Aku Houttu and Teemu Kovanen appointed to the Board of the University of Helsinki as student representatives
NEWS
In its meeting on 27 May 2025, the Representative Council of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki appointed student representatives to the Board of the University of Helsinki for the term 1 January 2026–31 December 2027. The new student representatives are Bachelor of Social Sciences Aku Houttu and Bachelor of Social Sciences, Student of Arts Teemu Kovanen.
Houttu and Kovanen both bring diverse experience of university democracy and student representation with them to the board. Houttu has already served on the University Board for one and a half years. He has also previously served on the University Collegium, the Faculty Council of the Faculty of Social Sciences, HYY’s Board and HYY’s Representative Council. Kovanen has been a long-standing member of HYY’s Representative Council as well as a member of the University Collegium and a faculty council. He has also served on HYY’s Board as well as an intern working with science and higher education policy.
Houttu and Kovanen consider it important for students’ voice to be heard in the University’s decision-making processes and for accessibility and equality to be emphasised when developing the University.
– Education and science help us understand the world, with its many uncertainties. It is thus a great honour to get to continue on the University Board to influence our future direction. Students’ voice must be heard even louder than before for a more accessible and equal university in particular, Aku Houttu states.
– University democracy requires structures that support understanding of decision-making processes. Every one of us must be able to understand who prepares and executes the decisions that concern us and how those processes move through the organisation, Teemu Kovanen stresses.
The University Board is the highest decision-making body in the University. Its duties include approving the University’s Strategic Plan and budget, operational and financial planning, financial management and issuing statements on key issues concerning the University.
The new Board will start its term on 1 January 2026.
Further information on the operation of the Board of the University of Helsinki is available on the University’s website: https://www.helsinki.fi/en/about-us/people/university-management/board.
FURTHER INFORMATION
Riku-Petteri Kyllönen
Higher education policy, student representatives, students’ legal protection
riku-petteri.kyllonen@hyy.fi
