Do you want to decide about what the Student Union of the University of the Arts (TaiYo) will do next year? What is it like, what issues does it promote, how is the university community developed? Apply for TaiYo's board in 2024!
What does TaiYo's board do?
The Board manages the activities and everyday life of the Student Union. The task of the Board is to promote the interests of students at University of the Arts and society and to build the Uniarts community across academy boundaries. In practice, the board meets once a week and, for example:
- decides on statements on current topics at the Uniarts and society
- elects student representatives to various bodies at the Uniarts
- meets regularly with the university's rectors and other upper administration
- discusses topical issues affecting students with the university representatives
- decides on the distribution of TaiYo grants
- builds cooperation between academies by organising various events
- participates in cultural policy discussion from an interdisciplinary student perspective
The Chair of the Board leads the Student Union together with the Secretary General, is responsible for the Board's operations and represents the Student Union both at University of the Arts and in public.
Who are the members of the board?
The board consists of 6–10 members, including the chairperson, and at least one member is elected from each academy with more than one candidate. The term of office of the Board is one calendar year. In addition to joint board work, board members have their own areas of responsibility, such as communications, education policy or cooperation with divisions and organisations.
The Board is supported by the Secretary General and other employees of the Student Union.
What is the difference between the Board and the Representative Council?
The Student Union's Representative Council is larger (15 members), meets less frequently and decides on the top-level matters, such as the membership fee, budget and guidelines for the Board’s operations. The Representative Council is elected every two years.
The Representative Council, in turn, elects the Board for one year at a time, and the Board's task is to lead the Student Union's practical activities in everyday life. The board meets every week.
How to get to the board?
Any member of the Student Union can apply for the TaiYo Board. If you are interested, send a free-form application to TaiYo's Secretary General Lauri Grünthal by Monday 20.11. at 15.00. In the application, explain why you are interested in working on the board and why you would be good at it. The Secretary General forwards the applications to the Representative Council and the board formation body chosen by it.
TaiYo's Representative Council elects the following year's Board in November-December. The Representative Council first elects a former of the board, who assembles the board from other applicants. The former of the board proposes the composition of the board to the Representative Council, which appoints the board for its position. The person forming the Board becomes the Chairperson of the new Board.
What does the board work require?
The Board usually meets once a week during semesters, in addition to which the Board members work somewhat independently outside the meetings. Being a board member board does not require any special previous experience of the Student Union or other student organisations – interest is enough. The fluent Finnish is not required, the working language of the board is usually either English or Finnish depending on hopes of the board members.
The workload of board members is designed so that being on the board is possible alongside studies. The Chairperson’s task requires approximately half a day’s commitment for the whole year, and the task of other board members requires a few hours’ work per week. The Chairperson receives proper reward for the task, and other board members are also paid lower compensation. Orientation is organised for the task, and alongside the board, the daily operation of the Student Union is also run by the Secretary General and the Secretary for Member Services and Interest Advocacy. In principle, the board is required to commit to the task for the whole year of 2024.
The year of the Board is a memorable and unique experience, so we warmly encourage you to apply! Don't think that you don't know how or aren't good enough – board members are familiarized with their duties and, as mentioned, the most important thing is enthusiasm for working on the board.
What do you get from board activities?
The Student Union Board provides experience in advocacy work, organisational activities and administration, i.e. structures at University of the Arts and society. During the year, the path of a board member can take you both to the stage and to the coffee table with the most important current and future decision-makers, and the board year can be made very unique if you wish.
In concrete terms, in addition to the monthly remuneration, students can also receive credits for board activities. You also get a certificate of employment for the board year, and serving on the Student Union board is a valuable CV entry.
Chair?
There are no special competence requirements for the position of Chair of the Board. In practice, leadership experience is an advantage, and the Chairperson of the board is also required to spend more time on student union work than a board member. The chairperson is responsible for leading the board members and board work, and represents the Student Union when necessary, for example by giving speeches and interviews.
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