Suomen Ylioppilaskuntien Liitto

15th may 2012

Contactless payments will really get started in Finland during the fall, when Lyyra, owned by students, and Elisa will offer more than 100.000 students a means of payment based on this technology.

This new service, which is faster and easier to use than previous means of payments, will be available everywhere in the fall 2012 – both in grocery stores and student restaurants – wherever there is a payment terminal that understands the contactless technology. Elisa is responsible for the subscriber connection needed for the implementation and control of this means of payment.

All current or by fall 2012 joining student union members will receive for free this means of payment that works without a separate PIN code when paying for small purchases. Later on the contactless payment method will be integrated directly with the student card. The new system for payments will replace Lyyra’s current payment system during 2012. Lyyra and Elisa will also launch other completely new electronic services in the near future.

”We will with the help of students, Lyyra and Elisa, have the opportunity to show that Finland still has the capacity to develop and launch new and for everyday life helpful solutions. We are especially happy that we in co-operation with Elisa can reach a whole new level in the development of the national student card”, says the chairperson of the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL)  Jarno Lappalainen happily.

”We see the speed and ease of use as clear benefits of this payment method. New and also mobile means of payments will make life easier for students, and Elisa also wants to be a pioneer in producing services like this”, says business director of subscriber connections at Elisa Henri Korpi.

More information regarding the implementation of the service and the actors involved will be given during the summer of 2012. The appearance of the card will remain close to the current student card and the services of the card will remain the same or be improved. SYL and Lyyra will directly inform all co-operational partners regarding possible changes due to the implementation.

Oy Suomen Lyyra Ab is a company owned by the HYY Group and the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL).

More information:
National Union of University Students in Finland
Secretary general Matti Parpala
041 515 2225
, firstname.lastname@syl.fi

Oy Suomen Lyyra Ab
Director Marjo Berglund
0400 812 538, 
firstname.lastname@hyy.fi

Elisa Oyj
Business director of subscriber connections Henri Korpi
0456700416, 
firstname.lastname@elisa.fi

Statement 15.5.2012 / The Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY)

The Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY) requires that student loan should be developed to be more risk-free. Student loan repayment should only begin when the student has achieved an adequate level of income after graduation, and it should be possible to take out the student loan retroactively. Taking out the loan should not be made compulsory, and the emphasis of student financial aid should remain on the study grant.

“Many students do not take out the loan because of uncertain prospects. We demand that student loan is made risk-free in order to be a real alternative for students”, says Jannica Aalto, Chair of HYY Board.

In the current economic and employment situation, getting into debt at a young age seems to be an unnecessary risk. Students do not take out the student loan particularly in those fields where employment is uncertain. HYY supports the model where student loan will be repaid only after a certain income level has been achieved after graduation. This student loan model is used in the United States and the Great Britain, for example.

Another important reform would be the opportunity to take out the student loan retroactively, which would give students the opportunity to decide for themselves when they want to use the available support. In this way, students could also take out their unused loan from the previous years.

“Life circumstances and the need for money change during the studies. A student loan, which could be taken out retroactively, can help in surprising situations and provide the opportunity to focus on writing one’s Master’s thesis, for example, if students do not have to work at the same time. This could also speed up their graduation”, says Aalto.

In HYY’s opinion, the whole social security system should be simplified by introducing the basic income. HYY wishes that state administration would extensively investigate the effects of various basic income models so that the discussion on basic income could move from dreams to feasible solutions.

Jannica Aalto, Chair of the Board

Katariina Styrman, Secretary General

Press release 23 April 2012 / the Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences – SAMOK

The Board Meeting of European Students’ Union (ESU) has Sunday evening elected SAMOKs Taina Moisander Vice-Chairperson of the organisation. Moisander is 24-year old-student of social services. The election took place late Sunday evening during ESU’s 62nd Board Meeting in Bucharest, Romania. The meeting elected Moisander, originally from Tampere, a member of the Executive Committee together with nine other persons.

ESU is the umbrella organisation of 45 National Unions of Students (NUS) from 38 countries. The aim of ESU is to represent and promote the educational, social, economic and cultural interests of students at the European level. Through its members, ESU represents over 11 million students in Europe. Moisander is the first of the candidates put forward by the Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences – SAMOK to be elected onto the presidency of ESU. ESU’s Executive Committee has not since the year 2000 included a member from Finland.

Moisander has held a number of other elected positions. In 2011, she was a member of ESU’s Social Affairs Committee, which is in charge of e.g. preparing ESU’s policy papers and projects on the social dimension of higher education, including student mobility, student aid, and more. Moisander has also held the position of Member of the Executive Committee responsible for international affairs at SAMOK in 2010, and, in 2009, a position as elected official of the student union of Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.

”I can’t wait for my work to begin. It is a great honour to be elected to represent students in Europe and to further our goals. My work at ESU will be a great challenge: the situation for students in Europe is not getting any easier due to the Europe-wide financial crisis and the cutbacks in higher education financing. In ESU, I will strive to work for improved access to higher education and for students’ right to international mobility as well as making students’ voice stronger in Europe,” says Moisander.

Moisander studies at the Helsinki Metropolia University of Applied Sciences for a Bachelor of Social Services. She is currently doing an internship related to her studies at the Operación Movilización (OM) in Ecuador. There Moisander works with local communities and her work includes, for instance, working with HIV-positive children and their parents.

Moisander’s term in ESU will commence in July. The mandate is for one year. ESU has two coequal Vice-Chairpersons. Karina Ufert (LSS, Lithuania) elected as chairperson and the other Vice-Chairperson Rok Primozic (SSU, Slovenia).

Additional information:
Taina Moisander +358 40 650 6211
Elin Blomqvist, Chairperson, SAMOK +358 50 389 1000
Pauliina Savola, Adviser SAMOK +358 50 389 1012

The Executive Committee of the European Students’ Union (ESU)

Chairperson: Karina Ufert (LSS, Lithuania)

Vice-Chairpersons:
Rok Primozic (SSU, Slovenia)
Taina Moisander (SAMOK, Finland).

Executive Committee:
Fernando Miguel Galán Palomares (CREUP, Spain)
Florian Kaiser (FZS, Germany)
Blaze Todorovski (NSUM, Macedonia)
Nevena Vucsanovic (SUS, Serbia)
Elisabeth Gerkhe (SFS, Sweden)
Liliya Ivanov (USB, Bulgaria)
Tinja Zerzer (ÖH, Austria)

The Executive Committee is elected for the term 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013. The presidency works from Brussels and the executive committee members from their respective countries.

SAMOK and the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) are members of ESU.

Earlier Finnish members of ESU’s Executive Committee:

SAMOK: in 2000 Taru Liira, member

SYL: in 1999 Antti Pentikäinen, chairperson
in 1998 Antti Pentikäinen, member
in 1997 Outi Hannula, member

http://www.esu-online.org/

Announcement 20 th April 2012 / The Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY)

The Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY) is a community of approximately 30.000 university students. HYY functions as an organisation of both interest representation and service for its members and organisations within the student union.

Secretary General is required for a temporary position of three years, beginning with a familiarisation period from June 4, 2012. The term will end in September 2015.

The duties include among others being responsible for the activities and operative finances of HYY, as well as being the supervisor of the approximately 20 staff members of the student union. The secretary general will also develop HYY organisation, and manage both general interest representation and relations to stakeholders.

We expect university studies, and experience in leadership and student union activities. Experience in human relations and economic affairs, a position of trust, knowledge of HYY and the University of Helsinki, and an academic degree will be considered beneficial. The position requires the ability to quickly adapt to changing situations, simultaneously manage several matters as wholes, as well as willingness to work within a rapidly changing and demanding group. Fluent spoken and written Finnish is required for the position, as well as knowledge of Swedish and English.

HYY offers the employee a window to the Finnish organisational field and society, a varied and challenging job description, and a young and competent professional community. Starting salary is 3300 €/month plus benefits.

Personally signed letters of motivations, addressed to the HYY Representative Council and including a CV should be delivered to the HYY Central Office by noon on Monday, May 7, 2012. For more information on the term and the application process, please refer to the official and authorised Finnish/Swedish version.

For more information, contact Secretary General Katarina Styrman (0400 816 426, paasihteeri(at)hyy.fi) and Chairperson of the Board Jannica Aalto (050 543 9610, jannica.aalto(at)hyy.fi).

For more information on HYY, please visit http://www.hyy.fi.

12th April 2012

Vice President Marina Lampinen and International Officer Juha Töyrylä represented the National Union of University Students in Finland at the gathering of Nordic and Baltic national student unions, NOM (Nordiskt ordförandemöte) in Oslo on 23–25 March. The theme for the meeting was the financing of student mobility. In particular, the Commission of the European Union’s new financing programme Erasmus for All instigated a debate and the meeting also issued a statement on the topic (http://bit.ly/H42jFb).

During the meeting, there was also a workshop on the future of the NOM co-operation. Based on the results from the workshop, the member organisations will continue development work in Helsinki in the autumn, but it is already clear that the network member organisations wish to deepen co-operation also between the biannual meetings. Suggested ways to deepen co-operation include increasing the tasks of the three-union presidency as well as establishing different committees. The participants of the Oslo meeting decided to establish committees to prepare a reform of the NOM co-operation and plan for an exchange programme for those involved in or working at the national NOM member unions.

During the meeting, there was also lively debate on the elections of the European Students’ Union (ESU). Both candidates for the position of chairperson, one of the candidates for the position of vice-chairperson, as well as two candidates for the Executive Committee, are from the NOM member unions. The situation is not entirely unforeseen, as these unions have already been very active in ESU. The current presidency is, for instance, from Estonia and Lithuania.

Additional information:
International Officer Juha Töyrylä, tel. +358 41 515 2229, juha.toyryla(at)syl.fi
Vice President Marina Lampinen, tel. +358 44 906 5005, marina.lampinen(at)syl.fi

12th April 2012

SYL participated in the training for university student financial aid committees 29–30 March. The most important information offered on the first day was an update on the current affairs of Kela and of the Ministry of Education and Culture. The discussions naturally featured a debate on the recent budget decision to cost-neutrally develop student financial aid as well as how the two-tier aid system will affect completion of first- and second-cycle degrees in the future.

The participants were curious as to whom the Ministry intends to invite onto the committee, what cost neutrality de facto means, and what reforms the Ministry is striving for. None of the above questions were actually answered, and it might be a few more weeks before we know more about this. Students and student organisations ought to be very active on this and together consider the possibilities offered by different alternatives and their consequences for students at all levels of education. The schedule for the committee seems to extend to this year. It remains to be seen whether we will be able to discuss the new proposals in time for SYL’s General Assembly 2012. All of us at the office will most probably have to re-prioritise once again before summer.
SYL has already been of the opinion for a considerable length of time that the study grant should not be developed into a grant with a greater focus on loan. SYL finds it difficult to see the benefit of, for instance, increasing student financial aid at the beginning of studies and reducing it towards the end. It is well known that younger persons are used to generally consume less than older people. Almost all of the participants shared this view.

The working group on the study grant should naturally also take into account the work done by the working group on the usability of the tax reduction for the study loan, a work still in progress. It would be best if the working groups were able to cooperate closely on the study loan, developing it, and questions pertaining to its usefulness.

Additional information:
Social Officer Ville Impiö, +358 41 515 2233, ville.impio(at)syl.fi

Easter egg hunting has begun!

30.3.2012

The SYL office will quiet for more than a week. All at SYL, both staff and elected representatives, will take time off in lieu of overtime and also holidays during Easter 2–9 April. We will return to work from our Easter egg feasting on Tuesday 9 April.

All of us at SYL wish you a sunny and relaxing Easter!

30.3.2012

The 23rd European Student Convention was held in a spring-like Copenhagen on 17-19 March. The convention attracted 110 participants from 35 different European countries. SYL was represented by Kim Rantala, Executive Board Member International Affairs, and Juha Töyrylä, International Officer.

The conference debated employment from the perspective of employability, i.e. what skills students should be taught at higher education institutions. From the perspective of student employability, the participants considered different measures to achieve improved working life relevance and contact. Such measures include a more intense co-operation between higher education institutions and business life, improved accessibility to work placements, and work placements being included in the degree.

The most heated debate among the participants was invoked by the debate on the relationship between HEIs and business life. Should higher education exist just for the sake of the labour market or should higher education focus only on science and research? In the end, the most popular opinion was that HEIs should flexibly adjust to ambient conditions in constant flux.

Additional information:

Executive Board Member Kim Rantala, +358 44 906 5003, kim.rantala(at)syl.fi

International Officer Juha Töyrylä, +358 41 515 2229, juha.toyryla(at)syl.fi

Statement 29th April 2012

SYL submitted an opinion on the European Commission’s Erasmus for All programme to the Committee for Education and Culture. The proposal combines several mobility programmes under the name and administration of Erasmus. Generally speaking, SYL welcomed the aims of the programme to increase mobility and to mainstream activities.  SYL also welcomed the proposal that financing within the programme would focus on supporting individual mobility.

However, SYL called for increasing the focus on the mobility options of underrepresented group. SYL also criticised the proposed loan security scheme for Master’s students. Read the whole statement in Slideshare (in Finnish):

Additional information: International Officer Juha Töyrylä, tel. +358 41 515 2229, juha.toyryla(at)syl.fi

29.3.2012

The Government reached agreement on the adaptations in state finances in the budget negotiations on the spending limits Thursday 22 March. From the perspective of students, the budget negotiation outcome was both positive and slightly worrying. The sum of the actual adjustment measures to be implemented is 2.7 billion euro, of which 1.5 billion through tax hikes and 1.2 through net expenditure savings. The labour market organisations in their turn agreed on a pension solution, which will help extend working life and have an estimated effect of about 2 billion euro on state finances.

SYL has been monitoring the budget negotiations closely since January. In February, SYL defined its own objectives regarding the spending limits. They were: ensuring free education, the level of the study grant as well as retaining its existing structure, and ensuring the funding for FSHS. Based on these objectives, SYL officials met with decision makers from all parties in Government as well as with state officials from different administrative sectors. SYL also met with Mr. Jukka Gustafsson the Minister of Education to discuss extending working life, structural questions concerning the universities, student admissions as well as budget negotiation objectives.

During the concluding day of the budget negotiations on spending limits, SYL and SAMOK together executed a campaign outside the meeting place. During the awareness campaign, the organisations handed out Easter eggs to the budget negotiators, reminding them that a real nest egg for the future is free education and an adequate study grant. The atmosphere at the House of Estates, where the negotiations took place, was wonderful and a great number of students participated. The students at what will be the University of Arts had prepared a play ‘An open, fair and confident Finland’, which premièred at the event. Students also sang a well-known Finnish tango about youth.

Overall, SYL was successful in achieving its objectives for the budget negotiations: the Government will appoint a working group to consider the structure of the study grant, but there will be no cuts in the level of the grant. Hence, the outcome of the budget negotiations may be regarded as quite positive from the perspective of the student organisations. Particular reasons for satisfaction are the extra investments in the social guarantee for youth and that the study grant will be tied to an index and realised in the agreed schedule. Nonetheless, freezing the university index and the labour market organisations’ agreement on the pensions, which once again lets the baby-boomer generation off too easily and are mostly aimed at young people, are naturally disappointments from SYL’s point of view.

The most significant source of concern from a student’s perspective is the working group on the study grant, whose objective is to improve the incentiveness of the study grant without causing any further spending. The structure of the study grant was last examined in its entirety in 2010. It is therefore too early to evaluate even the consequences of the measures implemented after that. SYL and SAMOK deem it self-evident that student organisations are also to be strongly represented in the group.

Read SYL’s and SAMOK’s entire statement on the outcome of the budget negotiations in Finnish.

Additional information:

President Jarno Lappalainen, +358 44 906 5007, jarno.lappalainen(at)syl.fi

23.3.2012

The National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) was asked to give its opinion on the national core curriculum for the basic education as well as on the proposals set forth by the working group on restructuring how time is allocated to lessons of different subjects.

A well-functioning allocation of lessons in basic education and curricula built on the basis of it are one the most central requirements for success as Finland in accordance with the Government Programme strives to be the most competent nation in the world by 2020.

In its statement, SYL thanked the working group that has been working on the reform for its efforts. Despite the challenging economic circumstances, it serves/responds to the objectives defined in the Government Programme: to strengthen instruction in the arts and physical education, the status of civil fostering, value-based learning and environmental education as well as the co-operation between subjects.

The most central points of the statement:

• SYL warmly welcomes the suggestion to increase instruction in history and social studies and to begin instruction in grades 5-6. SYL finds it important also to focus on supporting students to be genuinely involved in the school community, for instance by institutionalising student councils in all basic education establishments.
•  The working group proposes to slightly reduce optionality in basic education. SYL supports this, if this is a prerequisite for enabling all primary and secondary schools to genuinely be able to offer opportunities of equal value. SYL, however, would like also to offer a reminder that optionality has its own role to play in learning, in committing to the school community, and in creating a comfortable atmosphere.
•  SYL is of the opinion that every child and young person has to have the right to pupil counselling that is sufficient and serves individual needs.
•  SYL presumes that there is systematic promotion for study abilities at all levels of education in co-operation with student or pupil health care and with pupils themselves.
•  SYL hopes that basic education will strongly take into account the importance of learner-focused instruction and study methods for the development of a culture of learning from the perspective of the entire educational path.
• SYL supports the group’s proposal to diversify language programmes in basic education. In the light of the information SYL currently has access to, SYL finds it difficult to offer an opinion on whether the suggested method based on separate funding from the state is the best way to realise this.
•  The proposal for the distribution of lesson hours set forth by the working group and now being discussed is quite limited in as far as it concerns defining how these, as such welcome objectives, are to be implemented in the everyday life of schools. SYL hopes to see very concrete proposals on how to, for instance, include value fostering in different subjects and in cross-discipline teaching, when the basis for the National Curriculum is produced.

SYL’s Executive Board published the statement on Friday 23 March.

The entire statement (in Finnish) in Slideshare:

Additional information:

Educational Officer Suvi Eriksson, tel. +358 41 515 2231, suvi.eriksson@syl.fi

2 March 2012

The campaign for responsible summer jobs 2012 is a joint campaign by the Finnish Children and Youth Foundation (FCYF), Alma Media, Sonera, and Monster. The purpose of the campaign is to challenge employers to offer young people and students more and better summer employment. The figurehead of the campaign this year is Ole Johansson, Chairman of the Confederation of Finnish Industries EK.

A summer job is often an excellent opportunity for students to learn about what working life is like in practice, what the rules of the game are, as well as an opportunity to earn money. As the economic situation has fluctuated, so also has the number of summer jobs. Summer jobs, however, should not be the first thing to suffer in difficult times.

SYL is hoping for investments in student summer employment and aims, through the campaign, to raise students’ awareness of their right in working life.

Additional information:

Eveliina Heinäluoma, Executive Board Member (working life), tel. +35844 906 5002, eveliina.heinaluoma(at)syl.fi

1 March 2012

The prolonging of working careers has become the national number one subject of discussion. People are discussing how to prolong work careers and solutions to ensure pensions for future generations also.

SYL, The Finnish Centre for Pensions (ETK) and The Finnish Pension Alliance TELA will arrange a tour on the theme of ”Work pension 20X0 – who will reap the benefits?” The tour will visit four university cities: Jyväskylä, Tampere, Turku, and Helsinki. There will be a panel discussion in each city in April–May. The events are to be realised in co-operation with the local student unions and will be open to all with an interest in the topic.

Additional information:

Eveliina Heinäluoma, Executive Board Member (working life), tel. +35844 906 5002, eveliina.heinaluoma(at)syl.fi

29.2.2012 / Finnish Student Sports Federation (OLL)

On Thursday 23 February, Finnish Student Sports Federation (OLL) board founded the planned working group on organisational development. The board also confirmed its composition.

In accordance with proposals from SAMOK and SYL, the following persons were appointed to the group:

Anni Vesa, LYY

Osku Nykänen, MAMOK

Thomas Lindqvist, SHS

 Jenni Tuomainen, SAMOK

Lauri Jurvanen, SYL

Additionally, in accordance with the plan of work, the group also includes the following:

Janne Pakarinen, Chairperson of the Committee of Sports Sectors

Hilkka Laitinen, OLL

Lotte Uutinen, OLL

The working group will be summoned to meet at the end of March/start of April. It will then organise and decide on more precise schedules and work methods. In accordance with OLL’s plan of work, the objective of the group is to create a model for steering OLL, to chart OLL’s core areas of activity, as well as to develop member communication between SAMOK, SYL, and the student unions.

Additional information:

Lauri Jurvanen, Executive Board Member, SYL, tel. +358 44 906 5001, lauri.jurvanen(at)syl.fi

Lotte Uutinen, President, OLL, tel. +358 44 780 0211, lotte.uutinen(at)oll.fi

The Student Union of the University of Helsinki is looking for a CHIEF EDITOR FOR YLIOPPILASLEHTI STUDENT MAGAZINE for a fixed-term employment for the period 1 Aug 2012-31 May 2014

The chief editor is responsible for publishing, editing and content of the magazine and acts as the head of the editorial office. The chief editor assembles the editorial staff. The chief editor’s salary is in accordance with the collective agreement of the Union of Journalists in Finland.

Ylioppilaslehti will have its 100th anniversary during the chief editor’s term of office. We hope that the applicant has the ability to lead the magazine during the anniversary year and the will to participate in the long-term development of the magazine.

Personally signed applications addressed to the Student Union with attachments and article samples (max. 5) must be submitted to HYY’s Central Office (Mannerheimintie 5 A, 2nd floor, 00100 Helsinki) no later than Thursday, 4 March, 3pm. Please write “chief editor” on the envolope. Applications will not be returned.

Applicants invited for the interview will be informed on Friday, 10 March. Personal interviews will be held on Wednesday, 14 March at 5pm. Book the whole night for the interview. The Representative Council will elect the chief editor at its meeting on 21 March when the interviewees are expected to make a brief presentation speech. The meeting will start at 5pm.

For further information, please contact Chief Editor of Ylioppilaslehti Maria Ruuska, tel. 050 339 3033 and Chair of the Ylioppilaslehti Publication Ltd Board AnnSophie Hokkanen, tel. 050 336 0406

2.2.1012 / FSHS

All FSHS health centres will offer a callback service starting from 1 February or 8 February 2012. The service is available from 1 February at Helsinki, Espoo, Turku, Rauma, Vaasa, Tampere, Hämeenlinna, Seinäjoki and Jyväskylä.

The launch date for Kuopio, Lappeenranta, Joensuu, Savonlinna, Oulu, Kajaani and Rovaniemi is 8 February.

To read more about the callback service visit the FSHS website at http://www.yths.fi.

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.
http://www.facebook.com/SYL.FIN
http://www.twitter.com/SYL_FIN

Declaration from the General Assembly of the National Union of University Students in Finland
Hyvinkää 19 November 2011

The General Assembly of the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) wants to put Finnish know-how first. The Government Programme defines as an objective to make Finland the most competent nation in the world by 2020. This is a grand objective, but can’t be achieved by merely churning out degrees. Given that, for instance, about 60 per cent of a generation in South Korea receives higher education, we cannot compete on numbers. Graduates in Finland are not at the top of their fields because there are many of them but because their knowledge, skills and competences are excellent.

SYL’s General Assembly finds that the emphasis for developing Finnish higher education should continue to focus on securing equal opportunities to education and achieving ambitious knowledge goals. Diverse degrees of good quality and high-quality research are the best ways to promote Finland’s competitiveness.

The 2011–2016 development plan for education and research clearly indicates a perspective where the labour market dictates how many are educated in a particular subject area. In this aspect, one should not blindly trust the direction of the labour market if we want to stick to the objective of becoming the most competent nation. Knowledge creates new jobs and opportunities that do not yet exist. It would not be the first time that Finland becomes the leading edge thanks to job opportunities stemming from new, fresh ideas. Higher education creates abilities to change the labour market, and not just follow and satisfy its need. Without diverse, broad, and qualitative education, we are just the most labour market-focused people in the world – not the most competent or creative.

Finland has excellent, as of yet untapped, opportunities to develop knowledge. Development work requires new modus operandi in teaching, willingness for co-operation in political decision making, as well as resources and support. Above all, it requires inspiring teachers, motivated students, and a will to reform and to recognise the societal value of education, not just the its cost. Making the finnish people the most competent nation in the world by 2020 is an ambitious objective, and the student movement strongly supports it.

The National Union of University Students (SYL)

Katri Korolainen-Virkajärvi    Matti Parpala
President             Secretary General

Additional information: Social Officer Suvi Eriksson
E-mail addresses: firstname.lastname(at)syl.fi

For a better tomorrow for students

The National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) is Finland’s largest interest and service organisation for university students. SYL represents about 135,000 students. SYL’s objective is to promote overall student well-being, and the status of students in the university community and in society, as well as internationally.

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Press release 14 November 2011

The two-day General Assembly of the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) will be held at Hotel Rantasipi Sveitsi in Hyvinkää on 18–19 November. SYL represents all of Finland’s around 135,000 university students. The meeting elects the new President and executive board members of the union, and outlines its objectives and activities for the forthcoming year.

The General Assembly commences Friday at 10:00. Prime Minister Jyrki Katainen’s address will start at approximately 14:15. The meeting continues on Saturday at 9:30, and culminates in the election of SYL’s new President and executive board at around 17:00. After the formal part of the General Assembly, SYL and the student unions will together celebrate the successful campaign, in connection with last spring’s parliamentary elections, for linking the study grant to an index.

The General Assembly is the highest decision-making body of SYL, with representatives of all 17 university student unions in Finland. The student unions nominate a total of 145 delegates for the General Assembly, and all in all there are around three hundred persons present at the meeting. The statutory items on the agenda for the meeting include the plan of work and budget for 2012. The meeting is also expected to deal with, among other topics, SYL’s standpoint on developing the study loan and the objectives of the student movement in next year’s municipal elections. The present executive board proposes that the student movement should work in the municipal elections to make every university city a more genuine student-friendly place, where students are taken into account and actively included in municipal decision-making.

So far there are 10 candidates for the election of the 2012 executive board. Two candidates are running for President: Jarno Lappalainen from the Aalto University Student Union (AYY) and Jouni Markkanen from the Student Union of University of Tampere (Tamy). The other candidates for the executive board are:

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)
Aaro Häkkinen (Student Union of the University of Helsinki HYY)
Lauri Jurvanen (Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland ISYY)
Marina Lampinen (Student Union of the University of Helsinki HYY)
Kim Rantala (Student Union of the University of Oulu OYY)
Jan Rosenström (Student Union of the University of Helsinki HYY)

The media is very welcome on both days of the meeting to follow this yearly high point of student politics. The elections of officials will take place on Saturday afternoon and the media will be informed of the results as soon as possible thereafter. The preferred times for interviews are during lunch (Fri 12–13 and Sat 13–14) and after the conclusion of the assembly. For inquiries about interviews, please contact SYL’s Information Officer Riitta Käppi (riitta.kappi@syl.fi, tel. +358 41 515 2228).

The SYL General Assembly will be broadcast live online. The link to the live broadcast will be available during the meeting on http://www.syl.fi/liittokokous. The latest news from the General Assembly will also be continuously updated on SYL’s Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/SYL.FIN) and on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/SYL_FIN).

Additional information:

Secretary general Matti Parpala, tel. +358 41 515 2225, matti.parpala(at)syl.fi
President Katri Korolainen-Virkajärvi, tel. +358 44 906 5007, katri.korolainen-virkajarvi(at)syl.fi

The person easiest to get hold of during the actual meeting is Information Officer Riitta Käppi, +358 41 515 2228, riitta.kappi(at)syl.fi

The documents for the General Assembly (mainly in Finnish, partly also in Swedish) are available online: http://www.syl.fi/materiaalit/liittokokous/

For directions to the venue, see: http://www.rantasipi.fi/hotellit/sveitsi/en_GB/directions/

Press release 2 Nov 2011  / Aalto University Student Union

AYY’s representative council election ended today. The entire turnout was 31.0 %, which is 3,7 percentage points lower than in 2009. 28.5 % of the electorate used their vote in electronic voting and 2.5 % used their vote in the ballot voting. 4687 electors used their right to vote.

The coalitions of the electoral alliance Ratas, which won 14 seats, celebrated the election victory. They got 3 seats more that in the elections 2009. 2 candidates were elected to the Representative Council from the list of Aalto International Coalition which participated in the elections for the first time. Aalto International Coalition is part of Avainrengas electoral alliance which won a total of 12 seats in the Representative Council.

The vote-puller of the elections was Noora Lehtovaara from the electoral coalition Luova with 87 votes. Luova is a part of Jämerä electoral alliance which won a total of 12 seats in the representative council, which is the same as two years ago.

This year, there were 343 candidates in AYY’s elections. There were 19 electoral coalitions and four electoral alliances which included 17 electoral coalitions. Three candidates did not belong to any electoral coalition.

The Representative Council of 45 members will meet for the first time in November when it elects the chairperson for itself and appoints the person who will form the board for the next year.

Aalto University Student Union AYY is a service and benefit organisation for approximately 15,000 Aalto University students. AYY acts as the advocate of its members in academic and social affairs, in particular.  The Representative Council exercises the highest authority in the Student Union and decides, among other things, the Student Union’s budget and guiding principles of operation.

The preliminary election results are available at: http://ayy.fi/blog/2011/11/02/alustava-vaalitulos-sijaluvun-mukaan/

According to the preliminary election results, the distribution of seats in the Representative Council is as follows (change from 2009)

Avainrengas 12(-1)
Aalto International Coalition 2 (NEW)
Force Majeure  1 (-)
iThink 5 (-)
Kauppiksen Porvarit 1 (-1)
Sinivihreät 3 (-2)
Jämerä 12 (-)
Luova 5 (-)
Prosessiteekkarit 3 (-1)
Voltti 4 (+1)
Ratas 14 (+3)
Fakta 3 (+1*)
Konergia 5 (+2)
Nuori Akti 1 (-)
Polytekarna 3 (-)
Sateenkaari 2 (-)
Symbioosi 6 (-1)
Pro Arte 2 (-)
Punavihreät / The Green Left 4 (+1)
Oikea Aalto 1 (-1)

*The result of the Fakta coalition has been compared to the results of Veijo W and Pallas Athene coalitions in the 2009 elections.

The Central Election Committee will confirm the election results at its meeting on Friday, 4 Nov.

Further information:
Election Coordinator Sonja Virta, sonja.virta(at)ayy.fi, 050 520 9421
Chair of the Central Election Committee Janne Peltola, janne.peltola(at)ayy.fi, 050 520 9438

Press release 21 October 2011 / The Student Union of the University of Tampere (Tamy)

The Student Union of the University of Tampere (Tamy) nominates Economics student Jouni Markkanen as candidate for the position of the President of the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) for the year 2012. Jouni Markkanen is a 24-year-old fourth-year student of Marketing and has this year acted as the Vice-Chair of Tamy. In addition, he has gained experience in lobbying in the student delegation of Akava (Confederation of Unions for Professional and Managerial Staff in Finland) and the Finnish Association of Business School Graduates.

“Jouni is a brilliant visionary and a skillful lobbyist and will make an excellent president next year”, Tamy’s Chair Ilkka Tiensuu describes Markkanen.

In addition to his experience in lobbying and student union work, Jouni has also attained distinction in working life and gained extensive management experience, making human-centric management one of his key strengths.

“Being in charge of a diverse entity requires that you know how to listen, give encouragement and share responsibility. The best way to achieve this is to use a style of management that is motivating, positive and keeps the level of performance and atmosphere high in all of SYL”, Jouni Markkanen sums up.

Jouni believes the 2012 hotspots for the student movement will be the local elections and the long-term development of the movement itself. After the parliamentary elections, the year 2012 presents an excellent opportunity to rethink old policies and to streamline the cooperation between students. And all the while, the student movement must keep in mind that it functions as the voice of the young generation and bring forward visions that reach well beyond the next parliamentary elections.

Jouni has the full support of the student union actives as well as a wide range of other people, including Mr Sture Fjäder, the former Head of Lobbying in the Finnish Association of Business School Graduates, and Mr Kari Neilimo, Chair of the Tampere University Board.

“Jouni is a very emphatic and understanding person, knows how to listen. He is also highly determined, and I can warmly recommend him for the position of the President of the National Union of University Students in Finland,” Mr Neilimo says.

To learn more about Jouni and his ideas, visit: http://www.jounimarkkanen.fi

For more information, contact:
Secretary General Kati Rajala, tel. 050 361 2854, paasihteeri(at)tamy.fi

Heikki Soininen, tel. 050 483 9311, heikki.soininen(at)uta.fi

Jouni Markkanen, tel. 040 542 9514, jouni.markkanen(at)tamy.fi

Press Release, 19 October 2011 / the Student Union of the University of Helsinki

The subject organisations strengthened their position in the Representative Council of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki. The electoral alliance of subject organisations HYAL received 21 seats. In addition to HYAL, HELP (the groups of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and law students as well as Tsemppi Group of international students) also increased its number of seats.  They now have 10 seats. Keskeiset was the only political group who improved their position and have now two seats.

The Student Nations (Osakunnat) lost two seats and now have 10. HYYn Vihreät, KD-Opiskelijat and Svenska Nationer och Ämnesföreningar  SNÄf  lost one seat each. Independent Left, Leijonat and Opiskelijademarit maintained their seats.

9 687 students out of the 28.000 students of the University of Helsinki voted in the elections. The turnout percentage was 34.3. Two years ago, 35.2 per cents of the students voted which was the best since 1993 when the turnout percentage was 36.5. Despite the significant reduction in the number of candidates (980 candidates in the elections in 2009, 617 candidates in 2011), the turnout percentage remained on a fairly good level.

HYY’s Representative Council Elections were organised on 18-19 October as traditional ballot box elections on the four campuses of the University of Helsinki and additionally in the offices of the University of Helsinki in Lahti and Vaasa. Altogether 617 students ran as candidates. The Representative Council of 60 members is the highest decision-making body of the Student Union.

The preparatory election results are available on: http://s3.amazonaws.com/hyy-vaalit/tulos-alustava.txt (candidates marked with an asterisk were elected to the Representative Council).

The preparatory distribution of seats (change to the elections of 2009):
HYAL 21 (+3)
Osakuntien suuri vaalirengas: 10 (-2)
Maailmanpyörä / Sitoutumaton vasemmisto – Obunden vänster – Independent Left: 6 (-) Maailmanpyörä / HYY:n Vihreät: 5 (-1)
HELP: 10 (+2)
Oikea suunta/ Leijonat 1, 2 & 3: 3 (-)
Oikea suunta / Keskeiset: 2 (+1)
Oikea suunta/ KD-opiskelijat: 0 (-1)
Opiskelijademarit (Socialdemocratic students):1 (-)
Svenska Nationer och Ämnesföreningar  SNÄf: 2 (-1)
Liberaalinen vaaliliitto: 0
Piraatit: 0
Perussuomalainen vaaliliitto (The Finns Party): 0

The Central Board of Elections will confirm the official election results after the vote count audit on 27 October.  The term for the new Representative Council will begin on 1 December 2011. This time, the electoral term of the elected Representative Council is exceptionally only 1 year. This is to ensure that in the future the elections will not be arranged in the same year as the University’s administrative elections.

Further information:
Secretary General Katariina Styrman, tel. 0400 816 426, paasihteeri(at)hyy.fi

Chairperson of the Central Board of Elections Maija Jäppinen, tel, 050 414 7986, maija.jappinen(at)helsinki.fi.

The National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) will report about the national election results. Other student unions will arrange their elections later in the autumn.

HYY is a corporation consisting of students and subject to public law. It operates as a benefit, service and civic organisation for its members and as a central and service organisation for the approximately 250 organisations operating within it. The HYY Representative Council decides on the use of the Student Union’s property and its significant operational policies.
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Press release, 13 October 2011 / the Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY)

In the Representative Council Elections of the Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY) on 18-19 November 2011, the highest decision-making body of the Student Union, the Representative Council of 60 members, will be elected.

The advance voting of two days was organised this week and it ended today on Thursday, 13 October, 5pm. 2319 persons voted in advance which is approximately 8,2 per cent of those entitled to vote. Entitled to vote are all HYY members registered for attendance meaning approximately 28,000 students at the University of Helsinki.

The number of votes in the advance voting was a bit better than the record result from the year 2007, when 2169 persons voted in advance and the advance voting percentage was 6,7. In the Representative Council Elections of 2009, the advance voting percentage was 5,8. It is more common that students are more enthusiastic to vote on the actual voting days.

On the actual voting days on 18-19 October, you can use your vote on the four campuses of the University of Helsinki at altogether 12 voting stations and additionally in the offices of the University of Helsinki in Lahti and Vaasa.

The Representative Council Elections have 617 candidates this year. This is almost three hundred candidates less than in the previous elections of 2009 (908 candidates). Altogether 10 coalitions have set candidates. The exact numbers of candidates are available on the election site of the Student Union on hyy.fi/vaalit.

The election results will be clear at the election night party at the Old Student House (Mannerheimintie 3) late on Wednesday night on 19 October. The election night party will begin at 6pm and everyone is welcome.

The term for the new Representative Council will begin on 1 December 2011. This time, the electoral term of the elected Representative Council is exceptionally only 1 year. This is to ensure that in the future the elections will not be arranged in the same year as the University’s administrative elections.

The turnout percentage of the Representative Council Elections in the HYY elections has been higher on the 21st century than the national turnout percentage.

HYY’s Representative Council Elections (turnout percentage)
2001: 28,92
2003: 31,56
2005: 34,88
2007: 33,2
2009: 35,2
2011: the result will be clear late on Wednesday night on 19 October

National turnout percentage of the Representative Council Elections
2001: 27,5
2003: 29,7
2005: 26,1
2007: 27,6
2009: 28,4

HYY will report about the results of its Representative Council Elections on Wednesday night right after the preparatory election results are clear. The Central Board of Elections will confirm the election results after the Vote Count Audit Committee has completed counting on 27 October 2011. The Representative Council Elections are organised almost in all Finnish student unions every second autumn. The National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) will report about the national election results.

For further information on the HYY elections please contact Secretary General Katariina Styrman, paasihteeri(at)hyy.fi, 0400 816 426 and Communication Officer Jenni Heikkinen, tiedottaja(at)hyy.fi, 050 543 6909

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HYY is a corporation consisting of students and subject to public law. It operates as a benefit, service and civic organisation for its members and as a central and service organisation for the approximately 250 organisations operating within it. The HYY Representative Council decides on the use of the Student Union’s property and its significant operational policies.
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The Development of International Student’s Particiaption in Student Union Activities 03.10.2011 [tyy-vpj] 03.10.2011 (Koko päivä) TYY has written in several of it’s policy documents that supervision on interests of the international students should be developed and that international students should be encouraged to participate in the student union activities.

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The Development of International Student’s Particiaption in Student Union Activities

The Development of International Student’s Particiaption in Student Union Activities 03.10.2011 [tyy-vpj] 03.10.2011 (Koko päivä) TYY has written in several of it’s policy documents that supervision on interests of the international students should be developed and that international students should be encouraged to participate in the student union activities. Eventhough constant efforts on enhancing international affairs have been made, there has been no rapid change with the participation of international students

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The Development of International Student’s Particiaption in Student Union Activities