The Application Call opens on 16 October 2026. Apply by 29 October 2026!
Would you be interested in being the voice of students within our university community? The Executive Board of the Student Union of the University of Turku (TYY) is elected annually to carry out the operations of the student union. Serving on the Board offers a front-row seat to student advocacy at the University of Turku and an opportunity to develop our shared student culture and community.
As a TYY board member, you will regularly collaborate with university leadership, campus cities, and other key stakeholders to make the University of Turku an even better place to study. You’ll also have opportunities to engage in national advocacy alongside other Finnish student unions and to work towards making the student years the best time of one's life.
The Executive Board represents the Student Union and exercises the general executive authority of the organisation in accordance with the Student Union rules and the decisions made by the Student Union Council. In addition, board members are responsible for implementing the Student Union’s Action Plan and overseeing the activities within their respective teams.
Each board member belongs to one of TYY’s teams and is responsible for 1–3 sectors within that team. These sectors include, among others, academic affairs, social affairs, international affairs, organisational affairs, volunteer activities, student culture, corporate relations, development cooperation, environmental affairs, communications and municipal politics.
For more information about the working in the Executive Board, you can contact the current board members: TYY Board Contact Information.
You can read more about the new team model here: Information on the New Team Model.
We are looking for a Chairperson and seven members of the Excecutive Board. Board work is a full-time position, where you work together with the rest of the Board and the specialists working at TYY. The work is done mainly during office hours, but the position also includes evening and weekend work. In return, board members are not required to be in the office from dawn till dusk every day, with the flexibility to work remotely and do studies when possible. Board members are paid a compensation monthly, amounting to approximately 800 € per month.
Working in the Executive Board requires a well-organised approach to work, the ability to work under pressure and good social skills. It also requires the ability to have ability to work well under pressure and get along with different people.
When selecting board members, the Student Council pays particular attention to motivation and interest in the role, breadth of previous experience, public speaking skills, learning and reflection skills, as well as teamwork and cooperation skills in general. Attention will also be paid to the candidate's awareness of what they are applying for: for example, a realistic understanding of the job description and a willingness to commit to the role and to devote sufficient time to it. On the other hand, the diversity and representativeness of the candidates and the overall composition of the Executive Board will also be taken into account. As a public administrative organisation, TYY follows gender parity in the selection of its board, i.e. 40% of the board must be women and 40% men, unless there are specific reasons to the contrary.
The term of office is one calendar year, with the new Executive Board taking office at the beginning of 2027.
How to run as a candidate for the TYY Executive Board?
The 2026-2027 TYY Student Council will elect the 2027 Executive Board at its meeting on Wednesday 24 November 2026. Proposals for the composition of the Executive Board come from the Student Council's representative groups.
Please contact the group of your choice and express your interest in working for a better student union and university community. Please also read the application process described below.
It is advisable for those interested in taking part in the TYY Executive Board to familiarize themselves beforehand with the documents that govern the activities of the Student Union. Important documents include the Student Union's strategy, Action Plan, Policy Paper and budget. Please note that the 2027 Action Plan and budget will not be adopted until the Student Council meeting on 24 November 2026, but you can view the draft documents here. The strategy and the policy paper adopted in Spring 2026 can be found here.
We will also be holding a board application briefing on Wednesday 15th of October online on Zoom: https://utu.zoom.us/j/67146899659. Password is TYY. Attending this meeting does not bind you to applying for the board.
We also recommend getting in touch with the current board and staff members to ask about current topics and useful materials for familiarizing yourself with the work. You can find TYY’s office on the first floor of Student House A, on the left-hand side from the main entrance (Rehtorinpellonkatu 4 A, 20500 Turku).
Application process
For those applying for the Chairperson position, the application process consists of three stages: a written application, an individual interview, and a panel discussion.
For those applying for the TYY Board, the recruitment process consists of several stages: a written application, recording a self-introduction video, a practical group task, and a panel discussion.
Application
Please attach the following items to your application:
- Basic information:
- Your photo
- Name
- Gender (female, male, other) (not to be published)
- Email (not to be published)
- Phone number (will not be published)
- Group of representatives presenting
- Text (max. 2,500 characters including spaces):
- Who are you?
- Why are you applying for the TYY Board?
- Which sector(s) are you interested in working with?
- List:
- Relevant positions and work experience
Do not count the list within the 2,500 character limit.
Applications should be submitted by e-mail to the Vice Chair of the Council, Mari van den Berg at mbvade@utu.fi by 23.59 on Thursday 29 October at the latest.
We will publish the information and photos of the candidates who applied for the post on TYY's website 30 October. If there is any content in your application or list that you do not wish to be published, please let us know when applying. Applicants' contact details, i.e. telephone number and e-mail address or gender, will not be published on the website.
Practical Group Task (Board Member Applicants)
As part of the selection process, applicants for the TYY Board will be invited to participate in a practical group task. The task will be held at the TYY office in Rahiala between 2 and 10 November 2026. More detailed information regarding the schedule and instructions will be sent to board applicants after the application deadline on 29 October.
The completion of the task will be video recorded.
Interview
As part of the selection process, board candidates will be invited to interviews that will be recorded. Interviews will take place face-to-face at the TYY Office between 5 and 10 November. More detailed information will be sent to candidates after 2 November.
Short Introduction Video (Board Member Applicants)
Applicants for the TYY Board are required to submit a short self-introduction video, with a maximum length of two minutes. The video must be recorded in one continuous take. In the video, applicants are expected to elaborate on their skills, interests, and motivation beyond what is included in their written application.
The technical quality of the video is not important. However, attention will be paid to the applicant’s presentation and communication skills.
Interview (Chairperson Applicants)
Applicants for the position of Chairperson of the Board will be invited to an interview as part of the selection process. The interviews will take place at the TYY office in Rahiala between 2 and 10 November 2026. More detailed instructions will be sent to the applicants after the application deadline on 30 October.
The interviews will be conducted in person and recorded.
Panel discussion
After the deadline for applications, TYY organises a panel discussion for all the applicants. The panel discussion will be held on Tuesday 17 November at 18:15-19:45 in the Campus area (the exact venue will be confirmed later). Any TYY member can come and follow the discussion either live or online at TYY Youtube Channel. After the application period, applicants will be informed on how to prepare for the debate.
Board negotiations
A proposal for the composition of the TYY Executive Board will be prepared through negotiations between the representative groups. Delegates from the representative groups will gather before the meeting to discuss the applications and put together the best possible mix of applicants. The negotiations are convened by the Chairs of the Student Council and are conducted in confidence. However, the formal election of the Chairperson and members of the Board will only take place at the Student Council meeting 24 November 2026.
More info:
Student Union Council Vice Chair Mari van den Berg
+358 46 909 4534
e-mail: mbvade@utu.fi