The Student Union is involved in many aspects of your life here at the university of Turku, from events to the wing activities. There are also aspects of the Student Union that you might not see every day but are there, such as promoting students interests. TYY consists of its members which includes the international students studying in UTU, in Turku or in the Satakunta Campuses. This is why TYY has long aimed to be a very international student union. We have an international sector that focuses on the topics specific to international students, international wing and we take part in developing international tutoring. TYY offers many things for international students and here we have picked a few that we, the international sector, want to introduce to you!
International affairs sector at the student union
The international affairs sector consists of an executive board member(s) and the international specialist. Every year, the student union council decides on the projects that the international affairs sector is going to work on during the following year. The sector also acts upon any new situations that come up and comments on laws and other relevant proposed legislation here at the university, locally and nationally.
Advising international students
One of the main parts of being a specialist in international affairs is to help new international students with their questions and problems, especially when it comes to issues like student card and the starting package. International student can email tyy-internationalspecialist@utu.fi with their questions. This guidance has been available since the position of international specialist has existed in TYY.
International Tutoring
Tutoring has an enormous impact in how international students adapt to Finland and how they encounter the university community. The student union is involved with many aspects of tutoring, including training of the tutors. Tutors are volunteers and their purpose is to help you get acquainted with the university life here at Turku university.
Tutors can respond to many of your questions, but do not hesitate to send your more tough questions to our international specialist, the university’s incoming-team or your faculty’s Office for Academic and Student Affairs.
Starting package
Starting package is something that the international sector is proud of. TYY – together with the student union of Åbo Akademi – provides a starting package for new exchange students. The package contains the most essential items one needs in a new home, such as a pillow, blanket, and kitchen utensils. The package helps exchange students to start their life in a new country without having to buy everything. It also lessens needless waste. Unfortunately, we do not have enough packages to provide them to degree students.
Bilingual TYY
TYY is a bilingual organisation and wants to give international student opportunities to participate in decision making and all levels. From social media to webpages, we aim to provide all information in both languages. We translate our official documents to English, including the documents from executive board decisions and student union council meeting documents.
Applying to the student union council or the executive board as an international student
TYY has not always been as bilingual as it is today and the international students that have been members of the council or board have had a significant impact in shaping the functions of the student union. If you would like to have an impact on the student union, you may consider applying for the union council or the executive board. As we want to make the participation open for everyone, we translate all the documents necessary for non-Finnish speaking students to participate. So you do not have to know Finnish in order to run for the council or the board!
Applying to the student union council
The student union council elections are held every two years in autumn and our next elections are in 2023. All students who are members of the student union and present at the university can run. If you’re interested in running or just interested in how the council operates, you may contact the chairwoman of the council (alalwa@utu.fi ) or one of the council groups.
Applying to the executive board of the student union
The executive board changes annually, and the new board is appointed by the council usually in November. Details about the application process are posted on the student unions website when the application period begins – usually in October. If you are interested in running, you will need to contact one of the council groups above. If you have any questions about what it’s like to be on the executive board, you may want to contact one of the current members of the executive board.
International wing
The student union’s international wing is a voluntary group where anyone is welcome to join and participate in. The wing promotes internationalisation and multiculturalism on campuses, cooperates with TYY’s organisations and other international organisations to create events and annually recommends the winner of TYY International Award to the Executive Board. For more information about joining contact the wing’s chairperson.
Our organisations
Many of our organisations communicate bilingually, and we strongly encourage all of you to take a look at our list of member organisations and contact any of them that peak your interest.
TYY is international in many ways and there are many possibilities to participate. We, the international sector of TYY, encourage everyone to take part in TYY activies! If you have any questions at all you’re more than welcome to contact the international affairs sector of the student union, we’re happy to help you!
Tuomas Alm
Executive Board Member, International Affairs
Vilma Virtanen
Specialist, International Affairs