Get involved in the community!

Hey new student! You are now part of Finland’s biggest community of art students! As a student at the University of Arts, you are also part of our student community and the wider university community. 

The University of Arts Student Union (often referred to as TaiYo for short!), is the community of students, by the students, for the students. The community is made up of each and every student. It is important that everyone can safely participate and be active in our community as who they are. in a way that suits their resources and interests. The Student Union has Principles for Safer Space that are in place in all events and activities. You can ger familiar with them here (https://taiyo.fi/en/turvallisemman-tilan-periaatteet/)https://taiyo.fi/turvallisemman-tilan-periaatteet/)

Our community has many different types of opportunities and ways to get involved. You can find examples of those below, but if you cannot find something that fits you or that you would like to do, you can always create new things! If you would like some help with that, you can always contact the board members or staff of the student union, they exist and work for the community and the students.

In the University of the Arts Student Union, you can get involved in the activities in many different ways: in the Council deciding on major issues, in the Board running practical activities, in university administration as a student representative, in academy committees and department clubs as an active member or at events as a volunteer. Feel free to join in and ask us if you have any questions, there is always room for new people!

• Each academy has its own Academy Committeeunder TaiYo, which is responsible for student traditions, communality and many academy-specific events for the students in their academy.
• Students are also represented in the university’s decision-making through student representatives in administration, known as “halloped” representatives, who are appointed by TaiYo. If you want to influence matters such as studies, study-related practices, and university affairs, you can apply for open student representative positions.
• The Board The board is TaiYo’s most important body for influence. Elected for a calendar year, the board meets weekly, makes decisions on ongoing matters, takes positions on behalf of art students in the name of TaiYo and runs the every-day life of the Student Union.
• Representative Council is the highest decision-making body of the student union – a bit like TaiYo’s own parliament! Elected for a two-year term the Representative Council meets about five times a year and decides on the most important matters such as the action plan, budget, membership fee, and the election of the board.
• In some subject groups and degree programmes, there is a subject associationthat organizes events and informs students about matters related to the subject group and its students.
• Instead of formal positions, you can also contribute in a more informal way whenever you feel like it for example by helping to organize events or by carrying out projects that benefit the entire student community (it is also possible to receive funding from TaiYo for this!). You can learn about different volunteering opportunities by following TaiYo’s social media channels and reading the weekly newsletter sent by email (sent by our Secretary General, Jane Kärnä).
• You can also take part in the community by participating in TaiYo’s events intended for students from all academies.