Whether you call it Edustajisto, Delegationen, or the Representative Council, this is a place where the decisions get made for all students at the University of Helsinki, and where you can have a real, direct impact!
The Representative Council
What Is It? | The Representative Council acts as the bridge between the Student Union of the University of Helsinki (HYY/HUS) and the student body as a whole. It is comprised of sixty elected students sitting for a two year term, coming from a range of different electoral groups (sometimes called ‘rings’). Some of these groups are linked to political parties, some are linked to student organisations, and some – like HYAL – are bound by a common interest.
What Does It Do? | Meeting roughly once a month, the Representative Council has a lot of power. One of the key jobs of the body is to elect the board of HYY, selecting the roughly 10 students who will sit on the board, dedicating much of their time to working for students over the coming year. However, HYY is more than just the board that runs it. One of the biggest jobs of the Representative Council is to agree the budget for the Union, and set the wider vision and general direction of the Student Union for the year ahead. The Representative Council is also elects people to various other critical positions, holds the Union’s board to account during the ‘Question Time’ before each meeting, and debates policy throughout the year.
How Does It Do It? | Within the Representative Council there are a number of sub-committees that one can be nominated to that help prepare documents, negotiate with other groups/blocks, and put questions on the table ready for the main meeting. In a way, it’s almost like a mini-version of Finland’s parliament, replicating some of the ways the country’s policies are made. For more, https://hyy.fi/en/student-union/our-organisation/representative-council/. Behind the scenes each electoral group operates in their own unique way, holding their own regular meetings and social events.
Getting Involved
Elections | To become a member of the Representative Council, you’ll need to put yourself forward for elections, and to put yourself forward for elections you’ll most likely want to find an electoral group to join. You might not need to win to have influence, as some runners up will become deputy members too. The elections are always a fun opportunity to meet some new people, gain some new perspectives, and put your view on the future of the Student Union out in the open!
Finding A Group | It’s wise to think about what’s important to you, what do you value. As mentioned, there’s a wide range of groups with a wide range of missions. Almost all groups will have an awesome team of dedicated volunteers to help you get involved, support your campaign, and connect you with people that might be able to help you further (afterall, it’s in the groups interest to get you elected too!).
Language Barrier? | It would be a lie to say it’s always smooth sailing if you don’t speak fluent Finnish, however, that should be no barrier to getting involved! Indeed, it’s only with more Swedish and English speakers that the Union will improve its second and third language offerings! Many of the groups have supported international students getting elected to the Representative Council, and during the monthly meetings of the Council translations services have traditionally been provided. In short, don’t be afraid if you’re not fluent in Finnish!
Other Ways To Get Involved | Elections not for you? Or didn’t get the result you hoped for after the election? No fear, at least at HYAL you’ll still be welcomed to join all regular HYAL meetings, even if you don’t have a vote at the Representative Council meeting. Many in HYAL might not even be standing for election, rather they could be gaining new skills by running electoral campaigns, they could be proactive alumni coming back to offer support, or they could just be present at group meetings to bring their point of view to the table. Not to mention, the best discussions often happen after the meetings in a social setting, and you’ll never be turned away from them!
HYAL
What Is HYAL | HYAL is not connected to a political party, nor is it tied to a single student group or faculty, rather HYAL is an electoral group committed to supporting all student organisations. Our priority is making sure that all the organisations – that so many students are a member of – get the support they need.
Why join HYAL | If you want to support a group that aims to be a bridge between the Student Union and the over 250 student organisations that exist in our University Community, HYAL could be the right place for you. Around the table at HYAL are a wide range of voices of many political colours, always making for a creative, critical, and productive set of discussions and policies. Aside from the day-to-day politics of the group, HYAL is also a wonderful place to develop skills you might not get to in your regular studies, meet people from all across the University, and make some contacts that could last you a lifetime.
Can International Students Join? | Yes! If you’re a student, you can join regardless of your background. HYAL has had international students involved in the group over the years, once even as a Deputy Chair of the group! We can’t promise everything will always be in English, but this is because we welcome everyone to share their thoughts and views in the language they feel most comfortable in. This said, we’re a huge community that’s always there to offer support, ad-hoc translations, and make opportunities as inclusive as possible.
How do I join? | If you know someone already involved, reach out and ask for some more information (we’re a friendly bunch). If not, sending an email to hallitus(at)hyal.fi is a good place to start and on matters about the elections Chief electoral officer sophie.nyyssonen(at)helsinki.fi. We really look forward to having you on board!