The General Assembly of the National Union of University Students in Finland elects Jarno Lappalainen president, decides on focal points for 2012

Press release 19 November 2011

The General Assembly of the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) has elected the union’s executive board for the year 2012. SYL represents all of Finland’s around 135,000 university students. Jarno Lappalainen, a 24-year-old technology student from Aalto University Student Union, was elected President for the year 2012. Lappalainen has been vice president of SYL during 2011.

The General Assembly also elected six further members of the executive board: Eveliina Heinäluoma (Student Union of the University of Lapland LYY), Tapio Heiskari (Student Union of the University of Helsinki HYY), Milja Henttonen (Student Union of the University of Turku TYY), Lauri Jurvanen (Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland ISYY), Marina Lampinen (Student Union of the University of Helsinki HYY) and Kim Rantala (Student Union of the University of Oulu OYY).

The General Assembly was held at Hotel Rantasipi Sveitsi in Hyvinkää on Fri-Sat 18-19 November. The assembly also decided on SYL’s plan of work for the year 2012. The General Assembly finds that SYL and the student unions should carry out campaigns in connection with next year’s municipal elections and clearly highlight the objectives of students.

Jarno Lappalainen wants SYL to develop into an even more open, engaging, and ambitious gathering force for university students.

“There is no doubt that Finland will face considerable challenges in the coming few years.
With the turmoil the world economy is in, we must make sure that we do not allow Finland’s best resources – knowledge and equality – to be forsaken. We students must therefore look to the future, also when others are afraid to do so.” says Jarno Lappalainen.

The General Assembly of the National Union of University Students in Finland – SYL made a statement on a proposal by the Ministry of Education on the renewal of student admission to higher education. In order to lengthen careers and reduce the number of young people applying to higher education year after year, the Ministry proposes a two-phased reform. The idea is that in the second phase, at the end of the election cycle, those who have already begun their studies or graduated would not be able to change their field of study or widen their scope. The General Assembly of SYL thinks that the proposal is far too rigid and it has been prepared in haste.

Limiting admissions only to those without a study place would not have the desired effect but it would rather punish young people for changing their mind about their field of study. SYL is worried that only the system is allowed to make mistakes, but not young people.

In its declaration SYL’s General Assembly reminded that the development of the Finnish higher education should continue to focus on securing equal opportunities to education and on achieving ambitious knowledge goals. Versatile degrees of good quality and high-quality research are among the best ways of promoting Finland’s competitiveness.

After the formal part of the General Assembly, SYL and the student unions together celebrated the successful campaign, in connection with last spring’s parliamentary elections, for linking the study grant to an index. SYL thanked those who contributed towards making the campaign a success. Certificates of honour were awarded to graphic designer Jani Pulkka for the layout of the campaign, the Bank of Finland Museum for best project partner, the political editorial staff at the newspaper Helsingin Sanomat for best communication, The Green’s party secretary Panu Laturi for pioneering the campaign sauna and the Åbo Akademis Studentkår for submitting the most index photos.

Additional information:

Secretary General Matti Parpala, tel. +358 41 515 2225, matti.parpala(at)syl.fi

SYL President 2012: Jarno Lappalainen, tel. +358 400 536 973 / +358 44 906 5005

The other members of the Executive Board of SYL 2012:
Eveliina Heinäluoma, tel. +358 40 592 1807, Tapio Heiskari, tel. +358 50 543 9612, Milja Henttonen, tel. +358 50 599 3094, Lauri Jurvanen, tel. +358 50 535 3326, Marina Lampinen, tel. +358 50 595 0324, Kim Rantala, tel. +358 50 362 1270

The General Assembly is the highest decision-making body of the National Union of University Students in Finland, representing all 17 university student unions in Finland.
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