TYY Wings
Instructions on the activities and election of Wings
Aplications for TYYs Wings here: https://www.tyy.fi/fi/node/14552
The purpose of TYY’s Wings, the voluntary groups of the Student Union of the University of Turku, is to promote TYY’s values of equality, community, openness, responsibility, and education. The Wings act as a connection within TYY between the members, the Student Union Council, the Executive Board, and the staff.
The activities of the Wings must comply with TYY’s regulations. Wings operate independently and organize their own projects around their themes. They offer the freedom to express oneself, create new initiatives, advocate for and monitor student interests at the university and in society, raise issues for public debate, and grow into a critical citizen.
Wings are low-threshold group that provides an easy way to participate in the activities of the Student Union. The activities within the Wings are very informal, and the time commitment depends entirely on how much one wants to contribute. Wings activities are voluntary, and in addition to the core team selected at the beginning of each academic year, anyone can join the Wings at any time during the year.
Previously, TYY’s Wings included five separate groups: International, Development Cooperation, Culture, Environmental, and Equality. In the fall of 2024, as part of TYY’s operational plan project on the development of volunteer activities, these five separate Wings were merged into a larger voluntary group that works with the themes of the previous Wings.
Follow TYY Wings on Instagram @tyynsiivet! You can get into the action the easiest way through Wings Telegram Group. (Link is coming)
Themes of the Wings:
Internationality
- Promotes internationality, domestic internationalization, and multiculturalism on campuses.
- Collaborates with TYY’s organizations and potentially with other international organizations to organize events that advance the goals of the Wings.
Development Cooperation
- Plans and implements TYY’s development cooperation projects together with TYY’s Development Cooperation sector.
- Promotes the UN’s sustainable development goals within the Student Union.
- Organizes development cooperation events and campaigns, as well as TYY’s Sustainable Development Week.
Equality
- Promotes the realization of equality, equity, and accessibility within the Student Union and the university, highlighting the diversity of students.
- Organizes events related to equality.
- Raises awareness and communicates about current issues related to equality, accessibility, and inclusivity.
Environment
- Promotes environmentally friendly practices among organizations and students within the Student Union, the university, and the surrounding society.
- Provides environmental training for organizations.
- Organizes the Clean May Day campaign in the spring.
- Monitors the implementation of TYY’s environmental program and updates the environmental guide as needed.
I Search, election and organisation of Wings
The Executive Board opens a search for Wings core teams once a year, always at the beginning of the academic year. The core team members are recruited among the members of the Student Union with an open search where the applicants inform their interest in the Wings. Selection to a Wing’s core team is for one academic year at a time.
The core team of the Wings, or the Wing's Board, assigns the necessary tasks equitably according to areas of responsibility in their organizing meeting at the beginning of autumn. If needed, the Wings reorganize. The Wings select a Vice-Chair and allocate other possible responsibilities at the first meeting of the calendar year. If needed, the Wings reorganize.
The Wings must choose from among themselves at least the following: Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary. Additionally, the core team of the Wings is internally divided into different responsibility teams according to the themes of the former Wings in the following sectors: international affairs, development cooperation, culture, environment, and equality. Regardless of the areas of responsibility, the idea is that all members of the Wing are involved in activities across sector boundaries.
If the current members of the wings core teams want to continue in the core team for the next academic year, the application will be made through the official application form.
II Activities of Wings
The Wings plan and implement their activities together with TYY’s Executive Board Member responsible for volunteers or other relevant sectors (equality, environment, international, development cooperation), and, if necessary, with staff.
Training is provided for core team members to initiate activities, where they are informed about the general activities of the Wings and the upcoming academic year. Additional training is provided to other Wings members as needed.
The Wings use the funds allocated to them in a planned and responsible manner. The Secretary-General approves individual invoices and payment orders for the Wings.
The Wings meet as often as they see fit, typically once or twice a month, excluding the summer months. Meetings are announced via the internal communication channels of the Wings and the event calendar on TYY’s website. When convening meetings, accessibility and participation possibilities for international students and students from the Satakunta campuses are considered.
Meetings are quorate when, in addition to the Chair or Vice-Chair, two members of the core team are present. Wings meetings are open to all members of the Student Union.
The Wings take short minutes of their meetings, which are stored in an agreed location to ensure the continuity of activities.
At the end of each term, the Wings draft a short annual report, detailing the events organized and the operational culture of the Wings. The report is given to the following year’s Wings members for review.
The Wings, together with the responsible Executive Board Member(s), draft an action plan for the next term in the spring.
The Wings are an important part of TYY’s activities, and Wings members are welcome to spend time at TYY’s office, e.g., by having coffee. Members of the Executive Board and staff working at the office are always available for advice. Wings do not have keys to TYY’s office or service point. However, the Wings have access to a cupboard in TYY’s premises for storage. In addition to storing their belongings, the Wings can use the office equipment and spaces.
III Tasks of the core team
- The core team is responsible for the annual plan drafted by the Executive Board member and the Wing
- The chair convenes the meetings of the Wing preferably 7 days and at least 2 days before the meeting
- The core team, mainly the Secretary, is responsible for ensuring that short written notes are drafted for Wing meetings, stored in an agreed location
- The core team ensures the communication and flow of information between the Wing and TYY Executive Board and
- The core team is responsible for the annual report at the end of the term and transferring information to new members in the form of testaments or similar documents
IV Resignation and discharge from the core team
Upon a request from a member, the Executive Board May discharge a person from the membership. A short notice of the resignation must be sent by e-mail to TYY's Executive Board member responsible for volunteers, after which the resignation will take effect.
On the proposal of the Wing, the Executive Board may dismiss a member who continuously neglects their tasks. A Wing member can be considered resigned if they are absent without notice from three consecutive Wing meetings. Before the Executive Board makes a decision on dismissing a member, they must be reserved a chance to be heard.