11.10.2021

Do you want to influence the University’s study affairs, grants and scholarships or Open University’s actions?

NEWS

Several committees at the University have open positions for student representatives. Read about the open positions below!

 

ACADEMIC AFFAIRS COUNCIL

This is a dream position for study advocates! The Academic Affairs Council is the University’s highest committee in the field of study affairs. Here, if anywhere, you will get to directly influence students’ affairs! HYY’s specialist in educational policy also serves on the council – you will be cooperating and serving as equal members of the council.

The duties of the Academic Affairs Council include especially the preparation and monitoring of strategic policies related to education provided by the University and the promotion and monitoring of the quality of teaching and learning. This position takes you straight to the heart of study advocacy work – you will get to bring forward student perspectives in wide-ranging discussions and policies that concern the entire University.

Consequently, we consider interest and vision on university and educational policy issues at the level of the entire University as advantages. The Academic Affairs Council meets around once a month during academic terms, and its primary meeting language is Finnish. We are looking for one student representative for the council. The next representative period is 1 January 2022 – 31 December 2023.

 

THE ADMINISTRATIVE COMMITTEES OF DISCIPLINE-SPECIFIC FUNDS

The administrative committees are tasked with declaring the grants, prizes, scholarships and any other kinds of financial support awarded out of the money donated into the funds open for applications as well as with making the decisions on awarding them. The committees are campus-specific, which means that the discipline-specific funds of each campus are administered by their own committee.

These positions allow you to learn about fund management, the processing of applications and decision-making processes. You will gain experience of negotiation, meeting procedures and administration. Later, you can ask HYY for a certificate of having served in the position! The meeting language of the administrative committees is Finnish. The next representative period is 1 January 2022 – 31 December 2023.

You can apply to a committee that represents a faculty in which you are registered for attendance. You must also be fluent in Finnish. There are no other limitations or requirements! We hope that you are interested and enthusiastic about working with the funds. We hope to see applications from people with as diverse backgrounds as possible and strive to take the representation of different disciplines into account when making decisions. Read on for more information on the open positions for student representatives:

  • The administrative committee of the discipline-specific funds of the Viikki campus represents the disciplines of veterinary medicine, pharmacy, biological and environmental sciences, and agricultural sciences and forestry. We are looking for two student members for the administrative committee. The student members must be registered for attendance at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, the Faculty of Pharmacy, the Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences or the Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry.
  • The administrative committee of the discipline-specific fund of the Meilahti campus represents the disciplines of medicine. We are looking for one student members for the administrative committee. The student members must be registered for attendance at the Faculty of Medicine.
  • The administrative committee of the discipline-specific fund of the Kumpula campus represents the disciplines of mathematics and science. We are looking for one student members for the administrative committee. The student members must be registered for attendance at the Faculty of Science.
  • The administrative committee of the discipline-specific funds of the City Centre campus 1 represents the arts. We are looking for one student members for the administrative committee. The student members must be registered for attendance at the Faculty of Arts.
  • The administrative committee of the discipline-specific funds of the City Centre campus 2 represents the disciplines of law, theology, social sciences and educational sciences. We are looking for two student members for the administrative committee. The student members must be registered for attendance at the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Theology, the Faculty of Social Sciences or the Faculty of Educational Sciences.

 

THE BOARD OF THE OPEN UNIVERSITY

The Open University is an independent institute operating under the University of Helsinki, implementing, developing and coordinating university teaching that provides general education, is organised in accordance with the principles of the Open University and is based on research. The Open University, together with its cooperation network, promotes the University’s societal interaction actively and on its own initiative. The Open University’s special duty is to develop liberal adult education and the University’s Studia Generalia activities.

The Open University has a Board appointed by the Rector of the University of Helsinki. The Board’s duties include developing the operations of the Open University as a whole in accordance with the operational and financial objectives of the University as well as with the University’s Strategic Plan and the Open University’s own programme of objectives. As a student member, you will bring student perspectives to the development of the Open University as well as other matters discussed on the Board.

The Board’s term is four years with the exception of members representing students of the Open University, who are appointed for two-year terms. We are currently looking for one vice member for the current term, which ends on 31 March 2022.

 

WHAT IS EXPECTED FROM ME?

Above all, we hope that you are interested in serving in these positions. You will be representing the entire student community in these administrative bodies, and your task is to work for the benefit of students by bringing student perspectives to the matters being discussed. You also have to be a student registered for attendance at the University of Helsinki.

You should also remember that you will never have to be alone! You can ask for views on the matters under discussion from faculty and subject organisations, for instance, to get a broader understanding of students’ opinions. You can also always contact HYY’s specialists in educational policy if you need advice. HYY also provides training on student advocacy work throughout the year – we recommend taking part in these events, too!

 

HOW DO I APPLY TO BECOME A STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE?

Applications should be submitted through the Halloped application system by 11.59 pm on 31 October 2021. Your application does not need to be long. In the application, state at least your current major or degree programme and study track as well as your student number. (The student number is only used to verify your faculty and attendance status. The information will be deleted after they have been verified.) The Student Union also considers the following as advantages and requests that the applicants describe these aspects in their application:

  • Motivation towards the position
  • Possible previous experience of acting as a student representative in administration, as a study advisor or in some other position related to student advocacy work

The Student Union hopes to receive applications from representatives of different genders and people in different stages of their studies from diverse backgrounds. We will strive to take the representation of different faculties into account as comprehensively as possible when making the selections.

For further information on the positions and the application process, please contact:

Specialist in Educational Policy Marianna Suokas, 050 325 5202, marianna.suokas@hyy.fi.