The Student Union of the University of Turku (TYY, in Finnish Turun yliopiston ylioppilaskunta) is a body to which, under public law, all University of Turku

University of Turku

The University of Turku , located in Turku in southwestern Finland, is the second largest university in the country as measured by student enrollment, after University of Helsinki. It was established in 1920 and also has faculties at Rauma, Pori and Salo...

 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. Visiting (non-degree students) are ineligible to join TYY.

TYY was founded in 1922 and it joined the National Union of University Students in Finland

National Union of University Students in Finland

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...

 (SYL) in 1927. It is the second largest student union

Students' union

A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities, and has started appearing in some high schools...

 in Finland

Finland

Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...

 which has around 30,000 members. Its activities take place in Turku

Turku

Turku is a city situated on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River. It is located in the region of Finland Proper. It is believed that Turku came into existence during the end of the 13th century which makes it the oldest city in Finland...

, Rauma

Rauma, Finland

Rauma is a town and municipality of ca. inhabitants on the west coast of Finland, north of Turku, and south of Pori. Granted town privileges on May 17, 1442 , Rauma is known of its high quality lace , and of the old wooden architecture of its centre , which is a Unesco world heritage...

, Pori

Pori

Pori is a city and municipality on the west coast of Finland. The city is located some from the Gulf of Bothnia, on the estuary of the Kokemäenjoki river, which is the largest in Finland. Pori is the most important town in the Satakunta region....

 and Salo

Salo

Salo may refer to:*Salo, Finland, a town in Western Finland*Salò, a town in Lombardy, Italy**Salò Republic or Italian Social Republic, a puppet state of Nazi Germany*Salo Township, Aitkin County, Minnesota, a township in Minnesota, U.S....

.

As all student unions in Finland, TYY is a public corporation independent from its member university, which has an Executive Board and a Secretariat as well as a Student Council

Student council

Student council is a curricular or extra-curricular activity for students within elementary and secondary schools around the world. Present in most public and private K-12 school systems across the United States, Canada and Australia these bodies are alternatively entitled student council, student...

. TYY is amongst the first student unions that has made their fixed-term secretariat positions permanent in spring 2008 due to the dispute brought up in labour court about fixed-term working relationships that the Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applies Sciences (SAMOK) lost in February 2088.

Activities

The Student Union of the University of Turku enforces the lobbying of education

Education

Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...

, social policy

Social policy

Social policy primarily refers to guidelines, principles, legislation and activities that affect the living conditions conducive to human welfare. Thus, social policy is that part of public policy that has to do with social issues...

 and international affairs

International relations

International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...

 at the university, city and national levels. It also provides student, cultural and sports services as well as organisation and support services for its student associations. TYY owns, among others, the majority of the student cafeterias and cafés in the campus area run by Unica Oy.

TYY has been publishing the student newspaper Turun ylioppilaslehti since 1930.

Student organisations

The Student Union of the University of Turku includes several organisations, associations and student nations as well as associations concerning other interests.

Student nations

• Pohjalainen osakunta
• Satakuntalais-hämäläinen osakunta
• Savo-karjalainen osakunta
• Varsinaissuomalainen osakunta

External links

• The Student Union of the University of Turku