Helsingin Yliopiston Väitöskirjatutkijat (HYVÄT)

HYVÄT and the University of Helsinki are looking for doctoral student representatives for the Doctoral Programmes and the Doctoral Schools for the term 2022-2023. There are two spots on the steering groups of each Doctoral Program and one spot on the steering groups of each Doctoral School. The results of the call will be published in December 2021.

Being a student representative is a rewarding experience on many levels and an opportunity to improve the doctoral education near you. You do not have to be a board-work professional to apply – interest and willingness are all that is required. We hope that the student representatives are available for the full term and able to attend meetings (roughly 10 per year) but do not be discouraged from applying if you can only serve for part of the term as special elections to fill the spots can always be arranged later on.

Student representatives act as a “voice of the students” in the steering groups. Although this might sound intimidating, the experience of being a doctoral student is enough experience to succeed in the role. The only qualifications are a willingness to participate in the discussion taking place during the steering group meetings. As a student representative you will be an equal member of the group but with the unique qualification of actually being a student.

The role a student representative takes in the program varies highly depending on the interests, skills, and wishes of the particular representative. In addition to representing the interests of the students in the meetings, the representatives can, for example:

• Hold events to foster community spirit within the doctoral program.
• Advocate for the students interests outside of the meetings.
• Act as link between their own doctoral program and the student representatives in other doctoral schools and programs.
• Bring forward new ideas for improving the quality of the doctoral student experience.

… but all of this is optional and merely a suggestion – you can decide for yourself what your goals and investment will be! And remember, HYVÄT is here to help you if you run into any trouble during your term!

If you are interested in being a student representative for your program, fill in the application here: https://elomake.helsinki.fi/lomakkeet/114259/lomake.html The form closes on 26 November 2021 at 23.59, so act quickly!

You can also read about previous representatives experiences on serving as a student representative at the HYVÄT website:

https://blogs.helsinki.fi/phd-association/serving-as-a-phd-representative-in-a-doctoral-programme/

For more information, please email the current HYVÄT chair Tommi Mäklin (contact information at University of Helsinki’s website: https://researchportal.helsinki.fi/en/persons/tommi-m%C3%A4klin)

The HYVÄT spring meeting will be held remotely via Zoom on 31st March 2021 at 18.00. As members of HYVÄT, you are warmly invited attend. The spring meeting’s agenda is mandated by the organization’s bylaws, and can be found below in both English and Finnish.

In the meeting it will also be possible to elect new members to the HYVÄT board of 2021 — if you are interested, please contact the HYVÄT chair Tommi Mäklin (tommi.maklin ‘at’ helsinki.fi) before the meeting.

The Zoom meeting information has been sent to the HYVÄT members via email.

HYVÄT Spring Meeting 31 March 2021 at 18.00 agenda

1. Opening the meeting
2. Legitimacy of the meeting
3. Approving the agenda
4. Electing chairperson for the meeting
5. Electing secretary for the meeting
6. Electing two scrutinisers and two tellers for the meeting
7. Annual report, financial statement, and auditors’ report from the year 2020
8. Approving the financial statement and discharging the accountables from liability
9. Electing new board members or officers (possible)
10. Other matters
11. Closing the meeting

HYVÄT ry:n kevätkokous 31.3.2021 klo 18.00, esityslista

1. Kokouksen avaus
2. Kokouksen laillisuus ja päätösvaltaisuus
3. Asialistan hyväksyminen kokouksen työjärjestykseksi
4. Kokouksen puheenjohtajan valinta
5. Kokouksen sihteerin valinta
6. Kahden pöytäkirjantarkistajan ja ääntenlaskijan valinta
7. Toimintakertomus, tilinpäätös ja toiminnantarkastajien lausunto vuodelta 2020
8. Tilinpäätöksen hyväksyminen ja vastuuvapauden myöntäminen
9. Uusien hallituksen jäsenten valinta (mahdollinen)
10. Muut esille tulevat asiat
11. Kokouksen päättäminen

In the Autumn General meeting on Mon 30th of November 2020, members of HYVÄT elected the board to handle the association’s actions in 2021.

Chairperson: Tommi Mäklin

Other board members (roles to be decided later):
Karina Barreiro
Cecilia Berardo
Ville Jantunen
Huini Li
Christopher Petrie
Matilda Mela
Salla Eeva

You can reach the HYVÄT board via email at phd-board’@`helsinki.fi

HYVÄT has issued a joint statement with the The Helsinki University Association of Researchers and Teachers, HUART ry about the University of Helsinki’s decision to charge grant-funded researchers rent for office spaces during the state of emergency when the offices are unavailable. HYVÄT and HUART demand that rent charged for the period when the offices were unavailable should be returned to the researchers or — even better — the practice of charging rent abolished altogether.

Read more about the situation in a blog post by Julia von Boguslawski and Kersti Tainio on the HUART webpage or directly from the joint statement (in Finnish).