Board

The Board’s work mainly consists of meetings and preparatory tasks. The Board typically meets once a week, in addition to joint preparatory discussions, which take approx. 8 hours per week. Members may also hold meetings with their own sector teams, university management, volunteers, and external interest groups. Effective and efficient meetings require thorough preparation, which makes up the majority of the work.

The Board’s year includes monthly Representative Council meetings, where, among other topics, updates from the office and major student union policies are discussed. 

Representation and advocacy are major parts of the Board’s work. Presenting, representing, and promoting the interests of the student union at annual celebrations, student advocacy seminars, and meetings of the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) are essential responsibilities of the Board. 

The board meets during the week for board gatherings, where it updates each other on current issues or discusses joint projects.

The board holds two board meetings per week, where board members' or sector issues are presented and decided upon. The meetings also include preparatory discussions for future decisions.

Work meetings can be internal sector meetings or meetings with other stakeholders.

The duties of a board member may include, for example, working on their own projects and tasks, promoting the action plan, or planning other meetings. These tasks can be performed at any time during the board member's own working hours.

• Meeting fees is €1,230 / month. The compensation allows board members to work full-time on the board.  
• A generally accepted reason by the university for extending study time. The purpose is not to study full-time while serving on the Board.
• Right of residence in AYY housing is not reduced during the year on the Board.
• Work experience from management, negotiations and advocacy, for example
• Representative trips to seminars and annual celebrations, for example 

Board members are responsible for their own sectors, i.e. ”portfolios". Sector work has two aspects, on one hand, board members represent the Board within their sector teams, and on the other hand, they represent the sector teams on the Board. Portfolios cover different issues annually and are refined according to board members’ interests and plans. Therefore, the examples listed here should not be considered definitive. The Board also works collaboratively on topics related to AYY’s operations. However, board members representing a particular sector are often responsible for delivering presentations on those topics.

Vice Chair

Assisting the chair and the rest of the board; standing in for the chair when necessary.

Advocacy 

Education policy
Supervising and promoting students’ rights in the academic world and chairing the advocacy section consisting of volunteers (EduJory). Advocacy work is conducted within the university’s management teams and at the national level.

Social policy
Student wellbeing, health, sports, subsistence, and urban advocacy. Engaging in advocacy work and being responsible for cooperation with HSL and the City of Espoo, as well as for cooperation with Unisport, FSHS, and Finnish Student Sports Federation. 

Equity
Promoting equality and equity at AYY and Aalto University. Cooperating with Aalto University through monthly meetings and Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee (EDI). 

International affairs
Promoting international students’ interests and international affairs both within AYY and more broadly within Aalto University.

Sustainable development 
Developing ecological sustainability internally and in collaboration with the university.

Community and culture 

Volunteers
Ensuring the wellbeing of volunteers and providing adequate resources for them to serve in their positions. Serving as a link between volunteers and the office.

The board member responsible for volunteers will begin their work immediately after the board election in November with the recruitment of section chairs.

The new board member responsible for volunteers will work with their predecessor to interview section chair applicants between 25 Nov-2 Dec 2026.

Associations
Maintaining contact with associations, preparing approvals for the admission of new associations to the register, working on operating grants, and reviewing applications.

Neuvosto
Chairing the collective committee of subject association chairs, meeting with the Provost with the committee, activities with the Tampere Syndikaatti. 

Alumni 
Developing and facilitating the work of the Alumni Committee. Serving as a link between the Board and the Alumni Committee.

Corporate relations
Developing and maintaining the student union’s corporate relations. Communicating with partners and responding to cooperation inquiries. 

New students 
Planning and developing the orientation for new students and tutor training. Chairing the committee responsible for new students, and facilitating cooperation between the parties represented on the committee.

Communications 
Reflecting on and brainstorming AYY’s communication guidelines. Opportunity to plan and publish content.

Property and finance 

Facilities / services 
Developing and managing AYY’s rental facilities. Part of the service team, cooperating with community and real estate teams. 

Campus / Student centre
The person responsible for campus affairs acts as a liaison and advocate towards Aalto University Campus & Real Estate ACRE.  

Finances
Working with the CFO. Opportunity to participate in stakeholder meetings concerning the student union’s finances and assets. 

Properties
Working with the CFO and the property team. Representing the Board on the office’s internal property management team.  

Housing
Housing advocacy, HOAS cooperation, strategic development of AYY housing services. Cooperating with the housing team.

Rules of Procedure of the Board document states the following about the Board's duties:

The Board is responsible for exercising decision-making, administrative and executive powers in the student union in all matters which are not stipulated in the Student Union Constitution or other decrees to be addressed by the Representative Council and, in particular, the Board is responsible for:

1. directing the Student Union’s operations;
2. overseeing the administration and finances of the Student Union;
3. overseeing that the currently standing decrees, rules and other regulations are complied with
4. deciding upon matters regarding the finances or asset management of the student union;
5. preparing a proposal to the Representative Council on the membership fee of the student union;
6. preparing a proposal together with the Finance Board on the Student Union's budget to the Representative Council;
7. providing the annual report to the Representative Council for information;
8. signing the financial statement of the Student Union in accordance with the Accounting Act and presenting it to the Representative Council;
9. preparing the appointments of the Financial Director and the members of the Finance Board for the Representative Council;
10. preparing within its authority the matters emerging in Representative Council meetings;
11. implementing for its part the decisions of the Representative Council;
12. acting as the manager of the Executive Director;
13. deciding upon statements presented in the name of the Student Union;

14. representing the Student Union

• We recommend that you submit your application in multiple languages. The student union's official languages are Finnish and Swedish, but English is also an established and accessible language for communication within AYY.
• The application should be 1-2 pages long.
• You can attach a picture or pictures to your application.
• Include in your application: motivation, relevant experience, personal strengths and working methods, interests.
• As part of the CV, we recommend that you also include "Otaniemi CV", i.e. your experiences from the Aalto community and AYY's association field. 

• Get prepared and think of the interview as a regular job interview.
• However, the focus of the interview is on what kind of personality you are by yourself and in a group and how you act in different situations, rather than what your CV contains. In terms of the Board's work, it is essential to have members from diverse backgrounds. 

• Discuss with the current or former board members about their experiences.  https://www.ayy.fi/fi/yhteystiedot
  • You can find the former board members at: https://www.ayy.fi/fi/historia/ayyn-menneiden-vuosien-toimijat
• Familiarise yourself with the Student Union’s strategy, policy paper and regulations. https://www.ayy.fi/fi/hallinnolliset-asiakirjat/strategia-ja-linjapaperit
• Review the Rules of Procedure of the Aalto University Student Union Board
• Review the next year’s action plan once it has been approved by the Representative Council.