HYY’s candidates for the boards of OLL and SYL for 2026 have been selected!

In its meeting on 11 September 2025, the Representative Council of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY) selected its candidates for the boards of the Finnish Student Sports Federation (OLL) and the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) for 2026. HYY is nominating Martta Sopanen for the position of chair of OLL’s Board, Petra Pulli for the position of chair of SYL’s Board and Viena Pentikäinen for the position of member of SYL’s Board.  

Martta Sopanen nominated for OLL’s chair for 2026

In its meeting on 11 September 2025, the Representative Council of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY) selected its candidate for the position of chair of the Board of the Finnish Student Sports Federation (OLL) for 2026. HYY is nominating Martta Sopanen for the position of chair of OLL’s Board.  

Martta Sopanen is a student of translational medicine at the University of Helsinki. During 2025, she has served as member of HYY’s Board, working on the sectors of sports, communication, sustainable development and the environment. Sopanen believes that the role of parties such as OLL will be further emphasised in the future.   

“A static way of life is a threat to public health that must be taken seriously. Instead of only affecting working life, it now affects people throughout their lives. The small amount of physical activity involved in studies affects students’ health and coping. OLL plays a crucial role when we want to influence the wellbeing of students in particular”, Sopanen points out.  

 Sopanen’s interest in sports and wellbeing is reflected in her studies as well as her work history. Sopanen has provided sports instruction since the age of 15. She has accumulated leadership experience from various leadership duties. 

 “My competence has developed in the areas of health, advocacy work and leadership through my positions of trust, work and studies. I would now like to utilise my skills and motivation for promoting students’ wellbeing, working to ensure that university studies do not result in students losing their health. We will have many opportunities to influence matters in 2026 as we will be fast approaching the next parliamentary elections. The federation must seize these opportunities.”

Petra Pulli nominated for SYL’s chair for 2026

 In its meeting on 11 September 2025, the Representative Council of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY) selected its candidate for the position of chair of the Board of the National Union of University Students in Finland for 2026. HYY is nominating Petra Pulli for the position of chair of SYL’s Board.  

Petra Pulli is a student of educational psychology. Upon graduation, she will be a fully qualified class teacher as well as a subject teacher in religion. Pulli has a long history in student organisations and as a student advocate.  

 “I got involved in my subject organisation right at the beginning of my studies, taking on the role of chair during my second year. After that, my path has taken me to the faculty level as a student representative and in organisations, to HYY’s Representative Council, to SOOL, the national organisation in my field and, most recently, to the positions of vice chair and chair of the Student Union’s Board for the past two years”, Pulli recounts.  

Pulli applied to become a candidate for the position of SYL’s chair because she wants to continue promoting students’ interests in society. Pulli believes that there is still a massive amount of work ahead to realise students’ rights and that the skills she has accumulated as an advocate and leader would take SYL’s advocacy work to the next level.  

“One of the key objectives for SYL during the next term is preparing for the parliamentary elections in spring 2027. As SYL tends to do, we must once again ensure that students are involved in the discussions next year that define the direction of the next parliamentary term and the objectives of parties. Through capable leadership and the fostering of competence we can make sure that students’ status is given a great deal of attention in the next elections”, Pulli states.  

Viena Pentikäinen nominated to SYL’s Board for 2026 

Viena has been advocating students’ interests for several years. She has accumulated advocacy work experience as a secondary school student in the United States as well as through organisations and the Representative Council. Pentikäinen has served as member of HYY’s Board since September 2024, being in charge of social policy, the municipal elections and internationality. 

“I am applying to SYL because I want to be involved in building a better future for new student generations. It has been a great honour to have been able to promote students’ interests during the past year. We are dealing with important matters here, and I still have a lot to give for them”, Pentikäinen declares.  

Advocacy work and lobbying has had a prominent role on HYY’s Board especially through the municipal elections, the new council and urban advocacy work as well as through the employment of international students. As chair of World Student Capital, Viena has also got to conduct advocacy work for the students of the Capital Region. 

“Students’ situation has undergone a historic decline in recent years. I am especially worried about how students’ debt burden has increased to crushing proportions and how international students in Finland repeatedly end up in poor situations. We need a bold, unifying student movement with a long-term approach to face these problems and offer a better vision for the future.”

Viena is looking forward to the upcoming campaign, autumn and her candidacy with enthusiasm.