Tampere is the most student-friendly city in Finland and home to a large number of students. The city’s student friendliness has not happened by itself, but is the result of years of lobbying and cooperation. TREY works in co-operation with the student union Tamko, and our advocacy work aims to make Tampere a good place to live, study, work, engage in hobbies, live and move arounds, both during your studies as well as after that.

TREY’s and Tamko’s advocacy work is guided by the organisations’ own policy papers as well as a joint election program for county and municipal elections, which is drawn up on an election-by-election basis. The latest election program for county and municipal elections can be viewed on the Steering documents -subpage. It includes the following themes:

  • As the best Finnish city for students, Tampere should actively invest in supporting the ability to study and wellbeing. Maintaining an attractive, lively, and safe urban environment and culture and offering various leisure activities are also important investments in order to improve students’ quality of life and the City’s ability to keep its residents.
  • The students of Tampere are studying to become future experts in various fields. To allow the City of Tampere to harness the expertise of its students, we should be offered different kinds of internships and practical trainings as well as thesis work and course project opportunities. Opportunities for cooperation between the City and the universities community can be found in all fields. We are part of the universities community whose knowledge and expertise should also be utilised in the City’s decision-making.
  • Reasonably priced quality housing improves students’ quality of life, supports their financial situation, and creates a stronger sense of community. We students need different kinds of housing options in various locations: one prefers to share a flat in Hervanta, the other enjoys living in a family apartment in the city centre, whereas the third is happy to live in a studio in Kaleva. Tampere needs moderately priced and student-friendly housing that should be offered by both the City and private renters. Housing policy and land use planning that respect the limits of the environment promote a carbon neutral, sustainable Tampere.
  • We students travel from one place to another primarily by bike, on foot or by public transport. The public transport services should have a fair student discount that is applied to all students. Developing the city centre so that it is accessible to all walkers, cyclists and assistive device users makes the City more pleasant and safe. This ensures that the City remains lively 24 hours a day, every day of the year.
  • Extensive health care must be accessible to all students regardless of life situation, income or other starting points. The starting point is that students are equal users of health services with other residents in terms of access to services. A student’s financial situation should not jeopardize their ability to take care of their health. The Wellbeing Services County of Pirkanmaa must operate in such a way that students are involved in the development of the well-being area, as part of decision-making, and they are consulted on matters that concern them.

Our advocacy accomplishments: the most student-friendly city in Finland programme for the city, free contraceptives for under 25-year-olds, mobile tickets for public transport, regulations on parking moderated in the city centre, student housing planned for the city centre, Tulli area developed according to the students' wishes, city bikes located near campuses, Nysse's routes take into account movement between campuses, tramway for Tampere, bike lane between city centre and Hervanta.

Banner picture: Antti Hakkarainen / TT-kamerat