What Can I Do in the Student Union?
Aalto University Student Union operates largely on a voluntary basis. With the work of volunteers, the Student Union is able to offer events to its members and supervise their interests in the best possible way.
If you are interested, there are many ways to join in: some are involved in the sections operating under AYY from year to year, some participate once in the event organising, and some run for office in AYY's Representative Council elections. You can participate in the student union activities a little at a time, or even gain a profession from your participation.
Check out the possibilities below and see if you can find a suitable way to join in!
Events
The easiest way to participate in the student union activities is to attend the events it organises – which is easily done, considering that there is something going on in the Aalto community at all times! The events of Aalto University Student Union and its sections are open to all Aalto people, and most of them can be attended free of charge.
Each year, for example, the people of Otaniemi have a Wappu party, hand over the Flower Day message to a current influencer, celebrate the tradition week of technical students and try to survive a zombie invasion in the game of Humans vs Zombies. The event calendar also includes several student parties and, of course, the Annual Ball in May, for which all AYY members are welcome to celebrate the Student Union.
In addition to AYY, the associations operating within the Aalto community constantly organise various events for both their own members and the entire Aalto community.
You can browse the upcoming events of the Aalto community in AYY’s event calendar.
Volunteer Work and Sections
Sections
The core of AYY’s volunteering activities are the sections operating in connection with the Student Union: Aalto Community Section Aava, Campus Section, Museum Section, Teekkari Section and EduJory. All sections have numerous volunteer assignments where you can apply and develop your own skills.
Among other things, the sections produce the majority of the Student Union’s cultural and sports events, participate in communications and event marketing and work in sales positions in the Corporate Relations Section. In return for their hard work, the section members have a direct impact on what the Student Union does and what its activities look like in the Aalto community and beyond. Rumour has it that it is also fun to be involved in the sections and it is easy to make new friends…
The sections are recruiting new volunteers every autumn. An exception is the Museum Section in charge of the Polytechnical Students' Museum, for which you can apply throughout the year.
Other Voluntary Work
In addition to sections, there are also other ways to volunteer in AYY. Every year, volunteers are needed to help organise various events, for example, and there is need for various skills ranging from graphic design to security officer duties.
Follow AYY’s weekly newsletter and social media channels to hear about new volunteer recruitments!
Volunteers
There are volunteer positions available from event organising to campus development and student advocacy, not forgetting positions in the Board and the Representative Council.
Association Activities
There are more than 200 student associations in Aalto, which organise a wide range of events and other activities for Aalto people. The associations do not operate under AYY, but they do work closely with the Student Union.
Many become familiar with the association activities through their own subject organisation or guild, but AYY’s list of associations also includes several associations focusing on various hobbies and social influencing, for example. Associations operate on a voluntary basis, so there are many different opportunities to participate and influence.
Get to know the associations through the list of associations.
List of Associations
You can find all sorts of activities within AYY!
Student Influencing
Representative Council and Board
By far the easiest way to influence the student union affairs is to vote in AYY’s Representative Council elections! The Council exercises the highest decision-making power at the Student Union. The term of office of the Representative Council is two years, which means that every two years all members of the Student Union have the opportunity to both vote and stand for election to the Representative Council.
AYY’s administrative and executive powers are exercised by a ten-member Board elected by the Representative Council. The Board also directs the daily activities of the Student Union and represents the Student Union beyond the community. The board members change every year, and any member of the Student Union who is ready to act for the benefit of the Aalto community can apply for the position.
Representative Council
The Representative Council represents all members of the Student Union and exercises the highest authority at AYY.
Board
The Student Union’s administrative and executive power is held by the Board that is appointed by the Representative Council and whose term of office is one calendar year.
Academic Affairs
The Student Union provides multiple ways to influence teaching at Aalto.
All students interested in student advocacy are welcome to attend the Study Council meetings organised by AYY. The best way to find out when these meetings are held is to follow the AYY Advocacy Facebook group and Telegram channel. The Study Council consists of the persons in charge of studies from subject organisations and guilds, so you can also influence Aalto's education policy through association activities.
Aalto's education can be most widely influenced by becoming a student representative in administration. The Universities Act requires that the university administration must include student representatives. These representatives, also known as Hallopeds, use the voice of students on university committees, councils and working groups. Student representatives of each Aalto School are involved in AYY’s Advocacy Management Team.