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Students' union - Finland
In Finland the higher education system comprises two parallel sectors: universities and universities of applied sciences (polytechnics). Universities are characterised by scientific research and the highest education based thereon. Universties of applied sciences are oriented towards working life and base their operations on the high vocational skill requirements set by it.
Every university has a student union (In Finnish, ylioppilaskunta). Membership is mandatory by law for all students studying for master's or bachelor's degree. The student unions are based on a parliamentary model, the general assembly (about 50 members) elected every second year using an open list -election. The student union is autonomous, its internal life organized by its by-laws. The student unions are considered a part of Finnish administration, however, and their decisions can be appealed against to the Ministry of Education, although this is extremely rare. In such case, the claimant must prove that the decision has violated the law or by-laws.
The student unions are responsible for all representation of the students and elect the student members of different administrative organs. They are responsible for the health care of the students and usually coordinate and finance the activities of smaller, more specialized student organizations. For the financing of their activities, the student unions exact a membership fee and engage in different businesses. Differences in the scale of such businesses are mirrored in the fees exacted by the student unions. Generally, the older universities have wealthier student unions. For example, at Helsinki University of Technology, the student union owns and governs the dormitory village on the campus.
The student unions are members of the Finnish Association of Student Unions which represents the students on the national level. Part of the student unions are politically active, while in others, Nations and subject-based groups are dominant in the general assembly. The question whether the student unions should take stances in the political life is open and each student generation finds its own answer.
Every university of applied sciences also has a student union (In Finnish, opiskelijakunta) and its status is guaranteed by law. The student unions are much younger in this sector because the dual model system that makes the higher education in Finland came in 1996.
The membership in opiskelijakunta differs from ylioppilaskunta. This is because the membership is not mandatory and every student can decide if he or she wants to join the student union. The student union is autonomous, its internal life organized by its by-laws which are confirmed by the rector. The student unions are based on a parliamentary model, the general assembly elected every year.
The student union represents all students and is responsible in electing the student members of different administrative organs. The student union finances its operations mainly with membership fees, financial support from the university and small business operations.
The student unions are members of the organization The National Union of Finnish Polytechnic Students which represents the student on the national level.
The institutions of the secondary education (secondary high schools, lukio, and vocational schools) in Finland have student councils. They incorporate all the students of the institution but as they do not have a right to exact a membership fee, their status is quite low. Such organizations should be heard in all matters pertaining to the education in the institution, but this is often not done.
The Finnish Reserve Officer School has a student council, which is interesting as a curiosity, being a democratically governed, autonomous organization of conscripts within a military structure. It has relatively high budget, in the range of 200.000 euros, financed by an association founded for this specific purpose.
Other related archives1864, 1884, 1887, 1889, 1893, 1990s, 2004, 2006, Associação Académica de Coimbra, Australia, British, Campaigning, Canada, Canadian Alliance of Student Associations, Canadian Federation of Students, Chancellor, Commons, Conservative government, Education Act 1994, Executive Branch, Finland, Finnish, Gleneagles Agreement, Helsinki University of Technology, Higher Education Act 2004, Ireland, John Major, K-12, LGB, LGBT, Labour, Liberation, NUS, National Postgraduate Representative Body, National Union of Students, National Union of Students of Australia, Nations, Portugal, President, Regents, Reserve Officer School, Secretary, St Andrews, State, Student unionism in Australia, Students' Representative Council, Swedish National Union of Students, Swedish universities, Trustees, U.S. Congress, United States, United States Government, University College London Union, University Court, University of Coimbra, University of Edinburgh, Voluntary Student Membership, allocate, ancient universities of Scotland, bill, budget, campus, colleges, constitution, counselling, elementary schools, executive, extracurricular, federal government, gamesmanship, governing body, graduate, high schools, higher education, indigenous, judicial, labor union, labour unions, legislative, legislative veto, magazines, newspapers, nightclubs, organization, parliamentary, politicians, secondary education, secondary schools, social, state legislature, student, student body, student organizations, trustees, universities, universities and colleges, voluntary student unionism
 Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Finland", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki |
