Hello!
I am Ellinoora Laaksonen, a student of literary studies and a former student representative in university administration, an ex-halloped, who just finished their term in the Academic Board. The Academic Board is the highest academic administrative decision-making body of Tampere University. Still have no idea what I’m talking about? The Academic Board is responsible for establishing and terminating degree programmes, approving curricula, and appointing the board of the foundation university, among other duties. Issues related to research and education are actively brought to the Academic Board for discussion, and the rector and vice rectors always open meetings by sharing news from their areas of responsibility. The most important duty of the Academic Board is to make sure that the voice of the community gets heard by the rector and vice rectors and other bodies that prepare matters. The opinion of the Academic Board has an effect on further handling of matters, even when the Academic Board would not have the actual authority to decide.
I ended up applying to the Academic Board after treading a long and educational path. I started my “career” as a halloped in the Faculty Council of Social Sciences (SOC) in my third year of studies. I was elected as a full member, and so I was destined for university democracy. The main reason I decided to apply for a halloped position was pure curiosity for what happens “behind the scenes” of administration. The interest for advocating in common matters was aroused through doing the actual work. My example illustrates that, especially for the Faculty Councils, you do not need to be fully certain or prepared to apply for or to act in the position.
Acting as a halloped got me interested in educational affairs on a larger scale, and I also ended up as the educational affairs organiser for my subject association Teema ry. I found this double role useful in understanding the levels of decision-making in a new light and in being able to bring news from the field to the faculties and the other way around. I encourage each student representative in the Faculty Councils to collaborate with the educational affairs organisers of associations! Collaboration often gets the most out of these matters, too.
After my first term as a halloped and my already longish career in subject association activities, I got into the student union Executive Board, where I also was responsible for educational affairs. During my time at TREY, it became clear to me that I wanted to put the experience and expertise I have gained into use in more demanding situations. And so I applied to the Academic Board when there was a call for new student representatives for the next term, and got elected.
My term in the Academic Board started with good momentum and I learned the ropes rather quickly. There is a lot of new information to process in every meeting (and outside meetings), but, fortunately, you will not be there alone and will always have other students’ support. Students in the Academic Board are actually often praised for being very well prepared.
What I specifically liked about acting in the Academic Board was that I was able to advocate in common and relevant matters in the university. For example, the appointment process of the University Board was a memorable experience, something that was laborious but rewarding. The process required communicating with various people, learning about the candidates, and understanding the bigger picture.
Moreover, this spring the Academic Board gave approval to the altered Language Center teaching schedule, which attracted a lot of attention as well as some dissatisfaction. Things do not always go as desired, even if you spare no effort. In the language teaching case, it was heart-warming for me to see so many subject associations and the student union taking their stand on the matter and advocating for it. This demonstrated that the student movement in Tampere has the kind of communality that you might not often see displayed in advocacy matters.
On the whole, my time in the Academic Board was immensely rewarding. The meetings showed me how a single matter can affect many different fields in very different ways. The most important thing was to find understanding and compromises between different groups. Another advantage of acting in the Academic Board is that you have the opportunity to converse directly with the rector and vice rectors or to network with those responsible for decisions in our university, which would not be possible in many other places. In the Academic Board, you learn to polish your negotiation skills, quickly assimilate new information, sharply argue for your view, and navigate your way through different views.
Thanks to the Academic Board, I got to know this institution so important to me a lot better, and I now feel more attached to the university than ever before. And, above all, the experience strengthened my sense of identity as a devoted defender of university democracy and the status of students. I wish my fellow students as rewarding an experience as I had, and that is why I encourage you to continue on your halloped journey—or to embark on a new one and see where the path leads you.
– Ellinoora