The primary mission of the University of Lapland Student Union is to advocate for the interests of the University of Lapland’s students. The Student Union includes all degree-seeking students at the University of Lapland, as well as exchange and graduate students who have joined as members. LYY serves as a link between its members and promotes their societal, social, and intellectual aspirations, as well as those related to their studies and the status of students in society. LYY’s daily operations are guided by a sense of community, education, impact, and sustainability.
LYY works to improve student affairs in many ways, such as by meeting with decision-makers, publishing opinion pieces, and issuing statements. In addition, we participate in meetings and working groups, such as the university’s educational development working group. Our advocacy work includes supporting student activists through various training programs.
The purpose of LYY’s activities is to ensure the most enjoyable and meaningful years in a community where everyone is welcome just as they are. We carry out effective advocacy work locally by securing the conditions for a well-rounded and high-quality education in Lapland. Our goal is to streamline the daily life of university students and ensure that every student has the tools to take care of their own holistic well-being. Improving students’ daily lives requires collaboration across multiple sectors.
Education Policy
One of LYY’s advocacy themes is education policy, or “kopo.” It encompasses issues such as the quality of teaching, students’ legal protection, and topics related to the university and its administration, as well as higher education institutions nationwide. These issues affect all students at the University of Lapland. LYY’s goal is to ensure the quality and accessibility of education by participating in the development of teaching. Responsibility for educational policy and academic affairs is shared by the board members, an expert, active members of the subject-specific student associations, and student representatives in the administration.
Social Policy
The key themes in students’ social policy—or “sopo”—are livelihood and promoting the ability to study. In its social policy advocacy, LYY aims to create conditions that support studying and take into account all types of students in various life situations. Members of the LYY Board and the advocacy specialist engage in ongoing collaboration with the Finnish Student Health Service (YTHS), the Group’s well-being services, and university staff to enhance student well-being.
Internationalization
Internationalization is a cross-cutting theme in all LYY’s activities. The advocacy department’s role is to ensure that Finnish students have ample opportunities to participate in exchange programs. In addition, we support the integration of international students into the University of Lapland and the student union community, and their needs are considered in the services we offer. International students are considered in the services provided by the university and the student union. Issues related to internationalization are promoted in collaboration with the student associations, ESN Lapland, and the LUC Group’s internationalization services.
Community Relations
Community relations relate to both educational and social policy. LYY’s goal in this sector is to engage in advocacy at both the city and national levels to advance the interests of University of Lapland students. In recent years, LYY has collaborated with the City of Rovaniemi and the Domus Arctica Foundation to improve the housing situation for students. This collaboration is also being developed through a partnership agreement with the City of Rovaniemi. An important partner in our advocacy work is ROTKO, the student union of Lapland University of Applied Sciences.
In addition, LYY collaborates with the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) on the nationwide advocacy of university students’ interests, concerning, among other things, student financial support and healthcare. To ensure direct collaboration, LYY participates, among other things, in advocacy meetings organized by SYL.
For more information on advocacy, contact an advocacy specialist at edunvalvonta(at)lyy.fi or the board member responsible for advocacy.
The Harassment contact persons
The Role of LYY’s harassment contact persons
The Student Union of the University of Lapland operates in accordance with the principles of a safer space. The harassment liaison officer may also be contacted regarding matters that do not pertain to the activities of the Student Union or the organizations operating within its framework, but that relate to issues defined in the Equality and Non-Discrimination Plan.
If a student experiences any form of bullying, harassment, or discrimination in the course of their studies or as a member of the student community, or is otherwise in a difficult conflict situation, they can turn to the Student Union’s harassment liaisons. You may also contact the harassment liaisons if you feel that the matters outlined in the Student Union’s equality and non-discrimination plan are not being implemented in the activities of the Student Union or the organizations operating within its framework.
The harassment liaisons handle each case confidentially, and no action will be taken without first discussing the matter with the person involved and reaching an agreement. The harassment liaisons are bound by confidentiality and do not discuss cases even with one another. No records of these cases are kept.
Harassment liaisons have been appointed in both the student associations and the Student Union. Below are guidelines for harassment liaisons in the student associations
The Role of Subject Associations harassment contact persons
There are many forms of harassment and bullying, such as exclusion, insinuations, and discrimination. Harassment can be direct, unintentional, or thoughtless, but it makes the person experiencing it feel uncomfortable. Anyone can be a harasser or a victim of harassment.
It is important to remember that the subjective experience of the person who has experienced harassment is valid and should not be downplayed.
The harassment contact person is not a therapist, but rather a person through whom you can share your experience of harassment confidentially, while respecting the privacy of the person who has experienced it. The harassment contact person is bound by confidentiality.
Confidentiality means that you cannot discuss a matter shared with you in confidence—not even with other harassment liaisons in your student organization or at LYY—without the victim’s permission. General discussions regarding harassment cases must also take place behind closed doors.
The harassment contact person strictly adheres to the wishes of the person who has experienced harassment in their actions. You cannot begin to investigate the matter on your own initiative; instead, you must proceed exactly as the person who reported the incident wishes.
The role of the harassment contact person may primarily involve listening to and supporting the person who has experienced harassment. A report does not necessarily lead to concrete actions. The harassment contact person does not pass judgment.
The activities of the University of Lapland Student Union adhere to the Principles of a Safer Space. The harassment contact person may also be contacted regarding matters that do not pertain to the activities of the Student Union or the organizations operating within its sphere, concerning issues defined in the equality and non-discrimination plan.
Contact Information:
You can contact LYY’s harassment contact persons by email at either Karoliina’s or Tove’s personal addresses, or at hairinta(at)lyy.fi.
Karoliina Ahvenainen
Harassment contact person
kahvenai(at)ulapland.fi
Tove Hammarström
Harassment contact person
thammars(at)ulapland.fi
LYY works in collaboration with the University of Lapland’s harassment contact persons to develop initiatives that ensure everyone feels safe and comfortable as part of our community. You can read more about the university’s policies here. You can easily contact the University of Lapland’s harassment contact persons.
Mervi Alatalo
Harassment contact person in the University of Lapland
mervi.alatalo@ulapland.fi
+358 40 484 4090
Jukka Sankala
Harassment contact person in the University of Lapland
jukka.sankala@ulapland.fi
+358 40 042 5492