The National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) is looking for creative and motivated people to join its Development Cooperation Advisory Board (KENKKU). SYL represents 14 member organisations and over 150,000 higher education students. KENKKU manages development projects with a development cooperation policy expert and a member of the SYL board. The term begins in August 2025 and ends in July 2026.

We don’t expect you to be a professional – you just need to be motivated and eager to learn about sustainable development, development cooperation and human rights. Members are expected to participate in meetings during their term. Meetings are held once a month and can also be attended remotely. Lunch is provided at the meetings in Helsinki, and travel expenses for representatives to the meetings are reimbursed in accordance with SYL’s travel rules.

A maximum of 15 members will be selected for the Advisory Board, some of whom will continue from the previous term.

KENKKU members are divided into small groups. To ensure that teamwork runs smoothly, a chair is elected for each team.

1. Communications and fundraising team

The communication and fundraising team ensures the visibility of development cooperation activities on social media, creates communication content, and brainstorms ideas for communication development. The team also coordinates student union visits and fundraising activities. (The team can also assist with development policy advocacy, for instance by participating in public debates on topical issues.)

2. Ethiopian project administration team

The team will manage a development cooperation project in Ethiopia that supports higher education students with disabilities. Amongst other activities, this involves familiarising themselves with annual reports and plans, and liaising with local partners. The role requires an interest in project management, the ability to work independently, project management skills, and the ability to work in English.

3. Global citizenship education team

The team is responsible for coordinating and developing SYL’s global citizenship education activities and, for example, planning and implementing the global citizenship education project in cooperation with SYL’s development policy expert. The team also coordinates KENKKU’s student union visits and organises SYL’s participation in the World Village Festival and the Youth Peace Week. The position requires interest and skills related to project work and the ability to work independently

4. President of the board

We are also looking for a person to chair KENKKU’s meetings and other activities. The chair also reports to the SYL board.

How to apply

The application takes the form of a short motivation letter, indicating:

1. the applicant’s motivation and experience
2. what the applicant hopes to learn during their term on KENKKU
3. how the applicant would work with potential development cooperation partners in their student union
4. Applicants are also invited to express their interest in teams, and in leading teams or in chairing KENKKU as a whole. Any longer-term obstacles to attending meetings (e.g. planned studies abroad) should also be mentioned.

Please send the application directly to your student union. Send your application to hakemukset@lyy.fi  by 26.3. 23:59.

SYL places a high priority on pluralism and equal opportunities in all its activities. We welcome applicants from different backgrounds and of different genders. The selection process takes account of the applicant’s motivation, experience, and the fact that the board must include representatives from all the different student unions.

Further information:

Meri Leppänen
Development Policy Adviser
+358 44 780 0220
meri.leppanen@syl.fi

Do you care about climate change? Do you have a burning desire to change the world? Would you like to help SYL and the student unions develop their climate lobbying skills?

We’re looking for imaginative and motivated members for the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) climate network. SYL represents 14 member organisations and more than 140,000 university students. The climate network is a reliable participant and pioneer in the student movement’s climate work.

The climate network assists SYL and the student unions in developing their advocacy skills related to climate change. The climate network is a group of student union actors and students that participates in SYL’s climate advocacy and develops climate work in SYL and the student unions. The climate network maintains a data bank on the climate work done by student unions. If necessary, the climate network represents SYL at various events and events and publishes position papers and blog posts.

We don’t expect you to be a professional – you just need to be motivated and eager to learn about sustainable development and climate change. We expect the members of the climate network to be committed to what they do. Climate network members are also expected to actively participate in meetings during their term of office.

The term begins in August 2025 and ends in July 2026. A maximum of 15 members will be elected to the climate network. The climate network meets about once a month and mainly works remotely.

We are looking for a person to lead the climate network’s activities and chair its meetings. The chair also reports to the SYL board.

Each of the student unions is invited to nominate up to three members for the climate network. Applicants from all backgrounds are warmly welcome. Applications must be accompanied by a letter of motivation expressing the applicant’s interest in becoming a member of the climate network. Applicants should also indicate what they would like to learn during their time in the network, and whether they are also interested in chairing it. Any longer-term obstacles to attending meetings (e.g. planned studies abroad) should also be mentioned in the letter of motivation.

Please send the application directly to your student union. Send your application to hakemukset@lyy.fi  by 26.3. 23:59.

SYL emphasizes diversity and equal opportunities in its activities. We welcome applicants from different backgrounds and of different genders. The selection process will take into account the applicants’ motivation, experience, and the fact that the climate network must include representatives from different student unions.

Further information:

Board Member Maria Saita
maria.saita@syl.fi
+358 44 906 5004

Chair of the Climate Network Iikka Meriläinen
iikkamatias@live.com