National Union of University Students in Finland
Encyclopedia
The National Union of University Students in Finland is the largest national organisation providing benefits and services for students in Finland. Its members, including student unions and one student body, consists of over 140,000 Bachelor's and Master's degree students as well as and postgraduates. It was established in 1921.
The primary goals of SYL are the social position of students and the improvement of their study possibilities. In its activities, SYL concentrates on influencing nationwide legislation.
There is an Executive Board which is responsible for the activities of SYL. Katri Korolainen-Virkajärvi is the President of the Executive Board for 2011. The highest decision-making body in SYL is the November union meeting where student union representatives decide on a plan of action, budget, administration and other possible issues brought forth.
The SYL Office is located in Helsinki along with the Finnish Student Sports federation (OLL), Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (SAMOK) and the Student Research Foundation Otus. SYL is also a member of the European Students' Union.
) and Åbo Akademis Studentkår (the Student Union of Åbo Akademi University
). It was established on the need of students to participate in social deliberation and international cooperation in an orderly way.
In 1927, the student unions of the University of Turku
, Helsinki University of Technology
, Helsinki School of Economics
and the Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration
joined SYL, after which the organisation represented 5,515 students. Its action was patriotic and showed a spirit of national defence. This was seen, for example, as it was disengaging Swedish-language student unions from SYL as a result of language debates up until 1941.
After World War II
, the building of an affluent society, political activation in the 1960s and a march influenced the activities of the Union. Between the 1960s and 1970s, in the expansion of the Finnish university system, many new members from many new student unions joined SYL. In the 1990s, the educational status of students declined. Going into the work force was becoming greater, like the support from parents, even as the job market status decreased as a result of the universities of applied sciences (polytechnics) being established and the rising number of students. At the same time, however, education resources had not been raised.
From 1979 to 1984, SYL launched the common student card - at the time made of cardboard. With the card, a student got common benefits. SYL is a shareholder in Suomen Lyyra Ab which unifies and expands student services with a new Lyyra student card.
SYL has 21 membership bodies: all of Finland's 20 student unions as well as the student body of Snellman-college (Snellman-korkeakoulu) are members.
, the European Student's Union and the Baltic and Nordic countries national organizations.
In addition with the everyday cooperation with the Finnish student unions, SYL is having somekind of cooperation with Aalto Entrepreneurship Society. However, the details of this cooperation has not yet been revealed.
Jaakko Laajava
, Georg Ehrnrooth, Carl-Olaf Homén, Jaakko Ihamuotila, Jaakko Iloniemi and Hannu Taanila are amongst many others who have worked in SYL.
The primary goals of SYL are the social position of students and the improvement of their study possibilities. In its activities, SYL concentrates on influencing nationwide legislation.
There is an Executive Board which is responsible for the activities of SYL. Katri Korolainen-Virkajärvi is the President of the Executive Board for 2011. The highest decision-making body in SYL is the November union meeting where student union representatives decide on a plan of action, budget, administration and other possible issues brought forth.
The SYL Office is located in Helsinki along with the Finnish Student Sports federation (OLL), Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences (SAMOK) and the Student Research Foundation Otus. SYL is also a member of the European Students' Union.
History
SYL was founded in 1921 by Suomen Ylioppilaskunta (now the Student Union of the University of HelsinkiUniversity of Helsinki
The University of Helsinki is a university located in Helsinki, Finland since 1829, but was founded in the city of Turku in 1640 as The Royal Academy of Turku, at that time part of the Swedish Empire. It is the oldest and largest university in Finland with the widest range of disciplines available...
) and Åbo Akademis Studentkår (the Student Union of Åbo Akademi University
Åbo Akademi University
Åbo Akademi University is a Swedish language university in Turku, Finland . , there are 7 941 students and a staff consisting of 1125 people. The university has activities not only in Turku, but also in Vaasa, Jakobstad, Helsinki and on Åland...
). It was established on the need of students to participate in social deliberation and international cooperation in an orderly way.
In 1927, the student unions of the University of Turku
Student Union of the University of Turku
The Student Union of the University of Turku is a body to which, under public law, all University of Turku Bachelor's and Master's degree students belong. It is among the oldest student unions in Finland. Postgraduate and exchange students may become a member of TYY, but it is not obligatory...
, Helsinki University of Technology
Helsinki University of Technology
Aalto University School of Science and Technology , was the temporary name for Helsinki University of Technology during the process of forming the Aalto University...
, Helsinki School of Economics
Helsinki School of Economics
The Aalto University School of Economics , known as Helsinki School of Economics until 2009, is the largest and leading business school in Finland and one of the most renowned in Europe...
and the Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration
Swedish School of Economics and Business Administration
The Hanken School of Economics is a Finnish business school.Hanken is a Swedish-language business school of university standing located in Helsinki and Vasa, Finland. Hanken is one of the oldest business schools in the Nordic countries...
joined SYL, after which the organisation represented 5,515 students. Its action was patriotic and showed a spirit of national defence. This was seen, for example, as it was disengaging Swedish-language student unions from SYL as a result of language debates up until 1941.
After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the building of an affluent society, political activation in the 1960s and a march influenced the activities of the Union. Between the 1960s and 1970s, in the expansion of the Finnish university system, many new members from many new student unions joined SYL. In the 1990s, the educational status of students declined. Going into the work force was becoming greater, like the support from parents, even as the job market status decreased as a result of the universities of applied sciences (polytechnics) being established and the rising number of students. At the same time, however, education resources had not been raised.
From 1979 to 1984, SYL launched the common student card - at the time made of cardboard. With the card, a student got common benefits. SYL is a shareholder in Suomen Lyyra Ab which unifies and expands student services with a new Lyyra student card.
SYL has 21 membership bodies: all of Finland's 20 student unions as well as the student body of Snellman-college (Snellman-korkeakoulu) are members.
Cooperation with other organizations
SYL is located in same office spaces with SAMOK, the national student organization for universities of applied sciences. SYL and SAMOK cooperate together in international affairs as well as on national advocacy affairs. SYL also cooperates heavily with the Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture and takes part in law making processes. The Finnish ministries send their requests for comments to SYL, when ever they need official statement from students on any national policy. On international level SYL's closest cooperators are ESUEsu
-Universities:* Emporia State University* East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania* Empire State University, a fictional university in the Marvel Comics Universe.-Other meanings:* esu is the ISO 639-3 code for the Central Alaskan Yup'ik language...
, the European Student's Union and the Baltic and Nordic countries national organizations.
In addition with the everyday cooperation with the Finnish student unions, SYL is having somekind of cooperation with Aalto Entrepreneurship Society. However, the details of this cooperation has not yet been revealed.
Notable members
SYL is regarded highly amongst the national decision makers and several recognized people have started their political careers at SYL:- Tarja HalonenTarja HalonenTarja Kaarina Halonen is the incumbent President of Finland. The first female to hold the office, Halonen had previously been a member of the parliament from 1979 to 2000 when she resigned after her election to the presidency...
, the current president of the Republic of Finland - Jorma OllilaJorma OllilaJorma Jaakko Ollila is the Chairman and former CEO of the Nokia Corporation and a Member of the Board of Directors of Ford Motor Company , UPM-Kymmene , and Otava Books and Magazines Group Ltd...
, former CEO of NokiaNokiaNokia Corporation is a Finnish multinational communications corporation that is headquartered in Keilaniemi, Espoo, a city neighbouring Finland's capital Helsinki... - Ulf SundqvistUlf SundqvistUlf Sundqvist is a former chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Finland, a minister in four cabinets in 1970s and a banker in 1980s....
, minister in government for three times during the 70's and 80's - Sari SarkomaaSari SarkomaaSari Sarkomaa is a Finnish politician and former Minister of Education. She served in Matti Vanhanen's second cabinet between April 19, 2007 and December 19, 2008. Sarkomaa quit her ministerial post to spend more time with her family. She was succeeded by Henna Virkkunen.-External links:...
, recent minister of education - Ilkka KanervaIlkka KanervaIlkka Armas Mikael Kanerva is a member of the Finnish Parliament. He was born in Lokalahti, now a part of Uusikaupunki in Finland Proper. He was the Minister for Foreign Affairs from 2007 to 2008. He was forced to resign from the position due to a scandal involving hundreds of text messages he...
, recent minister of defence - Matti LouekoskiMatti LouekoskiMatti Kalevi Louekoski is a Finnish politician and a lawyer as profession. He is a member of the Social Democratic Party of Finland and a former long-term member of the governing board of the Bank of Finland....
, previous minister of education, justice, finance and others, total 2782 days in several cabinets - Rosa MeriläinenRosa MeriläinenRosa Anneli Meriläinen is a Finnish politician from Tampere.Meriläinen has a master's degree in political science from the University of Tampere. She was elected to the parliament of Finland in 2003. She represents the Green League...
, previous parliament member
Jaakko Laajava
Jaakko Laajava
Jaakko Laajava is the Finnish Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Security Policy. He was Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Security Policy from 2001 until 2005, when he became Ambassador to the United Kingdom in 2005. In 2010 he returned to his previous Under-Secretary position...
, Georg Ehrnrooth, Carl-Olaf Homén, Jaakko Ihamuotila, Jaakko Iloniemi and Hannu Taanila are amongst many others who have worked in SYL.