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27.01.2021

Changes in the Student Union – ISYY to Form Its Own Teams and a Conference of Student Chairs

In accordance with its action plan for 2020, ISYY has made changes to its organisational structure. With these changes, the existing Campus Boards and Sections will cease to exist on 1.4.2021. They will then be replaced by Teams and the Conferences of Student Chairs. In addition, the Campus Boards will be replaced by Campus Work Groups. 

Teams of ISYY

The purpose of Teams is to organise and plan activities on a local level closer to everyday membership of ISYY. Participating in Teams requires no prior experience or knowledge of the Student Union, with a stronger emphasis on practical activities. Teams offer a convenient and good opportunity to get involved in the Student Union’s activities, for example by participating in student advocacy work or in organising free-time events on the campuses. 

The purpose of a singular Team might be to organise a traditional student event for ISYY, or plan and execute different types of pop-up events in order to improve student wellbeing, international activities or employability prospects. Application period for the teams will open on 1st February 2021. 

The Representative Council of ISYY gave a mandate to its Executive Board to form teams in accordance with the new rules even before they come into effect.

Planned Teams for the beginning of the year are: 

• 1st of May Team, Joensuu
• 1st of May Team, Kuopio

The May Day Teams will be involved in organising the traditional May Day student festivities of ISYY as well as possibly developing new traditions while they’re at it.

• Savo-Karjala Team, both campuses

The Savonia-Karelia Team will be involved in organising the Savonia-Karelia excursion event, online, during the May Day season.

• Interest advocacy Team, both campuses 

The interest advocacy Team of ISYY will bring topics related to student advocacy closer to the everyday membership, for example by organising and carrying out events related to student interests. 

• Working life Team, both campuses 

The working life Team will plan the working life event week directed at the whole membership of ISYY.

Conferences of Student Chairs 

The Conferences of Student Chairs will bring together the Chairpersons of different Student Associations to exchange thoughts and news as well as agree on shared activities. 

Preparing for the changes in ISYY’s organisational structure was done primarily with the use of workshops in 2020. Campus Boards and Sections were able to make comments about the viability of the changes during the end of the spring semester.

The rule changes necessitated by this were, as stipulated by ISYY’s rules, approved in two consecutive meetings of the Representative Council on 29.10.2020 (meeting 6/2020) and 24.11.2020 (meeting 7/2020). The new rules will be presented to the rector Jukka Mönkkönen for formal approval in early spring. 

More Information:

Vesa Janhunen, Chairperson of the Executive Board, Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland, tel. 044 576 8404, puheenjohtaja(at)isyy.fi

Sanna Heinonen, Secretary General, Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland, tel. 044 576 8417, paasihteeri@isyy.fi