026 the best of luck!