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SUPPLEMENTARY APPLICATION FOR STUDENT REPRESENTATIVE POSITIONS IN THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE UNIVERSITY OF VAASA

The Student Union of the University of Vaasa is seeking student representatives for the current term from January 1, 2024, to December 31, 2025.

We are looking for:

• One (1) member and one (1) deputy member for the Management Group of the School of Marketing and Communication
• ​One (1) member and one (1) deputy member for the Language Centre management group
• One (1) deputy member for the Education Council

What is expected of a student representative?

To be eligible as a student representative, you must be a member of the student union and enrolled as a present student at the university. To be eligible for a school management group, you must have right to study in the school in question.

Applicants are preferred to have knowledge of the university, previous experience as a student representative in administration, or other forms of university involvement, as well as experience in organizational activities, particularly within student organizations. The application should demonstrate motivation and commitment to the role of a student representative. The selection of student representatives is handled by the Student Union's selection committee for student representatives, and the final decision is made by the Student Union's Representative Council.

Student representatives are expected to be proactive and maintain close communication with the student union.

What are the benefits of being a student representative?

Serving as a student representative offers several benefits, including:

• Earning ECTS credits for the role (1-10 credits);
• Gaining an understanding of university operations, its societal role, and its procedures;
• Building networks within the academic community;
• Receiving training on university functions

How do I apply to become a student representative?

Applications for student representative positions must be submitted via this form by March 6. You can apply for multiple bodies using the same application. After the application period, applicants may be asked to supplement their application and/or attend an interview. Possible interview dates will be arranged with the applicant after the application period has ended.

For more information:

Elli Uusi-Kokko  
Specialist in student interests  
044 324 8961 
eva@vyy.fi

School Management Groups

The management groups at the University of Vaasa are multi-member bodies responsible for decisions within their respective schools. The management group includes representatives from the teaching staff, students, and other staff. As a member of the management group, you have the opportunity to influence the activities of the school and ensure that the students' voices are heard.

Each school has its own management group, and their tasks include, according to the University of Vaasa's regulations: 

• Monitoring the quality of the school's operations and making proposals for its improvement;
• Reviewing and commenting on the school's operational plan, budget, and staffing plan as needed;
• Reviewing and commenting on the criteria for student selection and the number of students admitted to programs under the school's responsibility;
• Reviewing and commenting on the structures and curricula of the programs under the school's responsibility.

Language Centre Management Group

The Language Centre of the University of Vaasa specialises in a wide range of language and communication teaching and communication. The Language Centre is a separate department whose mission is to provide language and communication studies for students in all fields of study, as required by the university's degree regulations and working life. The Language Centre has a management team made up of representatives of the University's schools, language teachers and students. The Steering Group is chaired by the Vice-Rector for Education. The representatives of the schools are the programme directors and the language teachers represent the different languages. The tasks of the Language Centre's Management Group include.

• Discussing curricula for language and communication studies
• Promote the development of language and communication studies in cooperation with academic schools
• To deal with the action plan, including the staffing plan and the budget
• To make proposals and give opinions on the development of the teaching of practical language skills, communication skills and cultural awareness at the university

Education Council

The Education Council is a governing body defined in the university's regulations, responsible for the quality of education. The Education Council's tasks include:

• Deciding on the criteria for student selection;
• Monitoring student admissions and the achievement of educational goals;
• Supervising the evaluation of theses and determining the degree requirements for university programs;
• Approving the structures of education programs;
• Addressing matters related to students' legal protection and providing statements on these issues;
• Handling appeals related to studies or students' legal protection.

The Student Union of The University of Vaasa is looking for event team members

Are you interested in organizing events and would like to participate in planning projects for the student union? Now is your chance, because VYY is looking for positive and energetic people for the Event Team! 

The Event Team operates with VYY’s board member responsible for events. The team participates in brainstorming and creating VYY’s events. The team members also get to gain experiences in event related communication and business relations. In addition, the Event Team assists in the implementation of VYY’s projects.

Team members are not required to have previous experience in organising events. The most important thing is motivation and enthusiasm for organising events and for the activities of the Student Union.

In the Event Team, you get involved in the activities of the Student Union and you can gain experience that is useful for tutoring or working on VYY’s board for example. As a part of the Event Team, you will get also other benefits to the events and you’ll be able to attend VYY's actives thanking event.

Apply by filling out the Google Forms by February 26, 2025! All applicants will be contacted after the application period.

More information 

Aleksi Rönkä
Events
aleksi.ronka@vyy.fi
044 324 8967
 

VYY recruits new project workers every year to organize various student events. As a project worker, you get valuable event organization experience and new contacts.

The Contact recruitment fair is the biggest interdisciplinary recruitment fair in Ostrobothnia and it gathers the best employers and the most potential employees to the University of Vaasa Campus. The fair is open to all the higher education students in Vaasa.

The Boom City Appro is a student festival for all the students in the Vaasa area, where your mission is to collect stamps from official appro bars to your pub crawl passport, appropass.

The Student Union’s Anniversary ball is a distinguished academic celebration. Anniversary ball is  distinguished academic party. During the anniversary ball, VYY distributes the traditional acknowledgement awards to individuals who have earned them through their work for the Student Union.

In the next Representative Council election of 2023, 30 members of the Representative Council and deputy members are elected for a two-year term starting on 1.1.2024.

FAQ – what is the Representative Council?

What is the Representative Council?

The Representative Council (also known as edustajisto or edari) is a group of ordinary university students who decides on the most important matters that concern the Student Union and all its members. The VYY Representative Council has 30 members. The council is elected once every two years in an election where any VYY member may enter as a candidate and vote. All members also have the right to come and observe the council’s meetings, which are held about once a month from September to May.

What difference can I make in the Representative Council?

The Representative Council decides on a variety of things, ranging from the membership fee amount, Student Union rules, action plan and budget to the election of the Board and choosing a Secretary General. The annual action plan directs the activities of the Board and staff, determining what the Student Union will use their resources on.

Who can enter the election as a candidate?

All VYY members who have registered as attending at the University of Vaasa and paid the Student Union membership fee! You can either start your own electoral coalition, join an existing electoral coalition or run as a non-partisan candidate. The choice is yours.

How do I enter the election as a candidate and what election documents do I need to fill out?

To enter the election as a candidate you must fill out the Declaration of Candidacy form. All election documents are available at the Student Union service office. If you have any questions concerning how to fill out the Declaration of Candidacy or any other documents, do not hesitate to contact the proxy of your electoral coalition or the Student Union staff. In fact, if you have any questions at all concerning the election in general, you can come visit the Student Union service office or send email to the staff.

What is a council group?

The Representative Council has 30 members. A majority of the members belong in a council group. Groups are usually formed by people with a common cause, such as a field of study or a political stance.

Who can create an electoral coalition?

Any VYY member can create an electoral coalition.

Why should I vote in the election?

Because the Student Union decision making is all about you! It is important that members use their right to vote because that is how we make the Student Union do the things that you and other members want it to do. The Representative Council election of 2017 it was also the first time you can vote online, so even if you are not on campus or even in Vaasa during the election days you can still use your vote!

Follow the VYY social media channels and website, and stay informed of the election process in autumn 2023!

The Student Union is a democratic organization and every other year its members elect its highest decision-making body, the Representative Council. For more information, see the Representative Council Election section below.

The Representative Council chooses the Executive Board for each calendar year. The application period for the board is opened each autumn.

In accordance with the University Act, students have representation in the university decision-making bodies. The administration student representatives (also referred to as HallOpEds) in the administrations of the University, VOAS and FSHS are elected every other year. We also occasionally have application periods for administration student representative positions mid-term, as student representatives are relieved of their duties for instance due to graduation.

You can join the committees without an application process by simply attending the meetings, which are open to all students. Information about the meetings is announced through the VYY communication channels.

All VYY members are welcome to all our events. Check out the events section for more information.

If you have any questions, ideas or feedback regarding the Student Union or its activities, please do not hesitate to contact members of the Representative Council, VYY Board members or Student Union staff!

More information about the institutions and student organizations:

Representative council
Executive board 
Administration student representatives 
Committees 
Student Organizations within VYY