Freshman Guide 2011 The Student Union of the University of Helsinki Freshman Guide 2011 Welcome to study life 02 The Student Union exists for students 04 Service Office 06 HYY is democratic community, Committees 08 The Representative Council elections 09 HYY Group – business operations owned by students 11 Cultural events for every tatste 12 No studies without culture 15 Organisational actives are an important part of the student life 16 Space for students, premises for meetings and parties 18 Solving the puzzle of subsistence 20 Efforts in house hunting are rewarded 24 Students’ own healt care 26 Food and coffee in students’ own UniCafes 28 Exercise in between lectures 29 Smooth public transport in the Helsinki region 30 Helsingin yliopisto – tietoa maailman parhaaksi 32 Students are part of the university administration 34 Plan your studies 36 Support for the student life 40 HYY promotes equality 41 The internationalising university provides opportunities for everyone 42 For a better tomorrow in Zambia and Indonesia 44 Be smart and look after the environment 45 Buildind a common union 46 Contct information 48
Transcript
Freshman Guide 2011The Student Union of the University of Helsinki
Freshman Guide 2011
Welcome to study life 02
The Student Union exists for students 04
Service Office 06
HYY is democratic community, Committees 08
The Representative Council elections 09
HYY Group – business operations owned by students 11
Cultural events for every tatste 12
No studies without culture 15
Organisational actives are an important part of the student life 16
Space for students, premises for meetings and parties 18
Solving the puzzle of subsistence 20
Efforts in house hunting are rewarded 24
Students’ own healt care 26
Food and coffee in students’ own UniCafes 28
Exercise in between lectures 29
Smooth public transport in the Helsinki region 30
Helsingin yliopisto – tietoa maailman parhaaksi 32
Students are part of the university administration 34
Plan your studies 36
Support for the student life 40
HYY promotes equality 41
The internationalising university provides opportunities for everyone 42
For a better tomorrow in Zambia and Indonesia 44
Be smart and look after the environment 45
Buildind a common union 46
Contct information 48
�
Welcome to study life! Dear freshman, congratulations on your choice of the University of Helsinki!
�
Whether you come to our university direct-ly from school or after a long career, the study years are unique and memorable
time at their best. Study years are designed to pro-vide us with academic skills, but also – and above all – teach us to seek new knowledge and offer tools to build a better world. And get to know peo-ple and have fun!
The University of Helsinki offers you plenty of opportunities for all this. It is the best and the old-est university in Finland providing you with exten-sive opportunities both in terms of studies and the student life. After you were selected for the Univer-sity, you also became a member of the Student Un-ion, hyy. The purpose of the Student Union is to offer students peer support, help members with their problems and repre-sent their interests on the levels of the university, city and state.
As the student of the year N (a student who has studied longer than the officials would hope), I want to give you some advice for the student life:
Get involved!Few will regret getting involved in activities which sound interesting. 250 organisations operate with-in the Student Union, ranging from subject organ-isations to student nations and the wide range of recreational and political organisations. Find a suit-able community for you!
Don’t stress too much A lot of pressure is loaded on students’ shoulders right at the beginning of studies. You should com-plete plenty of courses and graduate quickly. At the same time, many students have to work to ensure their income, and it would also be nice if you had the time for your hobbies and see your friends.
It is naturally great if you have time to study quickly, but it is not the end of the world even if you do not achieve the pace of the target schedule. Study years should not be mere hard work. Sup-port and assistance is available.
Think with your own brain Use your study years to learn how things could be seen and done differently. Get to know new kinds of people, phenomena and affairs. Do not take things as given and dare to deviate from the main-stream (try other than trendy ways sometimes).
Enjoy the academic life The academic life does not have to be stiff and for-mal. Academic mentality at its best is the education
of the brain and the heart: the appreciation of diversi-ty and the broad-minded and liberal examination of
the surrounding world, society and people. The ac-ademic life includes everything from in-depth dis-cussions at UniCafes to top-class research to par-tying hard together to black-tie festivities. You can make traditions to suit yourself, and do not take anything too seriously.
To quote Professor Emeritus Matti Klinge: ”Af-ter twenty or forty years from now on, no one will ask you if you completed your degree in four, five or six years. Instead, they will ask you how you used your unique youth and whether it included the learning of the community spirit, understanding in-stead of rote learning and – friendship and joy!”
I wish you memorable study years!Leena PihlajamäkiChair of the hyy Board The Student Union of the University of Helsinki
”The academic life does not have to be stiff and formal.”
�
Where can I get information about
HYY’s activities?”Every other week, HYY sends a member newsletter by e-mail which is delivered by the student organisations operat-ing within the Student Union. The Event Calendar is availa-ble on the addresshyy.fi/tapahtumat. It is also advisable to follow HYY’s page in Ylioppilaslehti student magazine and the Student Union website (www.hyy.fi) and browse this Freshman Guide. You can also follow HYY’s news on the University’s intranet Alma or become a fan of HYY on Facebook!”
The Student Union exists for students The University provides education and study counselling, while the Student Union is students’ own interest and service organisation. HYY supervises students’ interests at university and in society.
�
All students of the University of Helsinki are part of the Student Union of the Universi-ty of Helsinki, hyy. hyy is the oldest and
largest student union with 30,000 members. All basic degree students of the university are auto-matically part of the Student Union. Postgraduate students can join the Student Union if they wish to do so. In the Universities Act, the student un-ions are defined as corporations subject to public law, which have rights and responsibilities. Their purpose is to act as liaison for their members and promote students’ societal, social and intellectu-al aspirations. In hyy, we act for more diverse ed-ucation and foster academic citizens. The values of the Student Union are responsibility, education, pluralism, equality and openness.
Services against the membership fee In order to register for the attendance at the Uni-versity of Helsinki, you have to pay the member-ship fee of hyy, your student union. In the academ-ic year 2011–2012, the fee for basic degree students is 89,00 euro. The membership is a requirement for studies but the membership fee is not the universi-ty’s tuition fee. At least for now, university studies in Finland are free of charge (apart from the limit-ed tuition fee experiment). The University and the Student Union are two separate institutions. After paying the membership fee, you are entitled to use all member services and benefits of the Student Un-ion. With Lyyra card, you receive discount from many companies as well as public transport and cultural events. Member services include, among other things, UniCafe restaurants, free legal advice, the student magazine and the student calendar. hyy’s own member benefits and general student benefits are presented in this guide.
HYY supervises the student’s interests In addition to material benefits, the Student Union provides interest representation for its members. hyy participates in the development of the Univer-sity and its student services through the student representatives in administration. hyy’s office is lo-cated at the heart of Helsinki in the New Student House (Mannerheimintie 5 A, 2nd floor). The Stu-
dent Union Services Office helps with matters re-lated to the membership fee and the student card, among other things. Organisational services also operate at the same service point. hyy’s Board and the Secretariat also work at hyy’s office.
Individual students may turn to the Student Un-ion in various matters related to studies and the everyday student life. hyy aims at influencing po-litical decision making in matters concerning stu-dents, in particular. At times, we comment more extensively on environmental and equality affairs, for example. Our ways of influencing include the drafting of statements and comments, other com-munications and lobbying, as well as campaigns and demonstrations, if necessary. The Student Un-ion is a renowned and active societal debater.
hyy is part of the National Union of the Univer-sity Students in Finland (syl). Founded in 1921, syl is one of the largest student organisations in Finland. All the student unions of Finnish univer-sities are part of syl and the total number of mem-bers is approximately 135,000 students. syl gives voice to students in education policy matters both on national and international levels.
Stable finances hyy has relatively good financial resources. hyy’s property consists mainly of real estate and busi-nesses belonging to the hyy Group. The annual budget of the operating funds of the Student Union is approximately four million euro. Approximate-ly one fourth of this amount is covered with mem-bership fees and the rest is financed with the profit distribution of the hyy Group. You can read more about the finances of the Student Union and the hyy Group in the chapter ”hyy Group – business operations owned by students”.
HYY’s office is located right at the centre of Helsinki at the New Stu-dent House (Mannerhe-imintie 5 A, 2nd floor).
�
The Service Office is open on Mondays at 10am–5pm and from Tuesdays to Fri-days at 10am–3pm. Exceptions to the
opening hours are mentioned on hyy’s website. In the Service Office, you can take care of issues related to Lyyra card or the Student Union membership, among other things.
For members:Lyyra cardsMembership fee issuesAdvisory services
For organisations:Meeting facilitiesEquipment lending (details on lended items are
available on the website)
t
t
t
t
t
Member benefits and services provided for
students by HYY
Lyyra student cardHYY’s members can order Lyyra stu-dent card for the price of EUR 16,10. Lyyra card is the easiest way to prove your student union membership. With Lyyra, you receive discounts on the services of VR (national railway company), Matkahuolto (bus and coach services) and student restau-rants. Lyyra website also has informa-tion on all the other student benefits and discounts. You do not need oth-er student cards. Read further infor-mation and ordering instructions on the web service. www.lyyra.fi
Ylioppilaslehti student magazineHYY subscribes Ylioppaslehti student magazine for all members of the Stu-dent Union, which is published eve-ry two weeks during the academic terms. The magazine, founded in 1913, covers the academic world and high-
er education policy as well as the phenomena in society and the cul-tural world – and is an active debater itself. When you move houses, please remember to make the change of ad-dress both to the University’s student register and Ylioppilaslehti: www.yli-oppilaslehti.fi/tilaajapalvelu. If you are interested in writing, photographing or drawing for Ylioppilaslehti, please contact the chief editor ([email protected]).
Freshman GuideHYY offers you this information pack-age on the Student Union, studies and everyday student life.
Student calendar HYY’s members annually receive the student calendar which helps with time management. The calendar also includes useful information on the Student Union, the presentations of all organisations operating within HYY and student benefits. It also in-cludes important dates in terms of
studies and student life, such as the University’s teaching periods and many events of the Student Union. The calendar is available from the same place where you get the stu-dent card and the year tag, from HYY’s Services Office or the Orches-tra Lounge of the University’s main building, for example.www.hyy.fi
Free legal assistance The Committee for Legal Assistance of Pykälä provides legal advice for HYY’s members by mail, telephone, e-mail or in person. The most of the questions presented to the Commit-tee concern housing, employment, family and estate rights, studies and social security. The Committee does not draft documents but advises you in drafting them and checks finished documents. The Committee is on duty during the academic terms at Pykälä’s office (Mannerheimintie 3 B, 5th floor) on Mondays and Wednes-day, 5pm–7pm, tel. (09) 278 5005, e-mail [email protected].
Service OffiseThe Student Union’s Service Office is located at the New Student House at Mannerhei-mintie 5 A, 2nd floor.
Service Office is at your service!
�
HYY’s premises
1. The New Student House - Service Office, premises of organisation and student nation
2. The Old Student House - Kahvila Vanhan kuppila
3. Domus Gaudium - premises of organisations and student nation
HYY’s Student restaurants
4. Unicafe Kaivopiha 8. Unicafe Topelias5. Unicafe Porthania 9. Unicafe Soc & kom ja valtiotiede6. Unicafe Päärakennus 10. Unicafe Olivia7. Unicafe Rotunda * More Unicafe-restaurants on other campuses
Healt care
11. FSHS - Finnish Student Healt Service
Public transport
12. Kamppi - Buses to Espoo
13. Railway station - Buses to Kumpula, Meilahti and Viikki
Department Stores
14. Stockmann15. Sokos
�
Hyy is a corporation formed by university students, a community formed by all its members, which makes decisions collec-
tively and by listening to everyone. hyy is also ad-ministered as a corporation: the Representative Council has the decision-making power which is equivalent to that of a municipal council or a par-liament. The Representative Council of 60 mem-bers is elected through the elections every two years where each member of the Student Union can vote or run as a candidate.
The Representative Council makes the most significant financial decisions and defines the Stu-dent Union’s future and development. Like the state and municipalities, hyy appoints the Board to manage the daily affairs.
HYY’s administration – this is how the Student Union operatesThe Representative Council is the highest decision-making body of the Student Union. The Representa-
tive Council meets approximately four times in an ac-ademic term. The current chairperson is Chairperson of the Student Union M.Soc.Sc, B.A. Maija Jäppinen.
The Student Union operations are led by the Board which is appointed by the Representative Council for one year at a time. The board members are students as well and they run the everyday oper-ations in cooperation with the hired Secretariat which performs expert tasks. The Board has parlia-mentary accountability for the Representative Coun-cil and it includes 7–13 members. Additionally, the Board has founded other organs to manage various affairs. The Financial Committee prepares the inter-nal affairs of the Student Union related to finances, and the committees manage their own matters. The Committee for Development Cooperation, for ex-ample, is mainly in charge of the operations related to development cooperation all the way to project management.
hyy is also engaged in significant business opera-tions, the direction of which is decided by the stu-dents. This is explained later in the Freshman Guide.
Any member of hyy can participate in student union activities in the committees depend-ing on one’s interests. The committees have
various activities ranging from interest representa-tion to development cooperation projects and from administrative affairs to organising parties. In 2010, hyy has nine committees. You can find information on the events of the committees on their own web-sites and in hyy’s event calendar on:
www.hyy.fi.t
Committees HYY’s Board has delegated part of its duties, and therefore its power, to the committees formed by ordinary students.
ESN CommitteeCommittee for Cultural AffairsCommittee for Organisational Affairs Committee for Bilingual Affairs Committee for Development CooperationCommittee for Academic AffairsCommittee for Finno-Ugric CooperationCommittee for Tutor Affairs Committee for Environmental Affairs
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
HYY is a democratic community Who makes the important decisions in the Student Union? Who decides what the opinion of HYY is?
�
The next Representative Council elections of the Student union of the University of Hel-sinki (hyy) will be conducted on October.
The campaigning is often carnivalistic, but hyy’s elections should not be underestimated. Quite the contrary. The Student Union is an influential or-ganisation and a respected public debater in many areas. hyy’s budget of approximately four million already provides plenty of opportunities for vari-ous operations. By voting or running as a candi-date, you can have a significant effect on how the Student Union discusses, comments and uses its money. In the Representative Council elections,
there are approximately 30.000 persons entitled to vote which is roughly the same number as in the municipal elections of Järvenpää, so this is not a small matter.
In the Representative Council elections, candi-dates are mainly set by various political groups, subject organisations and student nations. This time, the electoral term of the elected Representa-tive Council is exceptionally only 1 year. This is to ensure that in the future the elections will not be ar-ranged in the same year as the University’s admin-istrative elections (more information on the admin-istrative elections on page 34).
The Representative Council elections – the most important means to exercise power
Representative CoucilElection 2011 18-19 Oct.Advance voting 12- 13 Oct.How is the member fee used?
Kuka päättää toiminta-avustusten määrästä?
What services should HYY provide?
10
Hyy’s property began to accrue in 1858 when the recently established Student Un-ion bought its own plot for the student
house. The original plot was located in the place of the current National Archives. The plot was changed later to the current plot where the Old Student House was completed in 1870. At the time, the region of Aleksanterinkatu and Itä-Heikinkatu (current Mannerheimintie) was grad-ually changing from a rural scenery to a busy com-mercial area.
Over the years, hyy has constructed business premises on the plot in addition to hyy’s own stu-dent houses. Profits from business operations are used to fund organisational activities and students’ interest representation. Currently, hyy is also en-gaged in responsible investment and we hope that this will be the second cornerstone of the Student Union finances in the future. In addition, hyy Group
provides services primarily to students and more ex-tensively to the academic community as well.
hyy Group strongly supports responsible business operations. Responsible business operations include the responsibility for the environment, customers, personnel, cultural heritage and the economy.
Currently, the Group’s annual distribution of profit to hyy is approximately two million euro per year. The Group not only makes profit but provides services for students.
The Student Union’s companies Gaudeamus Helsinki University Press is Finland’s largest academic scientific publisher. Gaudeamus publishes scientifically uncompromising but easi-ly readable books in the fields of social sciences, philosophy, culture, environment, technology and economy. The books become familiar to many stu-dents during their study years.
www.gaudeamus.fiLyyra is the web media and student card of
Finnish higher education students. When you use Lyyra student card, you can have cheaper meals at UniCafes, for example, and travel by train and bus with a 50 % discount negotiated by the stu-dent unions. Through the web service, you can purchase the cheapest Apple computers in the country and have thousand other student benefits or look for rental apartments and flatmates. In ad-dition, Lyyra is a web media owned and made by students themselves. If your freshman group needs a calendar tool or if you want to share files, Lyyra is an excellent platform for you! hyy owns Lyyra together with the National Union of University Students in Finland (syl).
www.lyyra.fi
t
t
– business operations owned by students
HYY Group in figures (2010)
Employees: approximately 247
Turnover: 31,3 million euro
Market value of real estate owned by the Student Union, based on external evaluati-on: 173,4 million euro.
UniCafe within HYY Group owns 19 stu-dent restaurants, four cafeterias and four festive restaurants. In 2010, UniCafe sold over two million student meals.
t
t
t
t
DEAR NEW STUDENT
As a member of HYY, you also own UniCafe together with other students. As an owner-customer you have a genuine opportunity to infl uence what kind of restaurant operations we have now and in the future. We hope that you will become a frequent user of the services of your own restaurant company.
For further information about Oy UniCafe Ab, please visit our website and participate in the raffl e for fi ve lunch packages – you might win a week of free lunches!
www.unicafe.fi
whose spoon
Psst… � e student calendar includes a coff ee coupon, use it and take advantage of your benefi ts.
11
UniCafe provides student meals and cafeteria services in 19 lunch restaurants and three cafes on four campuses. Additionally, its operations include four festive restaurants: the Old Student House, Res-taurant Domus, Viola and Gustus & Vera. UniCafe was among the first organisers of student meals in Finland and just like back then, students can contin-ue to have influence on the student meals provided in our restaurants. During the summer, hyy Group also manages Hostel Academica which operates in Leppäsuo. www.unicafe.fi.
The Group’s profit distributed to hyy comes mainly from the rental income of our city centre re-al estate; Kaivotalo building, New Student House, Hansatalo building and Citytalo building. The buildings include offices, restaurants and a gallery. Kaivopiha Ltd is in charge of rental operations. In addition, hyy Real Estate includes Leppäsuo prop-erty and other individual real estates.
During its history, hyy has managed a cinema and a cultural centre as well as engaged in develop-ment aid business and many other fields.
Corporate governance of business When the business operations expanded from the 1970s onwards, the Student Union made a decision that professional executives would be recruited, who would try to make the most profitable busi-ness on behalf of students. Students, for their part, define the major policies of business operations. This takes place in the corporation boards, the Stu-dent Union Board and the Representative Council. Students are the majority in the boards of the ma-jor corporations. In addition, expert members who know the industry well are involved.
To conclude: hyy Group is the Student Union’s preferred way of organising its business operations. In addition to the distribution of profit, students benefit from having their own business as their wishes and needs can be genuinely taken into ac-count in services such as student meals.
DEAR NEW STUDENT
As a member of HYY, you also own UniCafe together with other students. As an owner-customer you have a genuine opportunity to infl uence what kind of restaurant operations we have now and in the future. We hope that you will become a frequent user of the services of your own restaurant company.
For further information about Oy UniCafe Ab, please visit our website and participate in the raffl e for fi ve lunch packages – you might win a week of free lunches!
www.unicafe.fi
whose spoon
Psst… � e student calendar includes a coff ee coupon, use it and take advantage of your benefi ts.
1�
Cultural events for every taste HYY will organise several student events in the academic year 2011–2012 and many of them are recurring annual traditions. HYY not only maintains the traditions of university students but its cultural activities are actively involved in creating cultural events which are cutting edge and suitable for the students of today.
Which cultural activi-ties of the autumn
would you recommend to a new student?
”I can sincerely recom-mend the opening carnival to all members of the university community but particularly I can recommend it to a new student. In the carnival, you can see for the first time the whole range of hobbies that the university commu-nity can provide.
Going through the stands, you can grab the mag-azines and leaflets of interesting organisations, and when you walk around the carnival area you can bump into some interesting performances. Also, do not forget the popular carnival refreshments, after which you can continue to the Old Student House in the evening to enjoy excellent music in the first big party of the autumn. Everyone will be there, you should come as well!”
Secretary for Cultural Affairs Ville Sinnemäki [email protected], tel. 050 537 2831
t
hy
yn
ar
kis
to
1�
The Opening Carnival and the OpeningParty, 5 SeptThe opening carnival of the academic year will be organised on Monday, 5 Sept, on Centre Campus. Students have the opportunity to participate in the university’s official opening ceremony during the day. In the carnival itself, the organisations operat-ing within hyy, the university services and other interesting organisations present themselves; a more specific programme is available on hyy’s website. In the evening, we will celebrate at the Old Student House in the opening party – see the ad-vertisement on the next page!
HYY’s Freshmen Night, 28 SeptFor the delight of new students, the freshmen night is organised in restaurant Pohjanhovi. Free tickets to this excellent party are distributed to new stu-dents and tutors in connection with hyy tours on 6–16 Sept, among others, so ask your tutor to book a tour for your group! Further information on hyy tours is available on hyy’s website, for example.
HYY’s Anniversary Week, 21–27 NovemberThe Student Union’s birthday will be celebrated on hyy’s anniversary week (week 47). hyy and the Student Union’s committees and organisations will arrange versatile events during the week, such as film screenings, courses and club nights – the pro-gramme offers something to everyone.
HYY’s Anniversary, 26 Nov26 November is hyy’s official anniversary and the an-niversary is celebrated traditionally at the Old Stu-dent House. This year is hyy’s 143rd anniversary.
Torchlight Procession of Independence Day, 6 Dec University students in the capital region celebrate Independence Day with the traditional torchlight procession. The procession is arranged in Hietanie-mi and it leaves towards Senate Square at 4.45pm. The joint celebration of citizens and university stu-dents starts at the square approximately at 6pm.
Shrove Tuesday Hullabaloo at Ullanlinnanmäki, 21 FebruaryOn Shrove Tuesday, university students dig out their sledges, slides and other sliding equipment and head to Ullanlinnanmäki. The best sliding equipment is awarded at the Shrove Tuesday hul-labaloo starting at noon. Pea soup and juice are
provided. Several student parties are usually or-ganised in the evening.
May Day, 30 Apr–1 MayHavis Amanda, or more familiarly known as Man-ta, is capped on May Day Eve at 6pm. From that moment onwards, you can wear the student cap for the whole summer if you like! The student un-ions in the capital region take turns in the capping of Manta and hyy’s next turn will be in 2014. In the May Day Eve, there are numerous student par-ties in the city. In the morning of May Day, head to Ullanlinnanmäki and listen to the YL Male Voice Choir and the speeches of the student union representatives and enjoy the hilarious picnic at-mosphere. The celebration begins already at 9am. Swedish-speaking university students gather for a picnic in Kaisaniemi Park.
Flower Day, 13 MayHYY’s own spring festival, Flower Day, is cele-brated at Kumtähti Field near Kumpula Campus on 13 May. The white-capped hopes of the nation have gathered at the same location already since the beginning of the 19th century and they sang Maamme national anthem for the first time in 1848. In addition to the anniversary, Flower Day is the other official cel-ebration of hyy. Nowadays, Maamme anthem is still sang together in the celebration but the programme also includes other kind of music and spring speech-es. Take your student cap, picnic basket, blanket and your friends and come to celebrate Flower Day in a relaxed atmosphere before leaving for the summer holidays. The programme starts at 12noon.
In addition to the above mentioned annual events, HYY also organises something new and sur-prising in the cultural field every year, often with some partner in cooperation. In recent years, the events have included, among other things, popu-lar Art for us! student days in Ateneum Art Muse-um, various music clubs, Pecha Kucha and stand up nights, poetry battle and various courses. You can create precisely the kind of cultural activities that you want through the Committee for Cultural Af-fairs which is open to all HYY’s members!
You can find further information on all events on HYY’s website hyy.fi, Ylioppilaslehti student maga-zine and HYY’s fan site on Facebook!
t
tt
thy
yn
ar
kis
to
1�
5.9.2011
COMPLETE PROGRAMME AVAILABLE ON WWW.HYY.FI
The opening party The Opening Carnival will continue in the evening with the Opening Party at the Old Student Hou-se (Vanha) from 8pm to 2am. Don Johnson Big Band, Hellcity 13 and DJ Drifter will perform at the first big party of this autumn. Tickets in advance cost only 8 € for HYY members and are available at Vanhan Kuppila and the HYY stand in the opening carnival! A limited number of normal price tickets (12 €) are on sale at the entrance.
The opening ceremonyAT 12 P.M. in the Great Hall of the Main Building (Alek-santerinkatu 5). The programme includes, among others, the Rector’s opening speech, the Academic Male Voice Choir of Helsinki, the Helsinki University Symphony Or-chestra and the opening mass at the Helsinki Cathedral.
The opening carnivalFROM 2 P.M. TO 6 P.M. at the City Centre Campus. Begin your academic term in a carnival atmosphere! The car-nival includes music, dancing, performances, drinks and snacks, introductions of different organisations, etc.
1�
Cultural activities in organisations In addition to hyy’s own cultural activities, the or-ganisations within hyy also provide a wide range of opportunities for cultural activities.
You have an excellent opportunity to begin, continue and develop singing or playing during your study years. Traditional music corporations Akademiska Damkören Lyran, Akademiska Sångföreningen, YL Male Voice Choir and Helsin-ki University Symphony Orchestra operate at the Old Student House. Other music organisations vary from techno and heavy music lovers to sever-al choirs and from live music organisation Helmut to Academic Brass Orchestra.
hyy’s film club operates in the field of cinema, and those interested in photography can join Yli-oppilaskamerat photography club. The entrance exams of the legendary Ylioppilasteatteri student theatre are traditionally organised right at the be-ginning of the autumn.
In addition to cultural organisations, student na-tions and larger subject organisations also have their own activities varying from choirs to theatre groups and from film clubs to band rehearsal rooms.
Member benefits and discounts In addition to arranging hyy’s own cultural events, hyy negotiates and offers discounts to its members on other cultural events in the capital region. Dur-ing the past years, hyy members received a dis-count on the festival pass of Love & Anarchy (15-25 Sept 2010, see www.hiff.fi) and DocPoint (24-29 Jan 2011, see www.docpoint.info) film festivals and special screenings on both festivals.
In addition to special discounts provided by hyy, numerous cultural institutions and producers in the metropolitan area have granted discounts to all students. hyy has collected extensive informa-tion on a student’s cultural benefits to our website and Carpe Culturam booklet which is available from hyy’s Services Office, among other things.
No studies without culture The range of cultural activities in the Student Union is wide, as is the concept of culture. There are also traditions varying from the premie-re of Maamme national anthem to the publishing of the avantgarde record of Love Records, the legendary Finnish record label.
Join the fun!Committee for Cultural Affairs participates in the planning and execution of cultural activi-ties. The committee members can also take part in the organising of traditional and cultural events or they can prepare their own projects such as clubs or competitions.
More information: www.hyy.fi.t
�
CARPEculturamopiskelijan kulttuuriedut
20��-20�2
!
www.hyy.fi/kulttuuriedut www.lyyra.fi
More information and a list of
cultural commitees:
www.hyy.fi
Approximately 250 various subject, recrea-tional and benefit organisations, interna-tional organisations and student nations
operate within hyy. Everyone can find a suitable place to have a good time and participate in these organisations.
Organisational activities can teach many skills which are not part of the actual university curricu-lum, yet they are an essential part of university stud-ies and the growth of becoming an academic citizen.
The Student Union supports student organisa-tions in many ways by providing direct or indirect financial support as well as guidance and counsel-ling. hyy provides premises for organisations at the New Student House in the centre of Helsinki and at Domus Gaudium in Etu-Töölö.
The presentations of organisations are availa-ble in the Student Calendar.
Why should I participate in organisational activities?
”Student organisations offer plenty of good servic-es which make students’ lives easier and which can-not be provided by the university or the student un-ion, such as housing, peer support, remedial teach-ing, study circles and various leisure time opportu-nities for different interests. In organisational activi-ties, you can get to know new people, make life-long friendships and experience many things which are not part of the university’s official curriculum – when operating in or-ganisations, you will learn surpris-ingly many things from the most varying fields. When studying at the university, you should not on-ly be in a hurry to complete a de-gree. Participating in organisation-al activities does not take time from efficient studies, it is an es-sential part of the university expe-rience and culture.”
Organisational activities are an important part of the student life The Student Union is the umbrella organisation for hundreds of student organisations from which each student can easily find a suitable organi-sation for one’s interests. Many organisations also have their own clubs and committees where a group of people with similar interests get together for the most amazing activities.
1�
Join the fun!Committee for Organisational Affairs. The purpose of the committee is to discuss and advertise the organisational services offered by HYY, the organisational and festive premises as well as other organisational af-fairs. The committee also aims at developing the cooperation between different organisa-tions. More information: www.hyy.fi.
Subject organisations bring together people who study the same subject, whether you are a historian or a geolo-gist. Subject organisations operate as the interest representatives of their own ma-jor subject at the university and make sure that studying is pleasant for everyone in the department. Events which are charac-teristic to a certain field are the core of the subject organisation activities.
Student nations are the oldest organisa-tions of hyy and they gather people to-gether from different regions. Student nations have long traditions and plenty of wide-ranging activities. If you get homesick, you will surely find support from the student nations.
In accordance with their name, recreation-al organisations are organisations where members gather together around a certain hobby. Recreational organisations vary from sports to chess clubs to role playing. Everyone can find at least one, if not sever-al, recreational organisations for one’s in-terests. Don’t hesitate to get involved!
Through political organisations, you can have effect on the student union and the surrounding society. Political organisations are visible on campuses every other year when hyy’s Representative Council elec-tions are organised and it is a good time to get to know these organisations properly. Find a small politician inside you and have influence on hyy’s operations.
1�
Space for students, premises for meetings and partiesStudents’ own houses: the Old, the New and Domus Gaudium During the 143-year history of hyy, stu-
dents have received three student houses for their use; the Old Student House
(1870), the New Student House (1910) and Domus Gaudium (2008). The houses provide space for students – specifically their own space – to get together. The buildings also include the premises of student nations and organisations as well as festive and meeting premises for students.
At the end of 2008, the so-called third Student House, Domus Gaudium, was built next to Domus Academica. The student union thus re-ceived new premises for students and student or-ganisations. Along the years, evening parties, clubs, meetings and theatre performances have been organised in students’ own houses. These three student houses offer a home for all the or-ganisations which operate within hyy.
1�
1945 The Student Union bought from the City of Helsinki three plots and made a res-ervation for four plots for student housing purposes in Leppäsuo. Construction draw-ings were ordered from Architect Pauli Salomaa and interior design from Ilmari Tapiovaara.1946 Construction work began under ra-tioning.1947 Houses A and B, financed partly with donated and collected funds, were inau-gurated. 1950 The Student Union began the con-struction work of the house C.1952 During XV Olympics, journalists were
accommodated in the house C. The house was traditionally inaugurated on the Student Union’s anniversary. The house included a self-service restaurant with 60 seats and food lifts to students ”who for study or other con-cerns avoid going to the cosy restaurant”.1962 The Student Union reclaimed a plot on Hieta¬niemenkatu for the building of a fourth dormitory. 1967 The Student Union began the con-struction work of the house D. Construction drawings were designed by Architect Pau-li Salomaa who had designed the previous Leppäsuo dormitories.1968 The house D was inaugurated. One
per cent of the construction expenses were covered by selling 10,000 ”Domus” towels.1996 The Student Union sold the house A to Hoas.2007 The construction of the third student house – Domus Gaudium – began in Lep-päsuo next to Domus Academica. The new house is designed by the architect office Brunow & Maunula.2008 The inauguration of Domus Gaudi-um was celebrated on HYY’s anniversary on 26 November. Domus Gaudium also got its own logo, designed by Graphic De-signer Jukka Veistola.
Domus Academica (Houses A, B, C and D) and Domus Gaudium
1887 The Student Union bought a plot for the library next to the current Old Student House.1906 University student Alina Mattsson sug-gested in VSO (Student Nation of Southwest Finland) meeting that a new house should be built due to lack of space at the Student House. Student nations considered the project expensive and recommended that the Student Union should build the house.1908 After an architect contest, the Stu-dent Union chose Armas Lindgren and Wivi Lönn to design the house. 1909 Construction work began.1910 The inauguration ceremony of the Student Nation House included, among other things, a cantata composed by Toivo
Kuula with the lyrics by Eino Leino Kuolemattomuuden toivo (”Wish of Im-mortality”) and, as a novelty, an ”automo-bile ride” for international guests.1919 The Student Union rented the ball-room to Engineer Johannes Saraoja for the purpose of ”screening the living pictures”.1924 The Student Nation House was heightened by two floors. At the same time, a roof and the lifts were renewed and hot water pipes were installed. New ten-ants included the Hotel Hansa and a car dealer Korpivaara & Halla Ltd.1929 A cinema was rented to A. Adams Films Ltd. ”Bio Civis” was renamed as ”Bio Bio”.1930 Ylioppilaskahvila Oy expanded its op-erations to the restaurant in the courtyard.
1931 Hämäläis-Osakunta student nation re-located to its own building on Kampinkatu.1952 Satakuntalainen student nation relo-cated to its own building in Lapinrinne.1957 Yliopiston apteekki pharmacy be-came a tenant.1968 The Hotel Borealis and Cafeteria Lin-nea and Snack bar Ykskax on the street lev-el, owned by the Student Union, began their operations.1979 The ballroom of the New Student House was demolished in connection with the extension work of Kaivopiha. It was re-placed by Hansa talo building. 1980 Eteläsuomalainen student nation re-turned to the New Student House.
The New Student House (Student Nation House)
1858 University students decided to build a house for meeting and festive purposes and bought a plot located in the Vuohi (goat) city block which is the current loca-tion of the National Archives.1867 The Senate exchanged without a cash payment a plot in Kallio for the plot in Soopeli block which is the current plot of the Old Student House.1868 The construction committee, which represented university students, submit-ted the drawings of the Student House, drafted by Hampus Dahlström, to the reg-istry office. The drawings were conveyed to the governor, the Senate, deputy chan-cellor, the University senate and chancel-lor, and finally the Emperor approved them with his signature in St. Petersburg.
1870 Students celebrated the inaugura-tion of the Student House, financed part-ly with donated and collected funds and partly with debt. 1876 University Chancellor Alexander Al-exandrovitsh, the future Tsar Alexander III, visited the house.1879 Water pipes were installed in the Stu-dent House.1898 The ballroom was extended by six metres and a stage and additional rooms were constructed.1899 A temporary ban on dancing was im-posed at the Student House due to the February Manifest. 1901 Akseli Gallen-Kallela painted a fresco ”Kullervon sotaanlähtö” (”Kullervo goes to war”) for the music hall. Louis Sparre and
Walter Thomé designed the new interior.1907 Kansan Näyttämö (later Helsinki City The-atre) became a tenant and remained a tenant until 1968, changing its name at times. 1929 An additional building for Suomalain-en kirjakauppa bookstore was constructed.1930 Ylioppilaskahvila Oy, located in the close proximity of the AKS, rented the res-taurant premises of the Old Student House.1966 ”Lapualaisooppera” performed in the ballroom caused discussion in the 40th anni-versary of Ylioppilasteatteri student theatre.1968 ”Ylioppilaat – Studenterna” (university students) took over the Old Student House.1978 The fire at the Old Student House.1979 The repairs and reconstruction work were completed.
The Old Student House
�0
Solving the puzzle of subsistence A student’s basic source of income is student financial aid which consists of the study grant, the housing supplement and the study loan guaranteed by the government. If you are not a finninsh citizen, please remembet to check if you are elygible for the benefits!
You can be granted the student financial aid if your studies are progressing and you have the need for financial aid, which means that you
do not earn more than your annual income limit. You need to apply only once for student finan-
cial aid for the whole period of your studies. The application must be submitted no later than the end of the first month for which you apply the aid. The decision is automatically made for the period 1 Sept–31 May. Later, you can also apply separately for the student financial aid for the summer months. Kela’s electronic services (www.kela.fi) are the most convenient way to apply for student finan-cial aid and make a notification of changes.
Two-phase student financial aid Student financial aid will be granted in two phases to students who begin their studies after 1 Aug 2011; separately for the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. A student may receive a total of 55 months of student financial aid. 3 x 9 (27) months of aid are reserved for the Bachelor’s degree and 2 x 9 (18) months of aid for the Master’s degree. In ad-dition, a student may receive 10 months of aid, which may be allocated to either degree phase ac-cording to a student’s needs. That is why a student
can spend the maximum of 37 months of aid for the Bachelor’s degree (180 credits) or the maximum of 28 months of aid for the Master’s degree (120 credits). However, the total number of the months of aid is the maximum of 55. If a student uses over 27 months of aid for a lower degree one can, re-spectively, receive less than 28 months of aid for the upper degree. If the lower degree is completed with less than 27 months of aid, one can still only receive the maximum of 28 months of aid for the higher degree.
Income limitsIncome of a student who receives student financial aid must not exceed the annual exempt amount. For each month during which you receive financial aid, the exempt amount is 660 euro and for each aid-free montht the amount is 1,970 euro.
The income check is performed afterwards when the taxation data is finished. If a student’s in-come exceeds the exempt amount with the maxi-mum of 220 euro, Kela does not claim the aid back. If the exceeded amount is more than 220 euro, Ke-la claims back the study grant and the housing sup-plement of one month with a 15 per cent interest for each surpassing 1310 euro.
Two-cycle student financial aid
10flex
2 x 9 = 18Master (120 op)
3 x 9 = 27Bachelor (180 op)
55 months of student
financial aid
�1
What are the income mat-ters in which the Student
Union’s Secretary for Social Af-fairs could help me?If you have any problems with the benefits or you are in a particularly difficult situation, I can help you to find more information and tell you about the possible support you can get in your situation.
Secretary for Social Affairs Katja Långvik [email protected], tel. 050 543 9608t
You can avoid the recovery by making sure that your income does not exceed the annual income lim-it. When you cancel on time the months of aid which you have already applied for and return the excess aid by the end of the following March, you can re-claim the months in which you receive the aid. Ke-la’s website has income calculators and information on the monitoring of free income.
Study progress is monitored A student should have the average of at least 5.5 cred-its per each month during which one receives the aid. However, the aid can still be granted if the average of 5 credits are completed per each month during which a student receives the aid. A student must also have at least 2.0 credits per supported month from the previ-ous academic year even if the average number of cred-its for the whole study time would be adequate.Those who receive student financial aid from the beginning of September to the end of May should therefore have over 45 credits at the end of the academic year
If your average number of credits for the months when you receive the aid is less than the required amount, you will receive a request for clarification concerning the delayed studies from the Financial Aid Committee in the following autumn. Accepta-ble reasons for the delay may be considered to be, for example, the student’s own illness, a close rela-tive’s illness or a difficult situation in life which co-incides with the prolongation of studies; there must be a clear causal relation. You must always attach written certificates from the authorities concerning the reasons you are appealing (a doctor’s certificates, for example). Your own clarification is not ade-quate. The discontinuation or temporary continua-tion of the aid is decided by the Financial Aid Com-
The compononents of student financial aid
Study grantUsually 298 euro per month for university stu-dents. A 10 per cent preliminary tax is withheld from the study grant. If you want to change your tax per cent, you can deliver your tax card or a revised tax card to the Financial Aid Committee or Kela office.
Housing supplement80 per cent of the maximum rent of 252 euro. The housing supplement is not paid for the ex-ceeding amount. If you are not entitled to the housing supplement (due to having a family or a transfer to the sickness allowance, for example), you can apply for the general housing allowance from Kela.
Government guarantee for student loans 300 euro per month for university students. A loan guarantee for the study grant months of the aca-demic year is automatically submitted to all stu-dents with no payment defaults or guarantor debt. You do not have to take the whole loan which is guaranteed to you. Banks receive the guarantee decision from Kela. Interests and other conditions are negotiated with your bank.
mittee. The monitoring is based on the number of credits received from the study register.
Do not use student financial aid for sick leave If your illness is prolonging your studies, ask for a medical certificate and save it. You may need it later when your study progress is monitored or if you have to apply for the extension of student financial aid. It is not advisable to use your student financial aid if you are ill for a long period of time. If you have a long-term illness, you may be entitled to the sick-ness benefit and the general housing allowance. You can apply for these benefits from Kela, you need to attach a doctor’s certificate to the application.
Further information: www.kela.fi > Opiskelijat Kela’s national student service number 020 692 209 (Mon-Fri, 8am-6pm) Service points of Student Services: www.helsinki.fi/neuvonta/english/index.htm
t
��
Studies supported by the unemployment allowance. You can receive the unemployment allowance dur-ing full-time studies if you are registered with an employment office as a jobseeker and your regis-tration is valid. You must also be at least 25 years old when the supported studies begin. It is possi-ble to complete studies leading to a higher educa-tion degree at university with the unemployment allowance only if the purpose is to continue stud-ies which are proven discontinued for at least one year. However, the limitation does not concern studies which began during one’s employment if there is a particular reason to continue them. For a specific reason, a jobseeker may also have the opportunity to begin new studies at university. The unemployment allowance also consumes the maximum period of 500 days of the unemploy-ment allowance.
Employment and Economic Development OfficesKela (www.kela.fi) The Federation of Unemployment Funds in
Finland (www.tyj.fi)
Social assistanceSocial assistance is the ultimate form of securing one’s subsistence. A student’s primary form of sub-sistence is the student financial aid. The govern-ment-guaranteed student loan is also regarded as income even if the student does not take the loan. Social assistance is applied for at the social station of one’s residential area.
Social station of your municipality www.HYY.fi/toimeentulotuki
Sickness allowance for a sick leave It is not advisable to use the student financial aid while ill. During your sick leave, you can receive the sick-ness allowance and the general housing allowance.
However, if you know for sure that your illness will last no longer than two months, you can still re-ceive the student financial aid. You might have to clarify your illness when the Financial Aid Commit-tee monitors the progress of your studies. Therefore, see a doctor and keep your medical certificate.
If you suspect that your illness might last over two months, the sickness allowance is a more suit-able form of subsistence. When applying for the
t
t
t
t
t
sickness allowance, you need to attach a doctor’s certificate concerning your incapacity for work. You can apply for the sickness allowance within four months of your illness.
www.kela.fi > Sickness
Family benefitsParents who study are entitled to maternity, pater-nity and parental allowances. If studying parents re-ceive the study grant at the same time, they are en-titled to the minimum rate of the allowance. Stud-ies also have to progress in accordance with the re-quirements of the student financial aid. A studying parent is entitled to the extension of the study time which is equivalent to the parental allowance peri-od. After the parental allowance period, the student can receive the child home care allowance if the stu-dent has a child under the age of 3 who is not in mu-nicipal day care. The child home care allowance is regarded as a source of annual income in the income check for the student financial aid.
A student living with one’s child or a spouse’s child can apply for the general housing allowance.
Adult education allowance The Education Fund grants the adult education al-lowance for employees who have worked for at least five years and have been employed by the same employer for at least one year. The applicant must be on a study leave to qualify for the allow-ance. If you are entitled to the adult education al-lowance, you may also be eligible for a govern-ment-guaranteed student loan.
Employment and Economic Development Offices www.koulutusrahasto.fi
Grants and scholarships The National Union for University Students (syl) administers a scholarship database on its website (www.syl.fi). This website also has links to other databases. Yliopisto magazine publishes the schol-arships column where the available grants and scholarships are published. It is advisable to in-quire scholarships from Centre for International Mobility (www.cimo.fi) particularly if you have re-ceived a traineeship placement through CIMO.
t
t
t
t
t
Gaudeamus. Tiedon puolella.
Ave,capo di tutti capi!
Gaudeamuksen kirjat kulkevat opintojesi rinnalla aina pääsykokeista graduun, gradusta jatko-opintoihin
ja sen ylikin, kaikkiin elämäsi eri vaiheisiin. Julkaisemme eri
menetelmäoppaita, väitöskirjoja, maailman parannusta ja maamme
huippututkijoiden teoksia. Tutustu valikoimaamme verkossa
www.gaudeamus.fi.
Lyyra-kortilla opiskelija-alennuksia Yliopistokirjakaupasta (Porthania ja Otaniemi)
ja Kolmen sepän kirjakaupasta (Kaivopiha).
Det är ju visst Du som äger det ledande vetenskapliga förlaget i Finland.
Gaudeamus Helsinki University Press is pleased to greet its
new owners and directors! No funny business!
��
Finding a suitable apartment in the metropoli-tan area is not impossible but it can be challeng-ing. There are plenty of options and housing
providers, as well as applicants. The busiest time to find accommodation is at the beginning of the aca-demic term and the best advice is to use several appli-cation channels at that time. You can submit an ap-plication to Hoas and a student nation, for example, as well as browse Lyyra’s rental apartments in the pri-vate housing sector – just remember to cancel unnec-essary applications after finding your apartment.
Wide range of rental housing Hoas, the Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki Region, offers a wide range of rooms in shared apartments, friends’ and family apartments, studios and small one-bedroom apartments in Hel-sinki, Espoo and Vantaa. Hoas has approximately 8,200 apartments and 16,000 residents.
Hoas processes applications throughout the year so you should apply as soon as your study place is confirmed. If you do not have specific requirements for the location, for example, you are usually offered housing faster. You can live with Hoas throughout your study time.
You can also apply for a friends’ apartment togeth-er with your friend. Families with children or two adults can also apply for a family apartment. If you want to apply for a studio apartment, you have to be in the fi-nal stage of your studies and already live in Hoas apart-ment. Some Hoas apartments are accessible.
Many student nations provide inexpensive apart-ments for their members or for those who become members. Some student nations have a specific appli-cation period for freshmen in May–July and other ap-plication periods throughout the year. You can also ap-ply for rental housing of the cities of Helsinki, Espoo and Vantaa or for the apartments of various founda-tions. Some foundations provide housing for the stu-dents of specific faculties. Read more about these op-tions on hyy’s website or from Need a Roof? brochure which you received with your confirmation letter.
Many students end up renting an apartment from the private sector. They are often more expensive than
I still don’t have an apart-ment. What should I do?
”The best advice is to use several application channels. You can apply for the housing of Hoas, a student na-tion or the city at the same time. Oth-er tips are available on HYY’s website in Need a Roof? guide for house hunters: www.hyy.helsinki.fi/eng-lish/36. When you get an apartment, please remember to cancel unnecessary applications! You can turn to me if, despite all your efforts, you don’t have an apartment when your studies begin.”
Secretary for Social Affairs Sofia Lindqvist [email protected], tel. 050 543 9605
t
Hoas apartments or other previously mentioned or-ganisations. Private rental housing can be rented ei-ther directly from the owner (through Lyyra’s hous-ing service, for example) or through a housing agen-cy. Official housing agencies usually charge a com-mission in the form of the increased rent or a contract with a minimum period or they might demand the landlord to make an assignment which is paid sepa-rately. The landlord often requires a deposit which is usually a rent of 1–3 months.
The Act on Residential Leases regulates rental housingIt is always advisable to make a rental agreement in writing. A ready-made rental agreement is available on the address http://www.finlex.fi/data/sdliite/li-ite/4854.pdf, for example. Before signing a rental agreement, it is important to read the agreement care-fully and to clarify to what you are committing your-self. All terms of the agreement should be entered in the agreement so that they can be invoked at a later date. The rental agreement can be valid for a fixed term or a non-fixed term. A non-fixed term agreement will terminate when either party terminates the agree-ment. When the tenant terminates the agreement, there is a one month notice period.
Efforts in house hunting are rewarded Flexibility, speed and information search are assets when looking for a home. The metropolitan area has housing forms suitable for each wallet but the general price level is higher than in the other parts of the country.
��
Dig and search When searching for a home, you should use all possible channels. There are plen-ty of housing ads online and in newspa-pers. Read housing ads in Helsingin Sa-nomat and other newspapers at the Student Union’s Central Office, for ex-ample. The University website also has a marketplace which has its own section for rental housing
(www.helsinki.fi/ajankohtaista/ilmoitustori).
Rental apartments for students The inexpensive apartments of Hoas, the Foundation for Student Housing in the Helsinki Region, for example, are available for you as a student. HYY is one of the founding communities of Hoas and it has effect on Hoas operations. HYY and Hoas together influence the municipalities in the metropolitan area
t
in order to provide more student hous-ing in convenient locations. HYY also owns some apartments in Etu-Töölö at Do¬mus Academica and in Pohjois-Haaga on Ida Aalbergin tie. The apart-ments are applied for through Hoas. Ap-plications can be submitted anytime but freshmen are the priority in the housing queue. It is advisable to submit a housing application as soon as your place of study has been confirmed.
www.hoas.fi
Students’ housing service in LyyraLyyra’s housing service provides private short-term and long-term rental housing for students around the country. Check out the apartments on www.lyyra.fi/asunnot. You can also find roommates through the service and get information about student housing. The service is free of charge but registration is required.
t
Domicile As a student, you can decide if you want to be registered in your previous munic-ipality or if you want to register to the municipality where you study. In governmental and municipal elec-tions you can vote in your place of dom-icile; even if you live in Helsinki, you can-not vote in the electoral district of Hel-sinki if you are registered elsewhere. Other services and benefits are also re-served only for the local residents. These services in the metropolitan area in-clude a student discount in public trans-port, among other things.You also pay taxes to the municipality in which you are registered. You can change your domicile at the Registry Office.
Students’ own health care As a basic degree student of the University, you are entitled to use inexpensive and high-quality health services. In addition, you are entitled to municipal health care.
University students have had their own health care for over 50 years. Finnish Student Health Service (fshs) provides
the services of general practitioners, specialists, and physiotherapists, as well as laboratory and x-ray services. Consultations with a public health nurse or a general practitioner are free of charge. Small fees are charged for consultations with a specialist or a dentist. Laboratory and x-ray services are free of charge if an fshs doctor has issued the referral. First year degree students
will receive an information letter by e-mail with a link to an electronic health questionnaire. Based on the responses, a public health nurse and an oral hygienist evaluate whether the stu-dent should be invited to a personal health check-up and they send a feedback message to the student with further instructions. Each stu-dent can, in any case, have a free health check-up if they want to. The first dental check-up by a fshs dentist is free of charge regardless of the phase or duration of basic degree studies.
��
Checklist for your health!
FSHS health services As a basic degree student, you are entitled to use health care services provided by Finnish Student Health Servi-ce. The FSHS fee of basic degree students is included in HYY’s membership fee.
After paying the student union membership fee, you can use the FSHS services throughout the country until the end of August in the following year. Lyyra card is the most convenient way to prove your membership.
Remember to cancel if you cannot use your appoint-mentIf you cannot use your appointment, please remember to cancel it no later than 12noon on the previous day eit-her by phone or by using the cancellation form at
www.fshs.fi/cancelling.If you cancel your appointment later than the previous-
ly mentioned time period, you will be charged the consul-tation fee. If you do not cancel your appointment at all and do not use the appointment, you will be charged the ap-pointment fee and a 15 euro fine. The 15 euro fine is also charged when the appointment is free of charge.
t
FSHS serves you in many locations It is recommended to get to know the website of FSHS. You can find information on services, opening hours, ans-wers to health-related questions and the form to cancel your appointment. You can also ask for advice from the online counselling.
www.fshs.fi
FSHS Töölö: Töölönkatu 37 A
FSHS Otaniemi: Otakaari 12
Services in Lahti and Vaasa: www.yths.fi
Health counselling phone at your service Health counselling phone is open 24 hours and answers questions related to health and medical treatment and guides you to suitable health services. The charge for the call includes a fee charged by the operator and a local call cost but there is no separate service charge.
Tel. (09) 10023
t
t
t
Holistic health Public health nurses take care of minor injuries and mild illnesses and they can write a sick leave certificate for a short-term absence or issue a re-ferral to the laboratory. You can also discuss is-sues related to health or illness. Public health nurs-es also take care of vaccinations. If you need vac-cinations for travel, you can clarify the need for vaccinations from the centralised fshs vaccina-tion and travel advice number which is available on fshs website.
In all cases requiring treatment, you need to call the fshs number to evaluate the need for treatment and make an appointment. In acute cases, please contact fshs preferably in the morning between 8am and 9am. If the number is busy, fshs uses the callback service. fshs aims to treat acute cases on the same day or no later than the next day, depend-ing on the illness. fshs does not have actual emer-gency health care, so depending on the situation you may also be instructed to go directly to health centre emergency services.
The oral health care services of fshs include acute treatment, oral and dental health care and ba-
sic and special treatment. Mental health care servic-es cover mental health consultation, psychiatric ex-amination and consultation, psychotherapy, preven-tive mental health care and online counselling.
Appointment numbers and other contact infor-mation and opening hours are available on fshs website.
Municipal health care when necessary fshs is open only on weekdays so in case of sud-den illness during the weekends, in particular, you have to rely on municipal services. Students are entitled to use them like other residents of the mu-nicipality. Municipal health services are intended for those registered in the municipality, but in acute cases, services can also be used by non-local residents. In Helsinki and Vantaa, you have to pay the health centre fee whereas students living in Es-poo using health services there do not have to pay the fee. Students using the services in Espoo have to prove their student status by showing the Lyyra card, for example.
All municipalities have an additional fee for emergency care.
��
Food and coffee in students’ own UniCafes A decent lunch gives you energy and helps you to focus on your studies.
Students can have inexpensive lunch in Uni-Cafes owned by the Student Union and in other student restaurants. Kela’s student fi-
nancial aid centre (kotk) subsidises each student lunch by 1,77 euro (in 2011).
UniCafes differ from other student restaurants, as they are business owned by hyy which means the students themselves. In addition, students can have effect on the operation of the restaurants by providing feedback or participating in the opera-tions of the restaurant committees operating on the campuses.
The price of the basic lunch in the autumn of 2011 is 2,50 euro – and when paying with Lyyra card, you receive an additional discount of ten cents. In addition to the serving, all meals include a drink (milk, sour milk, soy drink, juice or wa-ter), bread and spreads, salad, as well as potato, rice or pasta as a side dish. In addition, desserts are always on offer.
Almost all UniCafes provide both self-baked cafeteria products and actual student meals. On all campuses (except Meilahti) one UniCafe also serves inexpensive breakfast.
UniCafe caters for the most common special di-ets, there are always good vegetarian options, for
example. All restaurants also have a vegan option (excluding Rotunda, Korona and Exactum). Prod-uct descriptions and the energy content of main meals are available in the restaurants.
UniCafe also offers Fair Trade products from which farmers receive decent and fair compensa-tion. In this way, you can support the education of the young on the other side of the globe, for exam-ple. Another fair choices are organic products and development meals which support hyy’s develop-ment cooperation project.
Eating in UniCafes is popular and therefore many restaurants have queues between the lectures, at 11.45am
–12.15pm and at 1.45pm–2.15pm. If possible, have your lunch break at a different time. Howev-er, the restaurants have many counters and usual-ly the queues move quickly.
You can eat at any UniCafe restaurant and you receive the same discounts with your Lyyra Card or by presenting other certificate on your studies.
In Kaivopiha UniCafe, you can also have a stu-dent-priced lunch on Saturdays!
UniCafe restaurants, menus and feedback: www.unicafe.fit
petr
i a
rtt
ur
i a
sik
ain
en
Exercise in between lectures As a student, you can easily continue your old sport or start a new one. Exercising opportunities at the University of Helsinki and in the capital region are almost endless.
The University of Helsinki has its own UniSport which provides inexpensive sports services on all four campuses and also in Otaniemi and
Töölö. Guided training is organised in numerous sports varying from bodypump to carefree shoul-ders and from gym training to badminton.
Most of the selection of UniSport is also suitable for students who have not exercised previously.
You can get the most versatile and inexpensive sports package by paying the sports fee of 12 months (€85). You can naturally buy a shorter pe-riod, too. UniSport also organises leagues.
Floorball leagues, for example, are organised both for women and men. A floorball game or-ganised by a subject organisation, for example, is an excellent opportunity to spend relaxing time together. Numerous sports clubs also oper-ate at the University.
Exercise anywhereNational sports activities are coordinated by Finn-ish Student Sports Federation (oll) which admin-isters www.opiskelijaliikunta.fi website, among other things. The website provides information on benefits, events, competitions, and sports and
health in general.The website has information about a student discount in major sports events. Al-so remember that most of the private exercise fa-cilities grant some kind of a discount, so it is always worth showing your student card.
Further information:UniSports brochurewww.unisport.fiwww.opiskelijaliikunta.fi/english
Sports events for studentsShrove Tuesday – Ullanlinnanmäki is filled with the students of the capital region in the Shrove Hullabaloo of the student unions on Shrove Tuesday.
Further information:www.hyy.fiHYY page in Ylioppilaslehti student magazine
The sports facilities of the city You often receive a student discount with your student card in the sports facilities of the city. In the swimming halls and outdoor swimming pools, for example, you can swim for half the price.
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
tpetr
i a
rtt
ur
i a
sik
ain
en
��
XXVIII SELL student games17.-20.5.2012 Espoo, Finland
The traditional sell Student Games will be organized in Espoo, Otaniemi, on 17-20 May 2012. sell Games are a multi-sport student sports event open to all university students in the world.
The games include basketball, volleyball, mini-football, salibandy, ultimate, athletics, judo, bowl-ing, frisbie golf, tennis, wrestling, table tennis, chess, badminton, orienteering, swimming.
Registration will begin in the autumn of 2011.sell Student Games are hosted by Aalto University Sports Club and Aalto University Student Union.
More information: www.sell2012.fit
�0
The most convenient way to get around in the capital region is to use public trans-port. You can travel almost anywhere by
tram, metro, bus and commuter trains.If you only travel within one municipality,
you need an internal ticket. With the ticket, you can use all public transport as much as you want in the municipality during the validity of your ticket. If you live in Vantaa, for example, and study at the University of Helsinki, you will need a regional ticket as you travel between the mu-nicipalities. The Journey Planner on the address www.reittiopas.fi/en is a service which helps you to find the best transport connections or cycling routes to any address in the capital region.
Pay with the travel cardTo receive the student discount in public trans-port, you have to purchase a travel card which en-titles you to the discount. If you have not received your Lyyra student card yet, visit the University’s student counselling and fill in a form after which the officer proves you to be a university student. Then head to an office which sells travel cards in your municipality. Your student status is saved in-to the travel card and you are entitled to pay the student price for your tickets.
The student status is valid for a year at the time and it ends on 31 August the following year. If you already have the travel card, you can up-date your student status directly in temporary service points during August. One temporary service point is located in the University’s Main Building (Fabianinkatu 33). You can load time (period) or money (value) into the card.
www.hsl.fi/en/www.reittiopas.fi/en/
tt
Smooth public transport in the Helsinki regionPublic transport offers high-frequency services which are con-venient to use. The Journey Planner guides you to any location in the Helsinki region.
�1
Student discount in the travel card Students registered to Helsinki, Espoo, Vantaa, Kauniain-en, Kerava or Kirkkonummi receive a 50 per cent dis-count both from internal tickets and regional tickets.
If you are over 30 years old, you are only entitled to the student discount if you have a favourable study grant decision.
www.hsl.fi/en/www.hkl.fi
Student discount in long-distance traffic VR grants a 50 per cent discount on train tickets in long-distance trains. In order to receive the discount, you must present a student card which is valid for the current academic term – a paid membership fee is not sufficient.
Matkahuolto grants a 50 per cent discount on sin-gle tickets when the trip covers at least 80 kilometres. To receive the student discount, you need a student card with the Matkahuolto logo. The most convenient way to buy your ticket at VR and Matkahuolto is to show your Lyyra student card. You do not need other student cards.
www.vr.fi/engwww.matkahuolto.fi/en
Cycle to the campusCycling is healthy, economic, environmentally friend-ly, convenient and, above all, pleasant. Helsinki has an extensive cycle path network which is improved con-stantly. There is a total of 1,180 kilometres of cycle paths of which over 730 kilometres are paved. The website of the city of Helsinki also includes a journey planner for cycling where you can find a convenient cycle path. http://kevytliikenne.ytv.fi/en.
An outdoor map with cycling routes is published in the capital region. You can get the free map from the service points of the Sports Department or online on the address http://pk.hsl.fi/en/.
Bikes may be transported freely in the metro but preferably outside the rush hour. The transport of bikes in buses or trams is not allowed. In commuter trains, you can take your bike with you outside the rush hour (6am-9am and 3pm-6pm) if there is room on the train. The University provides bike racks as well as lockers and shower facilities for cyclists.
A Car Free Day on 22 September HYY also participates in the Car Free Day on 22 Sep-tember, follow our website
www.hyy.fi.
tt
tt
t
By foot, bike, bus, train...
��
UH websiteThe uh website offers current information and news on science, education and academia. You will also find blogs, videos and a calendar of events.
www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto
Helsinki.fi city portalThe city portal features a calendar that covers events in Helsinki and at uh.
www.helsinki.fi
Elsewhere on the InternetYou can find uh and many of its units and facul-ties on, for example, Facebook. The Kumpula and Meilahti campuses are on SecondLife. Moreover, uh is on Twitter and YouTube’s Education Chan-nel. You can also find videos on the uh website. Follow your university and contribute!
Alumni NetworkAlumni (Lat. alumnus, alumna, alumni, alumnae): foster son, pupilAlumni are former students and graduates of a specific university. After graduation, you will be-come an alumnus or alumna of uh. The Alumni Network offers you a lifelong opportunity to keep up with your Alma Mater, your university. You can join right away!
www.helsinki.fi/alumni
t
t
t
The University of Helsinki (uh) ranks among the world’s top 100 universities and the leading universities in Europe. We hope you
will enjoy your studies at our multidisciplinary and international university! Together, we work to become the best.
Education at four campuses in HelsinkiCity center campus: 20,100 students in the Facul-ties of Theology, Law, Arts, Behavioral Sciences and Social SciencesMeilahti campus: 2,900 students in the Faculty of MedicineKumpula campus: 6,300 students in the Faculty of ScienceViikki campus: 6,400 students in the Faculties of Forestry and Agriculture, Biological and Environ-mental Sciences and Veterinary Medicine
Information sources and tools
Finland’s largest intranetThe uh intranet, a communication tool for students, teachers and other personnel. Alma has approxi-mately 46,000 users. In addition to internal news and event information, Alma offers students guide-lines, content and tools to support their studies.
Through the intranet, you can also access We-bOodi to sign up for classes and examinations and to order a credit transcript.
uh is developing Alma into the Flamma e-desk-top, an information management platform that will be implemented in the next year. During the tran-sition period both intranets will be in use. From the beginning of 2012 Flamma will be the main medi-um for communication inside the University.
Access to both Alma and Flamma:www.helsinki.fi/almat
The University of Helsinki: Knowledge for a better world Congratulations! You have gained admission to one of the best universities in the world.
x m
ats
en
gb
lom
www.
helsinki.fi/
university/
��
x m
ats
en
gb
lom
UH in brief• 36,600 students• 8,700 employees• 5,800 degrees completed each year• 400 doctoral degrees completed each year• 17 locations in Finland, in addition to Helsinki• 11 faculties• 20 independent institutions• 4 campuses in Helsinki• 2 official languages: Finnish and Swedish• Teaching also in English
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
��
Students are part of the university administration You are part of the academic community and its sovereign member. As a student, you can develop the University’s activities if you want.
Even if the university administration might seem distant at first glance, the various ad-ministrative organs discuss matters which
affect the everyday life of the academic commu-nity. The University’s various administrative or-gans also include hundreds of students and you can become one of them. The will to improve the level of teaching and to develop the learning en-vironment is the starting point for action and there is a genuine opportunity for it. Students’ views are generally taken well into account, as long as ideas and thoughts are well-justified and courageously developed.
We have power The Student Union closely follows the Universi-ty’s everyday life and is involved in the decision making of the University Board and the various committees through the representatives it has appointed. The Student Union also keeps in touch with other student representatives in ad-ministration, the University’s management and presenters.
Student representatives at all levels of admin-istration are in their position for you. Do not let your representatives get away easily but contact them and tell them your ideas! A representative cannot guess or invent all needs and shortcom-ings. Your feedback and ideas are needed. The contact information of the representatives is usually available on the website or the intranet of the unit.
How can a student have effect on the operations of the University?
”You can have effect on minor issues by giving feedback directly to the person attending to the issue. Departments collect feedback about their teaching, for example. When you express what is good or bad, operations can be developed to bet-ter suit the requirements. More extensive affairs are influenced through the university administration. Department councils, faculty councils and univer-sity administration also include student represent-atives. You can influence by contacting them or run as a candidate when representa-tives are elected to organs.”
Secretary for Academic Affairs Juha Hurme [email protected], tel. +358-50-543 8460
t
The faculty is managed by a faculty council led by a dean. It decides on de-gree requirements, the approving of theses and the development of teach-ing and operations at the faculty.
Some faculties are divided into de-partments. The department council and the director of the department manage the administration of the department. The departmental level is the closest to students and many decisions, which are
t
t
directly visible in the student’s everyday life, are made on that level.
Professors, other staff members and students are represented in faculty councils and department councils.
The University’s highest decision-making organ is the board. Its duties include, among other things, deciding on the long-term development of the University, the University’s budget, ap-pointing the University’s rector and
t
t
drafting the most important state-ments of the University. The Board of the University of Helsinki has been pre-viously called the senate. The Universi-ty Collegium supervises the operations of the University Board. Its duties in-clude deciding on the approval of the University’s financial statement, the number of board members and their term, and discussing important affairs which concern the whole University.
Join the activitiesIf you are interested in developing your univer-sity, the easiest way to join is through your sub-ject or faculty organisation.You can get informa-tion on the university administration from stu-dent representatives in administration, your sub-ject or faculty organisation, a faculty office and the Student Union. You can also participate in the development of teaching and other opera-tions of the University in the Student Union’s Committee for Educational Affairs.
The ladder of the university administration
TwO sidEs hAs diffEREnT sTORiEsHYY’S ELECTIONS 2011
WWW.HYY.FI/ELECTIONS
��
TwO sidEs hAs diffEREnT sTORiEsHYY’S ELECTIONS 2011
Representative COunCil ElECTiOns1 8 - 1 9 O c t .Ad va n c e v o t i n g 1 2 - 1 3 O c t .
WWW.HYY.FI
Administration ElECTiOns 14-15 nov.
nomination of canditates
till 2nd of nov.
WWW.HYY.FI/ELECTIONS
��
Plan your studies A carefully considered selection of minor studies, diverse language skills and work experience will facilitate your employment after graduation. You can get help for making your study plans.
A t the beginning of your studies, you de-vise a personal study plan (hops in Finn-ish). It helps you to perceive your stud-
ies and make long-term study plans. In hops, you can plan and schedule the completion of study modules at different levels, language stud-ies, minor studies, student exchange and train-eeship as well as other useful matters for your future career.
The devising of hops varies at different de-partments. hops can be integrated into other
studies, such as orientation studies, or it can be planned together with a tutor. You can ask your tutor or a teacher tutor about the current prac-tice at your own department.
However, you do not have to draft your study plan alone. You can get help from teachers, old-er students or the student affairs office. Please bear in mind that stupid questions do not exist, especially at the beginning of studies. Asking questions is also a good way to get to know the people at your department.
��
Your study time is limited The Universities Act defines that the maximum du-ration of your study right is five years with some exceptions. The higher degree must be completed in a time period which does not exceed the norma-tive duration of studies by more than two years. The lower degree must not exceed the normative duration by more than a year. The target duration for the completion of the high-er degree is usually two years and three years for the lower degree. Some faculties have exceptional target durations.
If you exceed the norma-tive duration of studies, you have to draft a goal-oriented and achievable plan leading to the com-pletion of your studies. You can only continue your studies after the plan is approved.
If you have problems with your studies, seek guidance and support immediately, not only when the target duration is approaching. The amend-ment concerning the duration of studies does not regard military service or maternity, paternity or parental leave as absence. In these cases, however, it is advisable to check the current policy from your own student counsellor.
Etappi system is the system of the University of Helsinki which monitors the progress of stud-ies. The system finds those students from the stu-dent register who have not completed the re-quired amount of credits determined by faculties
during their studies. The purpose is that these students receive intensified study guidance and are obliged to make a plan to complete their studies. The registration for attendance is only possible when the student completes the required studies or makes the plan. The first assessment is done already in the spring of the first year – how-ever, there are no sanctions at that point. Do not
be afraid of getting caught in the system: the purpose is to help you in your studies, not complicate them. If problems occur, you can always contact the Student Union.
Versatility is an asset in finding a job The labour market demands increasingly versatile skills. Work experience, which the student may ac-quire especially during the holidays, is often cru-cial in finding a job. Language skills and interna-tional experience are valued in many sectors, as well as work experience in organisations and thoughtful subject choices.
It is an unfortunate fact that a university degree does not guarantee a permanent well-paid job in these days. However, it is still worth to study.
The employment of the graduates from the Uni-versity of Helsinki is good in most areas. In addi-tion to your diploma, the subjects of which your degree consists and the other skills that you have are important when looking for a job.
Advice servicesThe Student Union secretaries can ad-vise you in various problem situations related to studies and students’ every-day life. See contact information on the website (www.hyy.fi) or in this guide.
Versatile study path – JOO!Forget a limited and narrow degree! Find out about a more extensive cour-se selection and plan your own study module. You will have even a more ver-satile degree if you include a minor subject which is not taught at the Uni-versity of Helsinki.
Under the national JOO (=the flexible study rights scheme) agreement, the de-gree students of the University of Helsin-ki can apply for the free study right in anot-her Finnish university. The student affairs office at your own faculty can help you and advise you with issues concerning the crediting of studies, among other things. You can get advice from HYY in bureauc-ratic issues and ideas for alternative forms of learning. The Student Union also allo-cates grants for the implementation of in-novative learning methods.
www.joopas.fiStudent affair offices at the faculties
tt
Antoisampaan opiskeluun guide (in Finnish)HYY has published Antoisampaan opis-keluun guide for all students. If you ha-ve not received the guide from your own faculty, you can download it in an electronic form on HYY’s website on www.hyy.fi (communications – publi-cations). The guide is designed to help you develop your own learning skills.
Get your studies together!
”If you have problems with your studies, seek guidance and support
immediately”
��
My exam was graded unfairly.
What should I do?”When you receive your
exam results, you can ask ad-ditional information about your examination and the criteria for grading the exam by contacting the teacher in question.
If you want to make the request for revision of your grade, submit the appeal to the teacher within 14 days after you had the possibility of receiving infor-mation on the results. If you are not satisfied with the decision, you may submit a new request for re-vision to the Legal Protection Committee. The teach-er must provide the decision in writing if the stu-dent is unsatisfied with the decision on the request. Please remember that the appeal to the Legal Pro-tection Committee must also be done within 14 days from when you were informed of the decision.”
Secretary for Academic Affairs Anne Rautanen [email protected], tel. +358-50-543 8458t
The degree consists of modules at different lev-els. It is important that you can piece together the courses in suitable modules. Naturally, it is possi-ble and even useful to choose some courses purely according to your own interests.
Take advantage of hops when you create your own personal study path and develop your own identity as a future academic specialist.
You can aim at doctoral studies and continue on the academic path or create a plan which allows you to discover and develop your own area of ex-pertise in the working life outside university.
Have the courage to be an individual and choose your own path.
Students have their rights In order to secure students’ legal protection, the Uni-versity of Helsinki has enacted a regulation concern-ing the grading of studies and examinations, which is available in the study guide of almost every facul-ty as well as the university’s website.
The regulation determines, among other things, the language of examinations, required examina-tion literature, examination arrangements, distur-bance and fraud in examinations, the grading of completed studies and the publication of results, the rectification procedure of grading, the legal protection committee and the registration of com-pleted credits.
Students’ legal protection is also enacted in the University’s own regulation. All of the above-mentioned regulations are available at the facul-ty and department offices, the Student Union and the Universit’s website. Do not delay any legal right issues even for a day as the enacted time limits expire quickly. Please read the previously mentioned regulation and if there is something you do not understand, you can ask for advice over the phone.
Further information on career planning:The University of Helsinki Career Services (Fabianinkatu 33,1st floor), tel. (09) 1912 2125, urapalve-
[email protected], www.helsinki.fi/urapalvelut (also alma.helsinki.fi > Opiskelu ja opetus or Opiskelun tueksi)
Academic advisors in Kluuvi Employment and Economic Development Office, contact information on www.mol.fi
Further information on the student’s legal protection:www.helsinki.fi/yliopisto/hakemisto > JohtosäännötHYY’s secretaries for academic affairs Study counsellors and the head of academic affairs/
student affairs secretaries (see the study guide)Secretary of the Legal Protection Committee, Lawyer
Hannele Markkanen, tel. (09) 1912 2655
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
t
Elämähaltuun.
Nyyti - opiskelijoiden tukikeskus
Tietoa verkossa.
nyyti.fi
Elämän ja opiskelunhallintaan.
Mukavaayhdessäoloa.
Osallistu taiseuraa muidenkeskustelua.
Netti-ryhmät
Elämän-taitokurssi
Hengailu-illat
Elämähaltuun.
Nyyti - opiskelijoiden tukikeskus
Tietoa verkossa.
nyyti.fi
Elämän ja opiskelunhallintaan.
Mukavaayhdessäoloa.
Osallistu taiseuraa muidenkeskustelua.
Netti-ryhmät
Elämän-taitokurssi
Hengailu-illat
�0
Support for the student life Studies or the student life can sometimes feel stressful. However, stu-dents are provided with several support services tailored precisely for their situation in life and you should take advantage of these services.
NyytiStudents’ support centre Nyyti promotes and sup-ports students’ emotional well-being and life man-agement. Nyyti organises hang-out nights, among other things, and offers online groups where you can discuss a variety of issues.
FSHSEach student is entitled to have a free health check-up. In the hour-long meeting, you can dis-cuss your own situation in life, stress, anxiety, sleeping, coping and health history.
Ahtisaari Day 10 NovOn Ahtisaari Day, hyy and university pastors will organise an event which extensively discusses bul-lying and seeks to find solutions to problems. The goal is to bring bullying to discussion, increase un-derstanding and reduce bullying. In the event, you can hear professionals and the experiences of the bullied. The event is open to everyone. More infor-mation will be available on hyy’s page in Ylioppi-laslehti student magazine and at www.hyy.fi later in the autumn.
HYY’s own activities in the autumn of 2011:-Single or in a relationship? course On 5 Oct 2011, hyy will organise a course for those who ponder issues related to relationships
or being single. The course is led by University Pastor Laura Mäntylä. The course is open to eve-ryone regardless of one’s belief VAKAUMUS or sexual orientation. The course is suitable for sin-gles and those in a relationship. The course will cover themes depending on the group’s needs. Please sign up at [email protected] by Wednesday, 28 Sept 2011.
Further information is available at www.hyy.fi.
University pastorsTwo university pastors serve the students and per-sonnel of the University of Helsinki. You can have confidential discussions with the university pastors and make an appointment by e-mail, telephone or by visiting during their office hours. They can also be invited to various events related to the work community or the student’s well-being. Church cer-emonies (baptism, weddings, blessings) are includ-ed in their job description. University pastors are available during the academic terms:Leena Huovinen
Centre Campus: Wed, 2pm-3pm, Unioninkatu 34 (Main building of UH) tel. 050 3019613, (09) 191 22195 leena.huovinen(at)evl.fiLaura Mäntylä
Kumpula: Wed, 11am-12noon, Exactum, room B114Viikki: Thu, 12noon-2pm, Info centre, room 110c.Tel. 050 591 9874, laura.mantyla(at)evl.fi
t
t
t
t
t
www.unisport.fi
�1
HYY promotes equality Do not tolerate inappropriate conduct
Diverse students of all ages in very different situations in life study at the University of Helsinki. “The average student” is quite
rare and almost a fictive person. A student may be over 40 years old, hearing im-
paired, Russian, gay, Muslim or a father of four. Situations in life also change during the studies.
Equality work at the university The purpose of equality work at the University of Helsinki is to promote equality and prevent dis-crimination on the grounds of sex, age, origin, re-ligion, conviction, sexual orientation, disability or other equivalent ground.
Promotion of equality is a duty of every mem-ber of the academic community, and equality must be part of all decision making and preparation.
A person who is being discriminated against at the University may contact the University’s Equal-ity Adviser whose task is to give advice and nego-tiate. If necessary, the Equality Adviser forwards the matter to the Equality Committee for consid-eration.
hyy is also committed to promoting equality and non-discrimination and encourages its members and employees to promote a more equal society with
their actions. Equality plans are available on the websites of the University and the Student Union.
Harassment contact persons help you Do not tolerate harassment. Inappropriate and in-sulting speech, racist, homophobic or sexist jokes, inappropriate touching and suggestions that cross the limits of pleasant flirting do not belong to the University or any other work or study place.
If you think you are being bullied, discriminat-ed against or sexually harassed, it is important to bring up the matter. hyy’s aim is to make the re-porting of harassment easier through harassment contact persons. They are ready to listen and use their time to support the harassed person and con-sider how to get out of the situation. If necessary, they can also guide the harassed person forward to other suitable services. Contacting a harassment contact person is confidential, they are bound by professional secrecy and do not take any action without your request or consent.
Further information and HYY’s harassment contact persons: www.hyy.fi, [email protected]
The University’s Equality Advisor: Tel. (09) 1912 4292, [email protected]
t
t
Is this discrimination?Discrimination means placing a per-son in an unequal position without an acceptable reason. Discrimination can be direct or indirect. The recognising of indirect discrimination may be dif-ficult as a discriminatory practice or act may seem neutral on the surface but its consequences may be discrim-inating. Harassment is also discrimi-nation. Harassment means unwanted conduct which is intended to violate human dignity or which creates an in-timidating, hostile, offensive or dis-turbing atmosphere. Therefore, har-assment may also include racist or homophobic jokes.
Accessibility – the right to participate Accessibility makes participation as easy as possible for as many as possi-ble. An accessible environment refers to an environment that supports eve-ryone’s opportunity to use it. The con-cept of accessibility covers both phys-ical and social environment as well as communications and interaction, such as accessible websites. An inaccessi-ble physical environment appears concretely as stairs and doorsteps in buildings. Accessibility also refers to functional seeing and hearing condi-tions such as the colour contrasts of premises, good lighting system, short
echo time on the premises and induc-tion loops.
Special examination arrangements at UniversityIf you are disabled or have other ac-ceptable special needs which make you unable to complete a regular examina-tion, you may have the opportunity to have the examination oganised in the most convenient way for you. Further information on special arrangements is available on the University’s intranet and by email at
The internationalising university provides opportunities for everyone Along with the internationalisation, a student’s opportunities for useful and interesting international contacts are now better than ever. Everything depends on your own activity. International ex-change brings life experience.
Go for exchange studies Numerous exchange programmes of the universi-ty are an opportunity worth taking. Annually ap-proximately 800 students from the University of Helsinki leave to study abroad. For many students, a year or a few months abroad is an enlightening experience which may also lead to new friendships and make students more independent.
You can make the most of your student ex-change if you carefully consider what it is that you want from your exchange period before leaving and make a specific study plan. In this way, con-tinuing your studies in Helsinki is less complicat-ed. It is advisable to clear the compatibility and the crediting of courses with your own depart-ment at an early stage.
At what stage of my studies should I leave for student exchange?
”The best time to leave for student exchange depends on your own study program-me and plan. Usually, student exchange is not recommen-ded for the very first or the very last study years. If you are interested in exchange stu-dies abroad, it is advisable to include the exchange as part of your personal study plan. More information on exchan-ge locations and guidance for student exchange is available from the study counsellors of your own department or faculty and from the University’s student services. If you don’t know whom to con-tact, you can ask your tutor or me for help.”
Secretary for International Affairs Juha Töyrylä [email protected], tel.. 050 543 8450
t
Internationalising universityMany students of the University of Helsinki com-plete part of their studies abroad as an internation-al degree student or through various exchange pro-grammes, for example. Similarly, over two thou-sand international students study at our universi-ty, of whom about 1,500 are degree students. In ad-dition, more than 800 exchange students arrive at our university every year. The number of interna-tional researchers and teachers is also increasing.
Every year, international students need student tutors to help them at their arrival. You can apply as a tutor for international students through your own faculty.
Student union and international affairs The esn Committee (esn = Erasmus Student Net-work) operates in the Student Union. The commit-tee produces plenty of events and services for inter-national students, and Finnish and international students can get to know each other through the committee. Further information on the committee activities is available at blogs.helsinki.fi/esn-hyy.
A number of international organisations also operate within hyy, such as the organisation of international degree students Tsemppi. In addi-tion, Finnish and Swedish organisations are en-couraged to include international students in their activities. Further information on the organisa-tions is available at hyy.fi.
hyy’s international activities also include immi-gration and education policy as well as social po-litical interest representation, planning and imple-mentation of international projects and much more. Activities are planned by hyy’s board mem-ber in charge of international affairs and the secre-tary for international affairs.
��
Exchange programmes You can apply for numerous high-
quality universities around Europe through ERASMUS exchange pro-gramme of the EU.
You can apply for student exchange in the Nordic Countries through NOR-DPLUS programme.
The University also has several bilat-eral agreements through which you can apply for American, African and Asian universities, for example. The students of all faculties can apply for bilateral exchange.
Your own faculty is the most conven-
t
t
t
t
ient place to receive more information on exchange opportunities.• Further information: • Flamma intranet • Studies abroad • Yliopisto magazine, notice board and • departments• [email protected]• [email protected]
Work abroad?You can travel abroad for a traineeship
or volunteer work through various pro-grammes. The Student Union website has information on CIMO’s traineeship programmes, Allianssi youth exchange, ETVO (Finnish Volunteer Programme),
t
Nordjobb summer jobs and other inter-esting programmes. Centre for Interna-tional Mobility CIMO, (tel. 0207 868 500, www.cimo.fi) provides an extensive da-tabase concerning studies and trainee-ship abroad, extensive library and a wide range of study guides of international universities.
Further information on internation-al job search and training programmes is available on Alma Intranet (Opiske-lu, tuet ja palvelut > Opintopalvelut ja kansainväliset asiat > Harjoittelu ja työ ulkomailla). You can apply for a travel grant or Erasmus trainee exchange grant for your traineeship abroad from the Career Services.
t
Information on student exchange Your faculty has a planner of international affairs who provides information on student exchange op-portunities at your own faculty and other exchange matters. Information can also be found on the web-site of the faculty and the department.
You can apply for student exchange when you have completed at least one year of studies at your home university. Even though planning an ex-change period at the beginning of your studies may seem too early, it is advisable to keep the exchange and its timing and length in mind when drafting your personal study plan. When the exchange pe-riod is taken into account in the personal study plan (hops), it is easier to implement and integrate it into your studies.
Usually, student exchange does not depend on one’s financial situation. During the exchange, it is possible to receive the regular student grant, and the housing supplement can even be slightly in-creased depending on the exchange destination. Al-so, the monthly share of the loan in student finan-cial aid is higher when studying abroad. Scholar-ships can often be allocated for various exchange programmes, which can be used to cover travel
Study abroad!
costs, for example. In accordance with exchange agreements, students are neither required to pay possible tuition fees.
Good application opens up opportunities Applications should be made carefully. The univer-sity wants to send motivated and hard-working students abroad, and therefore clearly and briefly presented basic information (contact information, the phase and goal of studies, language skills), a de-tailed study plan for the country of destination, the certificates of accreditation and possible teachers’ recommendations are important.
The university’s general exchange agreements have limited vacancies and therefore the faculty and department programmes can often be a slightly more secure way to be accepted for student exchange. A good application and a moderate success in studies, however, are a powerful combination even when the most popular locations are distributed.
If your department does not provide student ex-change, you should try to influence student repre-sentatives in university administration or the de-partmental steering group in order to acquire stu-dent exchange programmes.
Join the fun!ESN Committee is part of the European student network, the Erasmus Student Network. The aim of the committee is to familiarise foreign students with the Finnish student life. The committee coordinates the Buddy Project, and weekly international student partners, among others.
blogs.helsinki.fi/esn-hyyt
��
For a better tomorrow in Zambia and IndonesiaDid you know that you already have your own development cooperation project?
As a member of hyy, you are involved in promoting a good cause! Since 2008, hyy has used 0.7 per cent of its budget for de-
velopment cooperation. Finland is committed to increase development aid to the level recommend-ed by the UN – 0.7 per cent of gross national in-come – by 2015 and hyy aims at setting an exam-ple. In 2011, the amount is 27,300 euro. A part of this amount goes to hyy’s project in Indonesia and the rest is granted annually to smaller devel-opment cooperation projects.
hyy supports in collaboration with the Ministry for Foreign Affairs women’s and girls’ reproductive and sexual rights in Zambia as well as sustainable agriculture and energy project in Indonesia.
hyy supports the three-year development coop-eration projects of Indonesian organisations
Institution of Rural Technology Development (lptp) and Payo-Payo Foundation. Payo-Payo, which carries out the actual project on the island of Sulawesi, is an organisation of young farmers and students promoting sustainable agriculture. The project aims at improving food security and energy self-sufficiency and developing sustainable agriculture in three villages in southern and west-ern Sulawesi. hyy supports the project for three years between 2009–2011, after which the aim is to transfer the knowledge learned from the project to other villages and local authorities. 85 % of the project funds comes from the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland and the excess share of 15 % is covered by hyy’s 0.7 % budget. Those interested in the project are cordially invited to participate in the meetings of the project group. For further in-formation, please contact Project Coordinator Ilo-na Kalliola at [email protected].
hyy has supported the three-year development co-operation project of the eastern Zambian umbrella organisation for women’s organisations, Eastern Province Women Development Association (epwda) and the project has now been continued for the years 2010-2012. epwda operates to empower women in the rural areas of the eastern Zambia. The purpose of the first project was to improve the legal rights of women and girls, which are often not implemented
in rural areas. The follow-up project focuses on re-productive and sexual rights. The sub-organisations of epwda educate legal experts who provide informa-tion in clinics intended for women in rural areas. The project receives funding from the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Every student of the University of Helsinki can support the project by purchasing the Zambia meal at UniCafes on the Zambia Day or by donating €0.10 of any product to the project.
Development cooperation meals have been or-ganised in student restaurants already since 1979. You can also support the project by paying €5.80 to the project in connection with the membership fee of the Student Union. Those interested in the project are cordially invited to participate in the meetings of the project group. For further information, please contact Project Coordinator Sara Alanen, [email protected].
The Committee for Development Cooperation coordinates the use of hyy’s development coopera-tion funds, publishes Kimppu magazine with the communications and development education grant provided by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and maintains a discussion on developing country issues at university during the annually organised Develop-ment Cooperation Week, among other things. In 2011, the development cooperation week is arranged in several university cities by National Union of Uni-versity Students in Finland. Further information on the operations of the Committee is available on its website at: blogs.helsinki.fi/kehy-valiokunta.
Join the fun!Committee for Development Cooperation aims at getting the Student Union members in-terested in developing countries and it provides practical experience within development coop-eration. The committee attends to HYY’s devel-opment cooperation projects and organises ex-cursions, the Development Cooperation Week in the spring and single public events, among oth-er things, and it publishes its own magazine.
blogs.helsinki.fi/kehy-valiokuntat
��
Be smart and look after the environment Environmentally friendly living and studying do not require a great deal of effort or financial investments. Please act wisely and reduce your own ecological footprint.
1 Food food bring me food!Assessing the environmental burden of food may
be difficult. Here are some rules of thumb. Organic production promotes sustainable farming practices and the well-being of animals. When you choose food supplies produced close to you, their transport emissions will be small. By eating food which is proc-essed as little as possible you have better knowledge of what you are eating. Meat production involves plenty of ethical and ecological problems which you can reduce by choosing vegetarian options. By choos-ing Fair Trade products, you ensure that farmers and workers receive fair compensation.
2 reduce, reuse, recycle You can find cheap second-hand furniture and
household products. Information on recycling centers is available on www.kierratyskeskus.fi and the contact information site for flea markets is www.vuolanne.net/kirpputorit.
3Don’t drown in a paper floodYour room or a small studio apartment will
soon be full of paper: lecture material, essay drafts, articles, not to mention free newspapers and advertising mail.
Please glue ”Ei mainoksia” (”no ads”) sticker onto your mailbox. Use both sides of the paper when printing and copying and choose 2 pages per sheet option when you get four sheets on one A4 paper (ask for help from IT services). Order newspapers and magazines together with your neighbour and save money at the same time.
4 Switch to green electricityYou can reduce your electricity bill by turn-
ing off the lights and other unused electrical equip-ment and by defrosting your fridge once a year. You can choose electricity produced by renewa-ble energy forms in Hoas apartments. It is advis-able to get tenders from various electricity provid-ers on www.vaihdavirtaa.net. It is easy.
Join the fun!Committee for Environmental Affairs pro-vides possibilities for HYY members to get in-volved in environmental affairs. The purpose of the committee is to increase environmental awareness and ecological sustainability in the activities of the University and the Student Un-ion. The committee has organised various cam-paigns and implemented HYY’s Environmental Programme, among other things.
Lisätietoa: http://blogs.helsinki.fi/hyy-ymp/t
5Don’t carry waste to your homeThe waste disposal of your household begins
from the moment you select products to your shop-ping basket. Choose the most lightly-packed options and prefer bulk goods. Do not buy more than you need. Please separate bio waste and sort other waste as they are precious raw material. In Helsinki, pa-per, bio, cardboard, and glass waste are collected separately. Metal and energy waste are also collect-ed in some locations. Do not mix hazardous waste with unsorted waste. Further information and the locations of waste stations are available on
www.hsy.fi/en.
6Join the activities!hyy is involved in the Finland Big Ask cam-
paign (www.polttavakysymys.fi). You can write a post card supporting the Climate Act to a Member of Parliament at hyy’s Services Office. The Committee for Environmental Affairs is open to all hyy members and you can join its activities at any time of the year.
Further information and activities: HYY’s Committee for Environmental Affairs http://blogs.helsinki.fi/hyy-ymp/ Environmental Guide BoFF! – environmental acts for students (distributed at the opening carnival and HYY’s Services Office)
t
t
��
Building a common union The 142-year history of the Student Union includes construc-tion projects, political turmoil and reflections of structural changes in society.
hy
yn
ar
kis
to
��
The University moved to Helsinki in 1828 af-ter the Great Fire of Turku. Along with new regulations, Turku Academy was renamed
the Imperial Alexander University of Finland. There were approximately 340 students in the first academic year of the University. The division of student nations was passed on from Turku Acade-my and it remained slightly changed in Helsinki. In the early years, university students gathered at the University or in teachers’ homes. However, the stu-dents longed for a ”free atmosphere” and began to rent specific apartments for their meetings. A steady increase in rental costs and lack of space prompt-ed students to plan their own building.
A plan of the student house On 15 March 1858, about three hundred university students convened at a general meeting under the di-rection of Master C. G. Estlander. At the meeting, it was decided to build a house which would be solely managed by the students and which would be a place where students could meet and hold festive events. In the following years, the general meeting was convened almost every year to promote the construction project. In 1863, rules were drafted for the meetings and in 1868, general student meetings were legalised.
The student house (nowadays the Old Student House) was partly financed with donated and col-lected funds and partly with debt. The inauguration ceremony took place on 26 November 1870. The inauguration was festive: it included music, speech-es, poems and, naturally, the ball. To cover the costs that were higher than expected, the Student Union had to collect an additional fee from university stu-dents during the following four academic terms. Af-ter the turn of the century, the Student House premis-es proved to be too small for the increasing number of students. After the motion of Alina Mattsson from Varsinaissuomalainen student nation, the stu-dent nation and afterwards the Student Union be-gan to promote the Student Nation House (nowa-days the New Student House) which was built be-side the Student House in 1910. Year 2010 is the 100th anniversary of the New Student House. The inauguration date is 26 November.
Building of the organisation Due to political reasons, ”the right of the studying youth to present themselves as a corporation” was abolished in 1871. A committee was founded to man-
age the affairs related to the student house, a library and other financial affairs. The student nations could annually appoint two members to the committee. Since 1880, university students have been legally al-lowed to convene in general meetings as a corpora-tion. A management committee, the Board, was ap-pointed for administrative affairs. The Student Union became an organisation, the Student Union of Fin-land, which unified students who were divided into student nations. After the operations of the National Union of the University Students in Finland (syl) were established, the Student Union of Finland was renamed in 1927 as the Student Union of the Univer-sity of Helsinki. For decades, the student union affairs had been decided in general meetings but in 1932, de-cision making was transferred to the Representative Council of sixty members elected through the elec-tions. The immediate administration of the corpora-tion was carried out by the Board and its subsidiary committees as well as separately hired officials, such as librarians and treasurers.
Political activities in the 20th century In the 1920s and the 1930s, the student union activ-ities mostly focused on Finno-Ugric nations and con-servatism. In addition to the Nordic Countries, the activities were oriented towards the Baltic Countries and Estonia, in particular. The student union poli-tics were dominated by the Academic Karelia Soci-ety, but the temperance movement was also visible. After the war, the atmosphere in the Student Union changed. Rural depopulation became more common and there was severe lack of housing for university students. For students, the 1950s was an era of op-portunities and ideals. Rationing and reconstruction after the war were finished. There were jobs match-ing the education of students. In the 1960s, there was an oversupply of educated labour in some fields. In the 1960s and the 1970s, the Student Union was characterised by questioning of values, politics and internationalisation. The Left, however, never reached the majority in the Representative Council. Finnish students joined their European colleagues by taking over the Old Student House in 1968 and founding a cultural centre there. The self-governing status of the Student Union has always been defined by law or a regulation. The University has super-vised the appropriateness of the Student Union ac-tivities but it has not directed its activities in detail during the independence of Finland.
hy
yn
ar
kis
to
��
Editorial staff: Jenni Heikkinen, Jari Eerola (histo-ry). map page 7 Jannica Aalto. We thank all who took part in revising the information.
Layout and design : Niko MetsäläPhotos: Niko Metsälä, Antti Pihlajamaa,
Jani Pulkka ja Elina Mattila-Niemi.Printed in: Painojussit Oy, KeravaPublisher: Helsingin yliopiston
ylioppilaskunta HYY
t
tt
tt
Street adress: Mannerheimintie 5 A, 2. krs, 00100 Helsinki
Postal adress: PL 1099, 00101 HelsinkiThe Student Union of University of HelsinkiMannerheimintie 5 A (2. krs) PL 1099, 00101 [email protected]
www.hyy.fi
t
t
t
contact information
The Student Union of the University of Helsinki Freshman Guide 2011
HYY’s secretaries give advice and help. Please don’t hesitate to contact us!
