The most important job of TEK’s student liaisons is to make TEK’s activities visible on university campuses and to recruit new members. This is how Vesa Taskinen, TEK’s Student Membership Officer, sums it up.
“From the point of view of the office, the student liaisons are regional experts who know how to reach students. In terms of TEK’s marketing, the liaisons agree on cooperation schemes with student organisations so that we can get as close as possible to the grassroots level in the students’ everyday lives.”
In practice, the fruits of the student liaisons’ efforts can be seen, for example, in the fact that last year TEK was involved in one way or another in more than 500 student events around Finland. In addition, the student liaisons recruited almost 5,500 new members for TEK.
“We sponsor these events financially and in return we get visibility at the events. Without the contribution of the student liaisons and guild contact persons, this extensive grassroots cooperation would be simply impossible.”
The guild contact persons, known as kyhit in Finnish, are the contact persons of student guilds and student associations, and there are around 100 of them in total.
“Guild contact persons form the regional team of our student liaisons, with whom membership recruitment and TEK’s marketing are carried out in practice.”
Student liaisons are typically active in student organisations already, and they are familiar faces in these organisations. The work of a student liaison requires an understanding of how to get things done on campus in cooperation with the organisations.
“A former student liaison once said that the work of a liaison is the kind that you might do in a student organisation anyway, but you actually get paid for it,” says Taskinen.
The working hours of student liaisons vary slightly depending on the campus, but it is roughly a half-day job during the universities’ autumn and spring semesters, with a break from TEK’s work in the summer. Student liaisons are usually employed for a two-year period.
“The position also allows you to develop in many areas, such as customer relationship management, presentation skills and volunteer management. The work is also highly self-directed and flexible, so it is easy to fit in with your studies.”
TEK Magazine once again introduces the current student liaisons in alphabetical order by surname. We asked each of them,
1. who are you and why did you become a student liaison,
2. what’s important in your city this year, and
3. if there’s time, what hobbies do you enjoy.
Senni Auvinen, Lappeenranta, Lahti and Joensuu
1. I study Energy Technology in Lappeenranta. I’m currently working on my master’s thesis and aim to graduate this summer.
I’ve been involved in organisational activities in Lappeenranta throughout my studies and I’ve always been interested in the role of a student liaison. This job gives me the opportunity to get to know many new people and organisations and become familiar with the activities of labour unions.
2. The number of international students at LUT University is growing at an exponential rate, and there are more and more active members in our organisations with an international background. This means that the role of the student liaison is also becoming more international and multilingual.
3. Outdoor activities in nature, running, investigating true crime cases and reading books.
Vitaliy Gurov, University of Helsinki, Kumpula Campus
1. I’m Vitaliy, or Vita for short. I am a nth-year Physics student in the Bachelor’s Programme in Science at Kumpula, and I spent a few years studying Physics at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow before returning and starting over at Helsinki Uni after COVID. I have been a contact person for Kumpula’s international degree organisation Integralis ry since 2020, so I’ve seen a couple of student liaisons during that time. I’ve also done more organisational volunteer work than actual studies in those four years, so when the position of student liaison was open again, it felt like a natural fit. Working for a labour union was also a pretty big bonus to a friendly neighbourhood commie like me.
2. Student livelihood is an issue that I believe is important on every campus this year. Its decline also affects student culture and the student movement, as students who are working and/or trying to complete their degrees within the target time have less time for both organisational activities and the related volunteer work, as well as simply participating in events. I myself feel scared and anxious because of this development, because Finland’s rich student culture and strong trade union movement are some of the main reasons why I returned to a Finnish university.
3. I am BIG into DND, with a few campaigns going simultaneously at the moment, two in which I’m a player and one which I DM. Board games have also become a big addiction ever since I stopped drinking a few years ago, and Frosthave, Spirit Island and Dune Imperium have stolen more than a few hours from uni work. This year I’m also trying out Muay Thai, and so far, it’s been pretty fun!
Juho Järvi, Jyväskylä
1. I’m a sixth-year student and during that time I’ve had the opportunity to study Computer Science and Engineering and Technology Management, which is what I’m studying now. I thought it would be nice to apply as a student liaison and get to work with new people. However, I still needed encouragement from two friends before submitting my application and, thanks to them, here I am.
2. It’s important in Jyväskylä this year to be involved in supporting and developing the local student culture.
3. My free time is taken up with a variety of things. Sometimes I play sports, sometimes I lie on the sofa, sometimes I read books, sometimes I laze around on the sofa and sometimes I just rest on the sofa.
Jonathan Kivimäki, Vaasa
1. I’m a third-year student of Automation and Information Technology in Vaasa. I’ve spent the first couple of years of my studies on the board of Tutti and haven’t wanted to leave student activities just yet. Tutti is the subject association of the University of Vaasa School of Technology and Innovations. Combining work and student activities sounded appealing, so applying as a student liaison seemed like a natural extension for my organisational activities. I feel that as a liaison, I can promote the interests of the students from Vaasa while also enjoying the student activities that I love from the perspective of slightly different challenges.
2. Developing the teekkari culture is a key theme in the annual calendar in Vaasa. The project to reform the dipping event (teekkarikaste) is starting as we speak, and subject clubs are focusing on providing more subject-specific activities. I also hope to improve awareness of TEK among international students.
3. I’ve been motorcycling ever since I was allowed to drive a moped, but last summer I started a new hobby, scuba diving! I also enjoy all kinds of sports, such as climbing and jogging. Video games and, of course, working in the subject association are close to my heart.
Linda Markkola, Oulu
1. I’m Linda Markkola, a sixth-year student of Production Management and a second-year student liaison. I became a student liaison because during my year as a guild contact person, I was able to follow the work of the previous liaison and this sparked the idea that I might still have something to give to the student culture in Oulu, but from a slightly different perspective than the board of the guild. The best part about being a student liaison is that you get to work with several subject societies and, of course, the team of guild contact persons in Oulu!
2. Annual parties will be celebrated in Oulu this year by the Technical Students Association Oulu (Oulun Teekkariyhdistys), the guild for Electrical Engineering (Sähköinsinöörikilta) and the guild for Mechanical Engineering (Konekilta). I believe these will be the big things this year. In addition, major annual events such as the Shrovetide event, the Church Boat Rowing Competition, the dipping of first-year students and Teekkari Capping are sure to become important and meaningful occasions again this year. I’m also looking forward to the new PahkiSpeksi show!
3. I spend my free time with my dog Lysti and with friends and family. I also enjoy horse riding and jogging.
Jani Norrby, Turku
1. I’m a third-year student of Biomedical Engineering and Health Technology at the University of Turku. Before becoming a student liaison, I founded and chaired Asklepio ry, my subject association, and I’m on the board of the local Teekkari Commission, an umbrella organisation for teekkari associations, as organisation commissioner. I was involved in TEK’s activities as a student representative in the council and in the Teekkari Culture Forum, so TEK’s activities were not entirely new to me either. I decided to apply as a student liaison on the basis of my personal interest and the encouragement of my friends. I like the fact that I get to work with people, and I especially enjoy working with my fellow students! As a student liaison, you get a very close, but also a very broad look at the activities of organisations.
2. This year, it’s time to start consolidating activities in Turku – and perhaps degree programmes too. Over the last few years, new teekkari guilds have been established in Turku at a rapid pace and various common traditions have emerged. For the natural scientists, the customs are perhaps a bit more established, but new events for teekkaris include the teekkari dipping and a joint capping event, and last year, we were able to move the dipping right next to the centre of the city with the support of TEK.
3. I like to spend my free time at student events. In particular, sitsit events and annual parties have taken up a large amount of my time in the past two years. If I’m not at student events or taking part in other organisational activities, I can usually be found reading or just hanging out with my friends.
Vilppu Viinikainen, Otaniemi, Espoo
1. I’m a fourth-year student at Aalto University in the Information Networks programme and I’ve just started pursuing a master’s degree after completing my bachelor’s degree. I’ve been involved in various activities in Otaniemi, from sitting on the guild board to organising Junction, the biggest hackathon in Europe. I applied to become a student liaison, because I was interested in working at the intersection between the student sector and social issues! As a liaison, I hope to learn more about TEK’s activities and social significance, and to support the vibrant student culture in Otaniemi.
2. Aalto University is celebrating its 15th anniversary this year, which will of course be celebrated by the Student Union as well. The number of international students is also growing, so getting them involved in the student culture and encouraging them to become members of TEK is important!
3. In my free time, I enjoy student events, and I like exploring and spending time in nature!
Kaisa Vornanen, Tampere
1. I’m Kaisa and I'm studying Electrical Engineering in Tampere. I originally learned more about TEK’s activities in Tampere through my organisational activities, and I thought that when the time is right, working as a student liaison might be the perfect job for me! The right moment eventually came and now I have a great opportunity to develop the student culture in Tampere together with students.
2. The Teekkari Union of Tampere is turning 60 years old this year and I’ve heard rumours that there will be all sorts of events and activities to celebrate this milestone!
3. In my free time I like to read Icelandic detective stories, go ice swimming and play ball games – especially football is close to my heart.