Heli Maijanen believes that a good teacher is someone who can admit to their students that they do not know everything. She encourages teachers to bring out their human side in the workplace as well.
When Heli Maijanen, a university lecturer in archaeology, found out in January that she had won the Coolest Teacher Award, she thought she was the victim of a scam.
– It took me a moment to realise that the email I had received was not phishing for my bank details, for example, but that I had actually won the award, Maijanen laughs.
The Coolest Teacher title is an annual award given by the Student Union of the University of Oulu (OYY) to an inspiring and pedagogically skilled teacher based on student nominations.
– It feels good that the initiative to reward me came specifically from the students. It confirms that I am on the right track as a teacher. My jokes in lectures have not gone completely to waste, Maijanen adds with a twinkle in her eye.
Maijanen has been teaching at the University of Oulu since 2018. Her specialities are bioarchaeology and forensic anthropology, i.e. the study of human physical remains in past populations and in modern-day conflict and/or crime contexts.
– I’m sure every teacher thinks their own field is the most interesting, but I still think that what I teach genuinely inspires students. So much so that it may have contributed to my being nominated for the award, Maijanen says.
Alongside her work, Heli Maijanen enjoys metal music, concerts, and spending time with her friends and her cats.
Following a collection of bones to America
Maijanen did not originally plan to become a teacher. Born in Kiiminki, Maijanen studied archaeology at the University of Oulu when her professor at the time got her interested in bones.
– In principle, all humans have similar bones and everyone has the same number of them, but on the other hand, each person’s skeleton is unique. I am interested in seeing how a person’s life is reflected in their bones, Maijanen explains.
After completing her master’s degree, Maijanen began her doctoral thesis in Oulu. However, she needed a bone collection for her research, which she found in Knoxville, USA, after much searching.
A visit to the Forensic Anthropology Centre research centre ultimately led to Maijanen staying in America for a total of nine years.
Maijanen initially spent a year and a half in Knoxville on exchange, then began a second doctoral degree at the University of Tennessee. At the same time, she worked on her dissertation in Oulu. She also visited the United States Armed Forces Identification Laboratory in Hawaii, where she helped identify American soldiers who had fallen in the Korean and Vietnam wars.
– I have studied so much in my life that I have seen what makes a good teacher. I have applied those lessons in my own work, Maijanen says.
“There’s no time to get bored in this line of work”
When Maijanen returned to Oulu from America, a lecturer position had just opened up at the university. During her last year in Knoxville, she had taught one course to anthropology students, but otherwise teaching was unfamiliar territory for Maijanen. Nevertheless, she decided to apply for the position and is still on that path today.
– My work is really varied. I give lectures and teach courses, I act as a supervisor for some of the students, and sometimes I also analyse bones found in archaeological excavations in my role as a researcher. You never get bored in this job, Maijanen laughs.
In Maijanen’s opinion, a good teacher is someone who can admit to their students that they do not know everything. She points out that teachers are only human, and there is no need to hide human emotions too much.
– As a teacher, it is acceptable and even advisable to express your own uncertainty. For example, if I am nervous about giving a lecture, I tell my students. I feel that honesty brings me closer to my students and creates a more relaxed atmosphere.
In Maijanen’s opinion, the best but also the most challenging aspect of teaching is the constant need to stay up to date.
– In this job, you have to learn new things all the time, and there is always something new to learn around you. While learning new things is very exciting, it is also a bit demanding, as you have to stay up to date with what is happening in the field all the time, Maijanen says.
Studying is always worthwhile
Maijanen believes that teachers largely work according to their own personalities. That is why she feels that she is the same person as a teacher as she is in her free time. In addition, the subjects she teaches are so close to her heart that sometimes her work and free time even overlap a little.
– Sometimes the topics discussed at work are so interesting that I return to them at home. At other times, there can simply be so much work that the days drag on. However, with age and experience, I have learned to draw a clearer line between work and leisure time.
Although Maijanen has probably completed her degrees, she has no intention of stopping studying for a long time to come. Learning new things at work is essential, but Maijanen also enjoys doing so in her own time. For example, last year she completed basic studies in psychology at an open university.
– I think studying is always worthwhile. I haven’t thought much about where my enthusiasm for it comes from, but I guess it’s some kind of innate curiosity, Maijanen speculates.
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Tuuli Turunen
Oulun ammattikorkeakoulun opiskelija, joka rakastaa tarinoita, eläimiä ja syvällisiä keskusteluja teekupin äärellä. Todennäköisimmin häneen voi törmätä kirjastossa, lenkkipolulla tai patikointireitillä. Tuulin suurin unelma on koiranpentu ja omakotitalo Lapissa.
The new secretary general for the Student Union of the University of Oulu Eetu Leinonen seeks to fix the problems that he himself has seen and experienced as a student and as a youngster.
When Eetu Leinonen was asked about who he is he answered that for a short while he’s still a student. The 26-year-old Leinonen has a master’s degree in philosophy and studies the Finnish language. He has also been serving as the secretary general for the Student Union of the University of Oulu (OYY) from the end of March after the previous secretary general Kauko Keskisärkkä moved on to other duties. Leinonen was chosen unanimously in a student council meeting on the 13th of February.
The job description is not really that simple. The general secretary of the Student Union of the University of Oulu is responsible for the work at the office, the workers and making sure that the financial and administrative duties are going well. In addition the job includes promotion of interests, stakeholder co-operation and corporate governance with the chairman of the administration.
Leinonen also has to do a bunch of representative work. His past as an active youngster politician is part of the reason why it is him who is the general secretary of OYY. He has a long career of organization work and chairmanships. For example he was the chairman of OYY back in 2020.
Leinonen’s story goes all the way back to his high school years and the youth council of Utajärvi which according to him made him interested in youth politics. Ever since then Leinonen has been involved in youth and student politics. This continues to this day. Leinonen is interested in internationality and represents the youth in international arenas as an EU delegate for the Finnish youth.
Leinonen returns for a fourth term in OYY duties. After the chairmanship he has served as the specialist of academic affairs’ substitute as well as the community specialist. In between these positions there has been a break during which Leinonen worked for multiple employers the latest example being the mobility services for the University of Oulu.
The personal motivation for working for a better life for the students made Leinonen come back to OYY. “As a youngster and a student I have a desire to fix the problems I have seen or experienced.”
Leinonen’s motives are not totally altruistic. The experienced, hard boiled student activist and a youth politician sees the position of the general secretary as an opportunity to improve himself with something that would otherwise take a long time.
“You rarely get an opportunity like this at 26 years old. Being the foreperson of a group of eight people and an organization like this and planning the financial aspects of it.”
Plenty of experience from the University of Oulu and the academic community help a lot in succeeding at the task at hand. “My past as a student activist, lobbying experience and all the different tasks in OYY as well as the university as a whole give a wide image of what the university and its community are like. Youth politics have helped out in knowing how to bring the voice of the youth on to the surface and how to lobby.”
A Good Life for the Student
Leinonen observes the activity of OYY from the inside. He sees the student union as an influential part of the university. OYY is a respected and well appreciated organization.
Despite this Leinonen admits that the regular student might be alienated from the organization. The student union is not on the same level as student organizations which are often very close to students’ hearts. “Organizations run by the students do incredibly valuable work for the student community.”
The point of OYY is not to replace the student organizations. It is a promoter of interests and a service organization.
“The student union is an instrument. The students are what makes the university an university and the student union a student union. However, an organization of 12 500 members is most difficult to have an influence on every single student’s life”, Leinonen explains. He admits that OYY’s achievements could be more visible to students.
The general secretary promotes the interests of the students with support and working as an enabler. “The student union is an organization that helps many people grow. It is where you come to learn and get opportunities to try things out.”
Leinonen’s job is to support the administration and the representative council so that they succeed in what they do. On the other hand he enables the work to be done with the creation of proper networks. Previous experience with the youth councils help out in this too. “Lobbying and influencing aren’t easy nor fast or done alone in a single night so I’m sure that I will have a role in that too.”
To Leinonen the motto of OYY “A good life for students” is about finding your own place in the academic world. This view is shaped by his past as the community expert.
“When someone comes to study here they should find their own place in this community be it as an activist, in the administration, or just in a simple friend group. Also that everyone should find their own path, what they want to do in the future.”
The new general secretary reminds us that support during studies is important. “To avoid burnouts and that the workload isn’t too heavy so they can be completed so the next step in life can be taken.”
According to Leinonen, OYY’s promotion of interests supports the communication between student organizations and the university’s governance. “So that the students gain support services that help them out in their studies and that people can meet each other here at the campus and find each other.”
The life of the student needs livelihood and hope for the future
A good life for the students doesn’t just mean that everything is great inside the campus walls. Leinonen is concerned about the financial situation and the employment opportunities of the students. “Many haven’t gotten jobs from the types of careers that usually have a great deal of them.”
According to him, the life of the student needs more hope for the future. That the students’ own place in the world can be found after graduation and that during them they don’t drive themselves into massive financial debts.
“Studying has never been an easy part of life where you can just do as you please. Nowadays gaining livelihood is harder and student debt just adds more pressure about graduating faster.”
He adds that when the studies are planned by the university they do not take into consideration that the student often needs to work during them. Both of these factors at the same time can drive the student weary. “This is unsustainable.”
Taking a look into the future reveals that the population is getting older and that the amount of students is decreasing. Leinonen is worried about the diminishing vitality of Oulu and its employment opportunities. “Could we be in a situation where this city no longer is of interest to anyone?”
When asked about the future of the University of Oulu the brand new secretary general points out the importance of internationality and examining space issues. He hopes that during the decision making process it is taken into consideration that the solutions do not affect the quality of the education or strain the employees.
The diminishing population groups especially hit hard on students and the funding that the higher educational institutions get from the government. Solutions for these problems have been sought from internationalization. Leinonen would like to see the opportunities for continuous and lifelong learning also remembered here. “Working-age people have needs for updating their knowledge, and it doesn’t always have to be studies leading to a degree, which are used to update their skills.”
Also the university’s new real estate strategy work investigates what kind of space is needed in the future. “With the solutions there can be taken actions towards a campus that is truly needed in the future.”
As the general secretary Leinonen wants to be a human-like actor.
“Someone who people aren’t afraid of to come and talk or give feedback to. I want to make it clear that I want to be with the people.”
In addition he wants to advance his own skills. “I think leading is a thing that there is not a singular way to learn it. It comes with experience.”
Fact box:
Name: Eetu Leinonen
Education: Master of Philosophy, statistics (2023). Currently studying Finnish for the sixth year.
Age: 26
From: Utajärvi
Hobbies: Handcraft, knitting and crocheting, reading, playing music. He plays the clarinet.
Language skills: Finnish, English, Swedish, German and French.
Positions of trust: currently serves as Finland’s youth delegate to the EU. Leinonen has a long history in youth organizations and politics.
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Tuuli Heikura
Oulun ylioppilaslehden päätoimittaja ja kauppatieteiden maisteri, joka nauttii syväluotaavista ilmiöjutuista, kuluttaa lenkkipolkuja kahden koiransa kanssa ja haaveilee mankelin omistamisesta.
Trumpets are blaring in full swing, blasting out familiar tunes on a big stage. The academic year opening festival Hurmos has officially started. The weather is gloomy with drizzles of rain at the beginning of the evening; however, Teekkaritorvet has already gotten some of the crowd swaying. The sky is clearing as more people walk in through the gates. As night falls, thousands of students are in for a wild party.
Hurmos is the joint academic year opening celebration organized by the student unions of the University of Oulu, Oulu University of Applied Sciences and the Diaconia University of Applied Sciences.
By working together, they’ve managed to organize a large event featuring well-known artists. The festival is held at the Kuusisaari Recreation Park.
Mouhous, Etta and Isac Elliot drove the crowd wild on the main stage, while talented student bands Aamun Kuningatar and Postvision captivated their audience with a more rock-inspired vibe at the smaller Hurmos Stage.
The event’s hosts were the charming Drag Duo: Carrie & Aurora the Queen of Stars. The stylish duo took on the Hurmos Stage in the early evening to show how to put on a proper show. Their performance was filled with energy and excitement, featuring familiar characters such as Ellinoora and Käärijä.
The city’s official greeting was given by Oulu’s Director of Communications, Events and Marketing, Mikko Salmi. Salmi highlighted that Oulu is the 13th happiest city in the world.
Ranking cities by happiness is at the very least a bit peculiar, but at least we know how to throw good student parties!
At the stands, various student organizations shared information on their activities and engaged in friendly chats with students. A few stands offered snacks to ensure that the partygoers had enough energy to last until the end.
At the Student Union stand, Manta Mankinen, Eveliina Tiusanen and Vilma Sippola mentioned that they also serve as a small information desk for the event.
“The most important thing is that we’re here for the students. Many want to talk to us about their studies and sometimes about student advocacy.”
At the OYY stand, partygoers had the chance to try out their luck with a prize wheel. Vilma Sippola (left), Eveliina Tiusanen and Manta Mankinen were excited to meet new people and to see happy faces. Photo by Miia Torro.
In the early evening, the crowds consist mostly of small groups of first-year students. The more seasoned students are still at their pre-parties and usually arrive at the scene once the event really gets going.
There’s a shared excitement about kicking off the new academic year with a celebration. People have come to dance, to have fun and to meet old and new friends.
No one really thinks that the performers are the event’s main attraction; they’re simply a welcome addition to the party. The consensus seems to be the same as at Qstock: meeting friends is the most important thing.
Qstock sells out every year, and even though the headliners canceled their performances the past few years, no one really seemed to mind. Maybe the secret to happiness in Oulu is the sense of community.
But music does have significance; it moves people. Mouhous, Etta and Isac Elliot drew a crowd of partygoers to the front of the stage. A bit further back, people had more room to dance more freely with friends. Needless to say, there were also fans of the artists’ in attendance.
ITE students Kyösti Kiljala, Jere Metsävainio, Elias Rekilä and Valtteri Määttä have come for the friends and the company.
“The artists themselves don’t really interest me at all, I mostly listen to metal music,” Metsävainio says, and the others agree.
Kyösti Kiljala, Jere Metsävainio, Elias Rekilä ja Valtteri Määttä are metalheads. They didn’t come to Hurmos for the music. Photo by Pete Huttunen.
As night falls over the festival, the area fills with colorful overalls, loud echoes of sing-alongs led by the artists and celebratory crowds of students. Though the largest crowds can be found partying at the front of the stages, all around the area you can see the cheerful faces of people enjoying drinks, food and other activities.
OYY’s event producer Katri Jämsä says that she’s happy with the overall atmosphere of the evening and the development ideas they’ve implemented this year. According to the partygoers, a new layout of the festival area and three headliners have brought more of a festival feel to the event. “We’re developing the event every year. We’ve listened to feedback and responded to it the best we can,” Jämsä says.
Check out the Hurmos photo galleries here and here.
Translation by Anna Tiira. Photo galleries by Miia Torro and Tuuli Heikura.
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Pete Huttunen
Humanistiopiskelija ja ite tehty kulttuuritoimittaja. Harrastuksena pahennuksen herättäminen kaiken maailman kulttuuririennoissa. Juttuja olen tehnyt metallifestareista oopperaan. Tarinoiden toimivuutta testaan lukemalla niitä ääneen kissalle.
A lecturer of mineralogy and geology, Jukka-Pekka Ranta, was chosen to be The Coolest Teacher Ever of 2022 by the Student Union of University of Oulu (OYY). Ranta focuses on the role of motivation and interesting education methods in his teaching. Jukka-Pekka Ranta’s badminton games for the evening almost went off the rails when he heard […]
A lecturer of mineralogy and geology, Jukka-Pekka Ranta, was chosen to be The Coolest Teacher Ever of 2022 by the Student Union of University of Oulu (OYY). Ranta focuses on the role of motivation and interesting education methods in his teaching.
Jukka-Pekka Ranta’s badminton games for the evening almost went off the rails when he heard of being chosen as The Coolest Teacher Ever. He was primarily grateful for students’ support which he also has earned previously via geosciences’ student organization as well as the An Apple for a Teacher -event.
“Geology is, all things considered, quite a small field of study in the university, but it is great that students are active on that level”, Ranta thanks.
Ranta’s career to become a researcher and a university lecturer was still hazy before he started his studies. First working as a bartender, he intended to study psychology but ended up studying geology in the end. Ranta started his studies in 2008 and graduated with a Master’s degree in geosciences in 2012.
“Since the first lecture, I realized that this was for me”, Ranta reflects.
After his university studies, Ranta worked in Lapland roughly for a year in ore excavation. Afterwards, he started his work on a doctoral thesis in 2014. Since that point, teaching has been a part of his career. The doctoral thesis was finished in 2018 after which various postdoctoral research work led him to become a university lecturer in 2021.
Even when working on the doctoral thesis, Ranta did not think of himself as a teacher. The teacher identity developed stronger only during the past few years on the university’s pedagogical studies. Ranta thinks that people come to work at the university primarily as a researcher.
“The development of the teacher identity in the university is a bit different compared to basic studies since most people do not work here primarily as a teacher. Teaching is the small print in the job agreement.”
Practicality and students’ responsibility are vital
In teaching, Ranta highlights practicality and student’s own responsibility in how effectively a student learns something.
“New tools and more student-centered teaching and learning have just during the last few years emerged stronger.”
“Teaching is the small print in the job agreement.”
New teaching methods have helped Ranta to become more practical. For instance, digital workspaces, gamification and inspecting rocks via 3D models have provided new perspectives on standard lectures and study diaries. However, their use has to be relevant for learning.
“One must pay attention to not use them just for the sake of their tools. There must be a purpose for using a specific one.”
In his courses, Ranta emphasizes his background as a researcher and teacher as an influence on what courses he has enough substance knowledge to organize. While pondering their structure, Ranta especially wonders about the responsibility of the teacher.
“During the courses, I started to think about the responsibility that we teachers have. We train such people that have sufficient skills and expertise in work life.”
Nevertheless, the student’s own responsibility is an especially important aspect that the teacher can influence only by so much. Therefore, Ranta thinks it’s important to get the student excited early about their studies so that their hunger for knowledge stays in Master’s studies and long after that.
“I hope my own inner motivation and excitement also reaches the students. It is especially important to get the basic course students new to geology interested in it.”
Approachability and understandability benefit
The voters described Ranta as an easy person to approach and understand and for having great expertise. Ranta recalls his own studies when he felt tense to approach a professor’s or a teacher’s office.
Ranta thinks that his flexibility in courses is a reason for being seen as easy to understand. For example, he may spend some time revising basics if the students have forgotten something essential. Additionally, listening to the students and utilizing various education styles play an important part.
In addition to other researchers, Ranta has also embraced several traits from his own teachers and tutors in his teaching. Each of them have left their mark on Ranta.
“In my courses, I often exhibit similar traits, expressions or maneuvers from my old teachers which is amusing to notice.”
Regarding his expertise, Ranta deliberates whether he can evaluate it alone on a larger scale. He thinks that people in professional work often encounter an impostor syndrome: the difficulty to realize one’s own achievements to be fully earned. Despite this, Ranta’s motivation and passion differentiate him with his studying methods to be a unique teacher.
“The courses where one sees a lightbulb lit above the students’ heads are the best.”
Students’ realization rewards the most
The courses that combine practicality and theory are Ranta’s favourites. He mentions an example, Petrology, in which students explore the characteristics of stones and their formation processes on a macro- and microlevel. In these types of courses, Ranta finds the students’ realization of the discussed topic to provide the best feeling.
“The courses where one sees a lightbulb lit above the students’ heads are the best.”
Ranta faces many kinds of students in his courses. Some students are more motivated than others. Even in difficult cases, he strives to motivate the students’ course work via his own excitement. An important point is to find the core idea and to reflect the course work on geology and as training for the real world.
In the future, Ranta wants to continue his current work in the academic world as a researcher and a teacher as well as to develop his own substance knowledge in mineralogy and ore geology.
“Regarding the education and the development of geosciences, there is still a lot to be done.”
Who?
Jukka-Pekka Ranta
University lecturer since 2021
Responsible for Oulu Mining School’s degree programme 2019-2022
Doctor of Philosophy 2018
What?
The Coolest Teacher Ever 2022 was awarded in Annos 63 annual celebration 25.2.2023
Any student at the University of Oulu was able to suggest any university teacher in any educational field to receive the award for The Coolest Teacher Ever.
Selection criteria included the ability to inspire, professionality, being easy to understand, explanation of course goals, paying attention to students’ needs, flexibility and a versatile use of grading methods
The award was given for the seventh time. Previously the award was given to Elina Niemitalo-Haapola, Katja Sutela, Vesa-Matti Pohjanen, Oliver Jarde, Matti Niemelä and Matti Kangaspuoskari
The decision was done by the board of the Student Union of University of Oulu on 26.1.2023
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Jere Laitinen
Oulun ylioppilaslehden toimitusharjoittelija. Opiskelutaustaltaan kokenut ainejärjestöaktiivi ja opiskelijavaikuttaja sekä innokas pelaaja ja kokkailija.
Student Union of University of Oulu (OYY) selected Viljami Viinikka as their new community specialist. During his two-year long post Viinikka hopes to be a specialist for the entire university community. Viljami Viinikka, 25, started as OYY’s community specialist in the beginning of 2023. However, Viinikka is not a tenderfoot at the OYY office. He […]
Student Union of University of Oulu (OYY) selected Viljami Viinikka as their new community specialist. During his two-year long post Viinikka hopes to be a specialist for the entire university community.
Viljami Viinikka, 25, started as OYY’s community specialist in the beginning of 2023. However, Viinikka is not a tenderfoot at the OYY office. He acted as vice president in OYY’s board during 2022 and was in charge of the community sector. “Work environment and assignments were quite familiar already, which aided in orientation”, Viinikka mentions. “Last year as the previous community specialist Eetu Leinonen’s journeyman he accustomed me to many tasks, but still the transition gets confusing from time to time”, he adds.
Fresh specialist instantly got off the deep end of work when he was assigned two major events both taking place in the first month of his employment.
The Student Union educates its societies’ active members in Active Clubs February 1st and 2nd. Since the community specialist acts as a link between OYY and societies, organizing the Active Clubs is his responsibility.
The second event, Löyly, targets the other significant stakeholder group on community specialist’s job description – international students. Löyly is a working life event held 25th and 26th of January aimed primarily towards international degree students, but open for everyone. The aim of the event is to offer practical guidance and tips in seeking a job in the Oulu area, and to provide information about Finnish working life. Another aim is to bring together employers in Oulu and international degree students. The event is fully in English. The program consists of keynote-speeches, workshops, panel discussions and cv-photography. OYY organizes Löyly in collaboration with OSAKO.
Viinikka ended up as community specialist after a deliberation of his own strengths. “Reasons for applying were quite the same as why I ended up applying to study chemistry back in the day: I considered how I could help people and what were my personal strengths. Naturally, societies and advocacy work are close to my heart as well.”
Societies really are familiar to Viinikka. Since moving to Oulu from Lumijoki to study chemistry in the summer of 2017, Viinikka has been a familiar sight not only in his subject organizations’ board presidiums but also in recreational associations’ boards. “Recretional associations luckily have a good footing in Oulu University, you can really witness the communality spirit here.”
Easy to approach yet easily approaching
Viinikka portrays himself as a project-person who enjoys learning new skills. “Continuous development is fun and so are new skills”. When he’s not playing karelian gorodki (kyykkä), he might be doing crafts or exploring new recipes in the kitchen. He tells a story about a time he made appleless apple pie. Reportedly people eating it had a really hard time believing it really didn’t contain any apples, so much it tasted like a real apple pie. “Baking links up with my interest in chemistry”, he says.
Viinikka also plays the accordion, and sometimes visits to play for albums for various projects. “Recently, I was even asked to go sing for one!”, he laughs.
Community specialist meets various, colorful people in his line of duty. Viinikka hopes to be the whole university community’s community specialist. For student organizations, a community specialist is a pillar, someone to ask guidance from and seek positive reinforcement. “I’m here to tell that very few things are the end of the world”.
Community specialist’s job description is divided roughly into two sectors: societies and international affairs. Social work demands for an easy to approach -kind of person, and exactly that Viinikka hopes for himself to be. Not only wishes he to be easy to approach, but has already instigated an ‘easily approaching’ -method for conducting business. “During my brief career I’ve already managed to personally walk straight to a guild room to solve one organization’s problem. I don’t know if previous society specialists have been so forward in their actions”, he laughs.
As one of the biggest challenges in the University community, Viinikka mentions the divide between international and other students. “The integration of international students to the rest of the student community is an on-going challenge that we must work on”. Especially Covid-19 put a set back to this work, according to Viinikka, and now extra attention must be paid to it.
As greetings Viinikka urges students to go to exchange. “It is a fine opportunity that vexatiously few students exploit”.
WHO’S THIS?
NAME Viljami Viinikka
AGE 25
STUDIES Chemistry
FROM Lumijoki
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Tuuli Heikura
Oulun ylioppilaslehden päätoimittaja ja kauppatieteiden maisteri, joka nauttii syväluotaavista ilmiöjutuista, kuluttaa lenkkipolkuja kahden koiransa kanssa ja haaveilee mankelin omistamisesta.
The OYY Executive Board for 2022 came to order during a meeting on January 24. The new Board was chosen during a Council meeting on December 15, 2021. The eight-member Board consists of a colourful bunch of students from different fields with all of them aiming for a common goal for the term: a communal […]
The OYY Executive Board for 2022 came to order during a meeting on January 24. The new Board was chosen during a Council meeting on December 15, 2021. The eight-member Board consists of a colourful bunch of students from different fields with all of them aiming for a common goal for the term: a communal and visible OYY.
The term for the 2022 Board of the Student Union of the University of Oulu is coloured by various projects to re-shape the work of OYY – re-branding, renewing the Policy Document, and wellbeing and organisational projects. “Led by these projects, we’ll honour our mission to advocate for a good life for students.”
“The wellbeing project funding received from the Ministry of Education and Culture will allow us to concentrate resources on supporting wellbeing. In particular, the effects of the corona pandemic will most likely be perceptible for a long time, and we hope to do our part in reducing the negative impact with the help of the wellbeing project.
The re-branding mainly aims to enhance communication. The goal of the re-branding is a consistent visual interface that is clearer, more visible and recognisable. Additionally, the website will be improved in order to make the services more visible and to give students easier access to the information. The mandate to renew the Policy Document came from the Council of Representatives. The aim of the renewal is to update the big policies to better match today’s needs.
“We want the next Board to inherit a communal Student Union. Our goal is to further the mindset that you should be proud to be a student at University of Oulu, to help the students have a clear feeling of community, and to strengthen the identity of the student from Oulu.” The motto of OYY is “A good life for students.” This is also the guiding principle for all of the Board’s work; to continuously improve the education and wellbeing of the students.
Under the prevailing corona conditions, the work of the Board is also impacted through uncertain prospects for the future. “It’s quite difficult to predict the future. Concrete execution methods for the ongoing projects are still uncertain, as we don’t know what the situation will be, for example, a few months or half a year from now.” Particularly the development of organisational cooperation and the wellbeing project are still finding their shape regarding the execution.
Students advocating for students
The members of the Board want to emphasise that they’re sitting at this table for the sake of the students. “As clichéd as it sounds, we’re here for you. We think about the students and their benefit in all we do. We wish to efficiently cooperate with the students.” OYY has been criticised for being distant to the students. The Board wishes to change this. Previous Boards have had the same goal. “We must improve in emphasising the purpose of OYY and the significance of the Board as advocates for the students”, says Chairperson Lotta Leinonen.
Iikka Kokkoniemi adds that although many of the members have moved on from subject society work to a different organisation, he hopes that they will still be regarded as easy to approach. “I’m still the same person and a student, just like everyone else.” Reform of organisational cooperation is also hoped to improve the situation. “Closer cooperation helps bring the OYY Board closer to guilds and interest societies”, mentions Viljami Viinikka who works in the society sector.
The Board has already faced criticism after publishing a statement on January 27, 2022, aiming to appeal to decision-makers, calling for forward-looking decisions. In the statement, the OYY Board suggests that in the long run, new construction is the more sustainable and cost-efficient solution, in comparison to renovating the Linnanmaa campus. However, the statement has been interpreted as a sign of support for the city campus project, which has evoked lots of negative conversations amongst students that oppose the project.
The aim of the statement was to introduce a new perspective to accompany previous statements. “We wanted to emphasise the students’ need to study in a healthy and safe environment”, comments the Chairperson of the OYY Board Lotta Leinonen and the 2. Vice Chair Suvi-Anna Salminen. Leinonen acknowledges that bold advocacy work can put you in a vulnerable position. However, she emphasises that conversations should have room for open discussion and varying viewpoints, and everyone should be respected.
Lotta Leinonen, Business studies / Chair of the Board
Why did you apply for Board membership?
When I was thinking about where to find new challenges and to utilise my previous experience from subject society level, OYY seemed interesting. I noticed that the matters dealt with there are relevant to my interests. It also gives me valuable experience in organisational Board work.
What do you wish to achieve in the Board?
To improve the visibility of OYY, to students and other interest groups, so that we can be a partner that’s seen and heard by everybody. I want to take advantage of the platforms given to me and continue OYY’s long-standing work.
Previous activities
2016-2017 Chair of The Board of the upper secondary school student body, Youth Council
2019 > Deputy member of the Council of Representatives
2019 Finanssi ry, Academic Affairs Committee
2020 > Halloped
2020 Finanssi ry, Member of The Board, Specialist in Academic Affairs
2021 Finanssi ry, The Chairman of The Board, Vice Chair of the Student Associations’ Chairpersons’ Network of The Finnish Business School Graduates
Viljami Viinikka, Chemistry / 1. Vice Chair of the Board, Societies
Why did you apply for Board membership?
I’ve been running around in different meetings and places of advocacy since I was little, so the work feels natural – this is sort of a natural continuation for an organisational career.
What do you wish to achieve in the Board?
Through organisations, I want to bring OYY closer to the students and make the advocacy that happens behind the scenes more transparent. One of my projects is reforming the Järjestökummi-activity. I also aim to increase the involvement of Kontinkangas campus.
Previous activities
2013-2014 The Board of the upper secondary school student body
2015 The Board of 4H Lumijoki, Vice Chair
2018 Valenssi ry
2020 OLuT ry, Chair of The Board
2021 Mölkky- ja kyykkäseura, Vice Chair and person in charge of competitions
Suvi-Anna Salminen, Finnish language / 2. Vice Chair of the Board, Communications
Why did you apply for Board membership?
Throughout my studies, the Student Union has felt close to me. I wanted to be able to do advocacy work on a wider scale. I also gain valuable experience in organisational communication and self-improvement from the point of view of, both, advocacy and professional work.
What do you wish to achieve in the Board?
To improve my own know-how in communication and to learn about organisational work and advocacy. Re-branding will be an important part of my year in the Board and I wish to complete it properly and thus strengthen OYY’s position and visibility amongst student services.
Previous activities
2015 Chair of The Board of the upper secondary school student body
2019-2020 Suma ry, secretary
2020-2021 Suma ry, the Board, Specialist in Academic Affairs, Specialist in Social Affairs
2022 Member of the Council of Representatives
Tiitu-Lotta Paju, Process engineering / Events
Why did you apply for Board membership?
I wanted new experiences and to continue advocacy work. I was motivated to apply by the desire to have students of technology involved in Student Union decision-making.
What do you wish to achieve in the Board?
My goal is to create interesting, relevant events for students and make OYY more visible for the university community through them.
Previous activities
2017-2020 Youth Committee of The Finnish Red Cross
2019 > Oulun yliopiston Prosessikilta ry (Guild for process engineering)
2019 Technical Students Association Oulu
2021 Technical Students Association Oulu, secretary and member of the Board
Iikka Kokkoniemi, Teacher of Mathematical Subjects / Social affairs
Why did you apply for Board membership?
I’ve been a deputy member in the Representative Council for two years, but I felt like I didn’t have enough know-how or courage to work in the Board. Participating in the Board meeting of the National Union of University Students in Finland gave me my first experience of being able to make a difference and bring forth my own viewpoint despite not having much knowledge.
What do you wish to achieve in the Board?
As clichéd as it sounds, I want to grow as a person and expand my own knowledge to prepare myself for work life, and to have a deeper understanding of things.
Previous activities
2019 Sigma ry, spokesman
2020 The Board of OLuT ry, secretary
2020 LuOpiO ry, treasurer
2019-2020 Deputy member of the Council of Representatives
2020-2021 Science Students, group leader
2020 OYY Representative, SYL Congress
2021 Ohari ry, Specialist in Social Affairs
2021 Lapio ry reformation, secretary and relations
2021 OLuT ry, event coordinator
Lotta Ellonen, Education / Academic affairs
Why did you apply for Board membership?
I’m interested in advocating for all students, and OYY gives me experience in that. I have previously worked in organisations that have only recently been formed, so OYY provides a good counterbalance to that. It also helps me gain good experience in working in a larger organisation.
What do you wish to achieve in the Board?
To focus on academic affairs because I want to learn about the way the university makes decisions. A big project will be renewing the Policy Document. I also aim to develop the university’s internal peer supported academic affairs activity, so that high quality academic affairs activity is also accessible on a subject society level.
Previous activities
2017-2018 Motiva ry, events, new student orientation and photography
2019 Umbrella Guild Kaski, communications and advocacy
2019 Deputy member of the Council of Representatives
2020 Oulu Entrepreneurship Society, secretary and community
2020-2022 SKOL coordinator, EPALE ambassador
2020-2021 Member of the Council of Representatives
Arwa Benkherouf, Architecture / International affairs
Why did you apply for Board membership?
It has always been my dream to be in a position of influence and leadership. It doesn’t really matter where as long as I get to influence and further change. I am primarily interested in Student Services, where I can provide direct help and support to students. Working for the board is a great possibility to fulfil this dream and to develop my leadership skills.
What do you wish to achieve in the Board?
I want to develop my leadership and negotiation skills, while giving back to the student community that has accepted me to be a part of it and showed me, what student life is.
Previous activities
2020 Halloped, students’ wellbeing working group and equality and diversity committees
2020-2021 Kummi activity
2020 Self-Hack, facilitator
Essi Leinonen, Health Sciences / Wellbeing
Why did you apply for Board membership?
I have previous experience on student body and school advocacy levels, so I was aware of the demands and gains of board work. My decision was also impacted by the desire to make the Kontinkangas campus side more visible in the Board.
What do you wish to achieve in the Board?
The most important thing for me is to bring the students’ wellbeing to the centre, to advance the production of high quality services and opportunities to take care of the wellbeing of myself and the community through, both, local and national advocacy work. Personally, I want to grow as a person.
Previous activities
2015-2016 OSASTO ry, Specialist in International Affairs, secretary, events, tutoring
2016 OSAKO Council of Representatives
2017 OSAKO Chair of the Board
2018 OSAKO Council of Representatives, Vice Chair
Julkaistu
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Tuuli Heikura
Oulun ylioppilaslehden päätoimittaja ja kauppatieteiden maisteri, joka nauttii syväluotaavista ilmiöjutuista, kuluttaa lenkkipolkuja kahden koiransa kanssa ja haaveilee mankelin omistamisesta.
