Dear Rector and Mayor, valued guests of the EC2U Alliance, dear students,
It is a great pleasure and honour, on behalf of the Student Union of the University of Turku, to welcome you to Turku and to the opening ceremony of this EC2U Forum.
European cooperation can sometimes sound like an abstract concept: strategies, structures and official documents. But for us students, it is also something very concrete. It means opportunities to study abroad, meet new friends, learn new languages and discover new perspectives. Sometimes, it is also the feeling that Europe is a real community of people.
Right now, Europe is living through a time when the value of cooperation cannot be taken for granted. In Finland, we are having many discussions about security, the economy, competitiveness and the kind of future we are building for young people. At the same time, we can also see increasing polarisation, mistrust and a growing feeling that people are drifting apart from one another.
That is why I believe universities and education have a special role.
Universities are places where we learn to live together with people from different backgrounds. They are places where we practice critical thinking, listening and constructive discussion. And perhaps most importantly, they are places where we learn that no one builds a better future alone, we build it together.
At the Student Union of the University of Turku, we are proud to take an active role in developing both our university and the city of Turku. Decision-making at the University of Turku is based on a tripartite model, where students have a strong and genuine role, holding one third of the representation. We are not seen only as students, but as full members of the university community whose views are heard and respected.
The same can also be seen in our relationship with the city. Turku gives students space to participate, to influence and to be heard. The city leadership is willing to engage in dialogue with us, and the student voice is seen as an important part of developing the city. That matters greatly. Feeling that you belong to a community and that your voice matters builds trust and confidence in the future.
Unfortunately, this experience is not reflected at every level of decision-making in Finland.
During this government term, the Finnish government has made significant cuts to student welfare and education at the same time as youth unemployment is at its highest level in a decade. This has caused many students to worry about how young people and education are valued in our society.
The current Prime Minister of Finland is a former Chair of the Council of our student union — the same position I now hold myself. Because of that, I sometimes wish that national politics would better remember the significance of student voices - something we understand very well here in Turku. Listening is not a weakness, but a strength. In this, both the leadership of our university and the City of Turku set an excellent example.
Students are an important part of society not only in the future, but already today. A society that invests in students, education and young people is also investing in its own future.
Dear guests,
I hope that during this forum you will have the chance to experience Turku through the eyes of students: the beautiful Aura River in spring, the life on our campuses and the openness that makes this city feel like home to so many people.
Perhaps it is exactly from experiences like these that the strongest foundation for European cooperation is built, not only between institutions, but between people.
A warm welcome to Turku, and I wish you all an inspiring and successful EC2U Forum.
Thank you.