Apply to become HYY’s candidate for SYL’s board for 2026!
NEWS
WHAT IS THE NATIONAL UNION OF UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN FINLAND?
The National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) is a student organisation that represents around 140,000 university students in Finland. The primary language of the union’s documents is Finnish.
SYL looks after students’ interests in matters concerning students at both national and EU level. The main areas of its advocacy work are educational policy, social policy and international affairs. In addition to this, the union handles matters related to student cards and student discounts through ownership steering as well as provides guidance and training for its member organisations.
HOW DO I BECOME HYY’S CANDIDATE?
HYY will decide on the potential nomination of candidates for SYL’s Board in the Representative Council’s meeting held on 11 September 2025.
A proposal on the nomination will be prepared by a working group established by the Board and consisting of representatives of the Representative Council groups. The working group is requesting all interested individuals to send a free-form one-page motivation letter along with a one-page CV to hallinto@hyy.fi by 11.59 pm on 7 August. The application can be submitted in Finnish, Swedish or English.
The working group will interview those interested in becoming a candidate on 25 August (and possibly 26 August) during the evening. The interview will be held in Finnish, Swedish or English.
The preparation process will adhere to the steering memorandum on national unions approved by the Representative Council. The memorandum also features guidelines on the method of selecting HYY’s candidates for SYL’s Board. The working group may select the number of candidates to nominate in a manner of its own choosing in order to maximise the likelihood of getting HYY’s candidates selected at the general assembly.
Our requirements for applicants are as follows:
• They must hold the right to complete a degree at the University of Helsinki at the time
of selection
• They must be motivated to conduct societal advocacy work and action
The following are considered as advantages:
experience with the Student Union
• Ability to cooperate with diverse people and parties as well as diverse societal
networks
• A perspective on the union’s operations and their future development
• Advocacy work experience and understanding of politics
• Good command of Finnish, Swedish and English
We hope that you will express any wishes you may have about your role on SYL’s Board as well as your views on the union’s operation and its development. HYY emphasises diversity and equality in our activities. We hope to receive as many applications as possible from people with diverse backgrounds.
Further information:
Hanna-Maria Häkkilä
HYY’s II vice chair and chair of the working group
hannamaria.hakkila@gmail.com
