This is the translation of an opinion piece published in Aamulehti on 1 April 2025.
Imagine a sunny April day in the city centre of Tampere. Although Wappu eve is still weeks away, flocks of students in overalls can be spotted in the city centre. Their bright overalls brighten the still greyish spring day. You can hear music and the ripple of conversation from the park. All of this is part of daily life for us Tampere residents, a consistent aspect of the urban landscape that makes Tampere, well Tampere. After all, there are over 35,000 of us university students in Tampere.
Tampere’s promotion as a student-friendly city attracts new residents and vitality: almost 70,000 people pursued an academic spot from Tampere in 2024. After their studies, many also find a permanent residence in Tampere or in the municipalities surrounding it. These people with university degrees are invaluable to Tampere’s competitiveness. This is why students must not be forgot about in the city’s decision-making.
In the spring, Tampere will once again elect its direction for the next four years. The next city council must continue prioritising how Tampere can maintain its status as Finland’s most student-friendly city. It is of utmost importance, that student housing is zoned diversely and in central suburbs near the universities’ campuses and offices. As students are transferred to the student housing supplement scheme, the rise in rental prices must be managed by prioritising efficient zoning of reasonably priced rental housing.
In addition to housing, transportation in a student city must be smooth. Students transport from one place to another primarily by bike, on foot and by public transportation, thus the student discount on public transport must be fair and apply to every student.
For Tampere’s image of diverse student life and lively urban landscape to remain the same Tampere, the city must continue to make decisions that will benefit students’ well-being in their daily lives and studies.
– Laura Heino, Chair of the Board of the Student Union of Tampere University & Jarkko Hannula, Chair of the Board of the Students’ Union of Tampere University of Applied Sciences
