Organization

Organization structure of the Student Union as a picture
The Student Union of the University of Vaasa organizational model relies on traditional representative democracy, where members choose their own representatives in the highest decision-making body elections, in which all those who are eligible can enter as candidates for election into the Representative Council. The Representative Council, in turn, elects the executive body, the student union Executive Board, to represent them and to make decisions.
Get to know VYY's organization structure by clicking the boxes below.

Representative council
The highest decision-making body of the Student Union of the University of Vaasa is a 30-member council, whose members are elected for a two year term. All VYY members have the right to vote in Representative Council elections, that is, all the university basic degree students as well as those exchange and post-graduate students who are registered as attending and have paid the Student Union fee.
The Representative Council determines the Student Union’s strategy as well as, among other things, the amount of the membership fee and the action plan. The Representative Council also appoints the Executive Board and chooses the Secretary General.
Meetings of the Representative Council are open to all VYY members and the Representative Council meets about once a month throughout the academic year.
Chairperson of the representative council
The chairperson of the representative council has the highest position of trust in the Student Union. Their duty is to lead the representative council meetings. In case you have questions about the council, please contact the Chairman of the Representative Council or the Secretary General.
Representative council of term 2022-2023
The chair of the representative council 2022: Tuomas Koivistoinen (Warranttilaiset). Their email is epj@vyy.fi.
The Representative Council groups’ numbers of seats and their chairpersons’ names for the term 2022-2023
- Warranttilaiset, seats, group leader
- Unioni, seats, group leader
- Tuttilaiset, seats, group leader
- Kampusporvarit, seats, group leader
- Punavihreä Allianssi, 1 seat, group leader
Executive board
The Executive Board is responsible for operative control of the Student Union of the University of Vaasa. The Board consists of 6-10 members elected by the Representative Council. Members of the Board are working together with the hired in-house staff of the University.
In addition to supervision of student interests, board members work on culture and leisure issues as well as business relations tasks. The Board intends to ensure that every student at the University could contribute to their studies flexibly and at a reasonable pace and take care of themselves in their free time. The Executive Board also chooses the VYY staff.
The Executive Board meets approximately once a week throughout the school year.
In case you have any questions about the executive board, please contact the Chair of the Board or the Secretary General.
Administration student representatives
Administration student representatives (abbreviated into HallOpEds, from ‘hallinnon opiskelijaedustajat’) play an important role in decision-making at the university and the schools. Their mission is to represent the students’ points of view, all the while taking into account the interests of education and research in general. In addition to decision-making, the tasks include the preparation and promotion of dialogue within the Student Union, students associations and among students, as well as reporting for and communication with the above-mentioned decision-making entities after the decision-making process. The hallopeds represent the entire Student Union and all students, providing efficient advocacy for matters that are important to students. The decisions that are made by the University’s governing bodies affect students in particular.
VYY’s current administration student representatives and their deputies are listed below.
If you are interested in becoming a halloped, please check the official Student Union notice board at the VYY office, our e-mail newsletters and our website for vacancies and apply for the positions as they open. If you have any questions regarding student representative work, please contact the Specialist in Students Interests.
The Student Union’s Representative Council elects all administrative student representatives.
Administration student representatives in the University of Vaasa and interest groups
After each meeting, one of the hallopeds that were present fills out the halloped report form regarding matters relevant to students.
University of Vaasa Board (1.1.2022-31.12.2023)
The highest decision-making body of the University of Vaasa is the Board, which is selected by the University Collegium. The University of Vaasa Board has nine members, five of whom are from outside the university and four from within the university community.
Actual member |
Sandroos Aleksi |
University Collegium (1.1.2022-31.12.2023)
The University Collegium consists of elected members of the university community. The collegium has 15 members who represent professors, teaching staff, researchers, other staff and students. The University Collegium selects the members of the university Board.
Actual members | Personal deputy members |
McBreen Jaber | Malinen Joona |
Nieminen Mikko | Rahim Dariush |
Tyynismaa Lili | Karppinen Laura |
Uusi-Kokko Elli | Nikula Elmo |
Vuori Vappu | Ursin Eevi |
SCHOOL MANAGEMENT GROUPS
School of Accounting and Finance (1.1.2022–31.12.2023)
Actual members | Personal deputy members |
Kurki Sofia | Pekki Niko |
Kanth Saana | Valtanen Mikko |
Sjöblom Joonas | Näsman Sebastian |
School of Marketing and Communication (1.1.2022–31.12.2023)
Actual members | Personal deputy members |
Hinssa Viivi | Alasuutari Sara |
Ripatti Wiktoria | Leveälahti Aino |
Tyynismaa Lili | Ursin Eevi |
School of Management (1.1.2022–31.12.2023)
Actual members | Personal deputy members |
Karppinen Laura | Miettinen Henri |
Uusi-Kokko Elli | Lehtinen Siiri |
Vuori Vappu | Said Sumaya |
School of Technology and Innovations (1.1.2022–31.12.2023)
Actual members | Personal deputy members |
Kalliovalkama Roosa | Veteläinen Akseli |
McBreen Jaber | Haakana Roni |
Tallgren Vilja | Koskinen Ada |
The Council of Education (1.1.2022-31.12.2023)
The University has a Council of Education, which is the administrative body responsible for the quality of education. The council is chaired by the Vice-Rector and includes one representative from each of the Schools, as well as nine other representatives of the University community and their personal deputy members.
Actual members | Personal deputy members |
Vakkilainen Miika | Ojala Aurora |
Koivisto Laura | Tyynismaa Lili |
Malinen Joona | Uusi-Kokko Elli |
The Council of Research
The University has a Council of Research, which is the administrative body responsible for the quality of research.
Actual member | Personal deputy member |
Karppinen Laura | Tyynismaa Lili |
Language Centre management group (1.1.2022–31.12.2023)
Actual members | Personal deputy members |
Karppinen Laura | Tyynismaa Lili |
Ursin Eevi | Knuutila Cia-Maria |
Committees
Committees founded by the Executive Board are a part of VYY. Committees’ activities are open for all VYY members. Committees are led by members of the Executive Board in cooperation with the VYY secretaries. These committees are open and in many ways the best opportunity for VYY members to participate in and to influence the Student Union’s activities. Committees meet approximately four times per semester.
Committee of Student Interests
The Committee of Student Interests or EVVK (Edunvalvontavaliokunta) deals with a wide range of issues related to studying and student life. The discussion sessions are organized under the event name #UVA-ahistus, where you will have a chance to discuss with the board of VYY about current modern issues, like the development of campus, problems with studies and studying, services available at the campus, student housing, tuition fees, english-speaking services etc. Each discussional session has a selected theme. Information about the discussional sessions are given on a telegram-group #UVA-ahistus, and you may join it from here.