The best association training event of the year Associations’ Kick-off is here again! Associations’ Kick-off is a joint training and networking event for association actors. The event will take place on Tuesday 3 February 2026.
The event is mainly organised in Finnish, but all joint sessions will be interpreted with the help of interpreters. In addition, the programme includes two trainings held entirely in English and two trainings interpreted into English.
Registration
Associations’ Kick-off is open to all actives of associations operating within TREY. The event is primarily intended for board members, but association officials are also welcome to participate. Participation to the event is free of charge.
The daytime programme will be held at Tampere University City Centre Campus.
Registration for Associations’ Kick-off is done via a Microsoft Forms Form. Please note that registration is binding. Registration closes on Thursday 22 January 2026 at 23:59.
Schedule and practical information
The daytime programme starts with the joint opening session, which includes a keynote speech by actor-writer Jani Toivola! The keynote speech is sponsored by our cooperation partners TEK and Juvenes.
After the joint opening session, participants can enjoy a cup of coffee, after which they will gather to the joint training ‘Systeemeissä toimimisen taidot’ (translation: ‘Skills of operating in systems’). The joint training is held by team coach, teacher and entrepreneur Veijo Hämäläinen, whose mission is to save people from bad jobs.
After the joint programme, participants will attend the trainings of their choice, which are organised in two separate slots. Participants’ preferences for both trainings will be collected during registration. Detailed descriptions of the sessions can be found at the end.
Event schedule
- 12:00–12:45 Joint opening and keynote speech by Jani Toivola
- 12:45–13:15 Coffee break
- 13:15–14:00 Joint training ‘Systeemeissä toimimisen taidot’ by Veijo Hämäläinen
- 14:15–15:45 First training session
- 16:00–17:30 Second training session
- 17:30 → Afterwork at Pii-klubi!
Training locations
The opening programme will be held in the university’s main auditorium. After the joint training, participants will be guided to the workshops. We will also provide clear signage across the City Centre Campus.
The exact locations of the workshops will be updated here after registration has closed.
Additional notes and further information
Participants will be informed of the trainings they have been selected for one week before the event, or at the latest on the event day before the opening lecture begins.
Any changes to the event will be communicated on this page, via TREY’s association email list, and on TREY’s association Telegram information channel.
You can read about the accessibility of campuses on the Intranet.
TREY’s principles for safer spaces are followed in the event and can be found on TREY’s website.
Let’s have fun and keep the event harassment-free. If you encounter unpleasant behavior or harassment, you can contact TREY’s harassment contact persons through hairinta@trey.fi. Harassment contact persons can also be reached via this Microsoft Forms contact form.
For further information about the event, you can contact TREY’s Association Specialist Yeti Ahonen-Kakko (jarjesto@trey.fi , +358 40 713 0079).
Trainings
There are a total of 21 trainings at the 2026 Associations’ Kick-off. The trainings are divided into two time slots, and the same training will not be offered twice during the day. The programme has been designed so that both slots include something for everyone.
Each slot includes one training held entirely in English and one training organised in Finnish with interpretation into English. Below are the trainings available in English – if you wish to additionally see the trainings held in Finnish, switch the language of this page on the upper right corner.
First training slot (at 14:15-15:45)
Association Management 101: How to Run Your Association
This training is in English!
In this training, you will learn the basics of managing an association. We will go through the legal responsibilities of running a registered association and share best practices in association management, including budgeting as well as general meeting and board meeting procedures.
The trainer is Tami Nordström, Chairperson of TREY 2026.
Project Management Through the Lens of Event Production
This training will also be interpreted into English!
Many association actors have experiences of events, both successful and less successful ones. This workshop covers the basics of project management and event production.
The trainer is Sami Perkiö, TREY’s Specialist in Events and Community.
Second training slot (at 16:00-17:30)
Let’s Predict the Future: The Crystal Ball of Project Budgeting
This training is in English!
This lecture/workshop introduces practical tools for estimating project finances and managing uncertainty in student association projects.
The trainer is Jani Patrakka.
Delegate Tasks and Enjoy the Event
This training will also be interpreted into English!
Learn how to involve volunteers effectively and build a positive volunteer culture within your association.
The trainer is Mea Vähä-Jaakkola, TREY’s Volunteer of the Year 2025.
Banner picture: Reetta Sihto / TT-kamerat