University of Helsinki
Students are making the revolution at the University of Helsinki live on! This revolution, however, is not carried out by demonstrating dissidents, but from the inside, with students as important and valued members of university administration. Read on and be part of the revolution!
At the University of Helsinki, as in all Finnish universities, students are represented on the board of the university, and decide on the strategic goals or budget of the university. Students are also represented on departmental and faculty levels, as well as on the university collegium. Faculty councils decide on matters such as the budget of the faculty, degree requirements, approval of theses, and on many other matters that influence studying and student life within a particular faculty. The university collegium discusses these issues on the university level, and for instance elects the university board.
The student representatives for all these administrative units will be selected through an election organised by the student union November 3 – 4.
In Finnish universities representatives in university administration are elected through a tripartite system, which means that all members of the university community are eligible to either run for a position, or vote within one of the following groups: 1) professors, 2) other staff (the so-called mid-group), and 3) us, students. This system, where professors select the professors, and students select the students, ensures that all different members of the university community have a representative and a voice in university administration. Students are selected every two years, whereas professors and other staff hold election every four years. This year students only are holding elections.
The tripartite system, and the selection of student representatives by the student union is defined in the Finnish Universities Act, which makes Finland one of the countries where students are the most influential in all university matters, on all levels from department councils and working groups to the board of the university. Student representatives are full members of the decision-making councils, and in both discussions and votes their opinions are as important as those of the staff members’.
The students holding the administrative positions are called ‘hallopeds’ (short for ‘hallinnon opiskelijaedustaja’, student representative in university administration in Finnish). A halloped represents all the students of the unit, and there are around 350 hallopeds altogether within the University of Helsinki. Especially now as the Finnish government has decided on massive budget cuts on education, and the University of Helsinki faces enormous challenges due to these budget cuts, it is vital that the student voice rings loud and clear all through the university.
The elections take place in November, and candidates are being recruited by student organisations of the faculties until October 15. The faculty organisations set up their candidate lists, but any student is eligible to run so long as they are registered as attending, have a study right in the unit in question, and are fluent in one of the administrative languages (Finnish or Swedish). The right to vote in these elections is also defined by the unit in which one studies. There can be as many candidates as there are students in the unit, and actual elections are organised whenever there are more candidates than representative positions.
For information on the elections, visit the website of the student union! Student representatives wield a considerable amount of power in matters concerning your studies and your student life, so if elections are organised in your faculty, vote!
The revolution lives on in between elections, as well. Student representatives for working groups on study affairs, recruitment, and around many other more specific matters are formed in between elections. The selection of representatives for these groups is usually organised by faculty organisations, so if you’re interested in a position, contact your faculty organisation! Remember also that hallopeds are there for you, so if you have an idea for improvement or a problem with something, you can always contact the students representing you in university administration, and see what you can do together! A revolution doesn’t have to be obvious to be able to make things happen!