Would you like to be able to have a concrete influence on the affairs of your own university of applied sciences? Now there is a great opportunity for that, because there are open positions for student representatives in Haaga-Helia’s decision-making bodies! The following administrative student representative positions are open:
Board of Haaga-Helia
The Board of Haaga-Helia holds the highest authority in Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences. For example, the board approves curriculas and deals with correction requests of student selection. The position offers a great view for all Haaga-Helia operations and helps the student representative to see current situations from the Haaga-Helia perspective. The term of office is two (2) years starting from the spring 2027 general meeting. One (1) regular member is elected as a representative, not an alternate member. The operating language of the board is Finnish.
Collegiate Body
The task of Haaga-Helia’s Collegiate Body is to approve the university of applied sciences’ degree regulations, degree education curricula and selection criteria for students, and to decide on the organizing of entrance exams. Haaga-Helia’s principal Susanna Niinistö-Sivuranta is the chairperson and the term of office is two (2) years starting on January 1, 2027. One (1) regular member and a personal alternate member are elected as representatives. The operating language of the Collegiate Body is Finnish.
Restaurant committee
The restaurant committee is an informative and negotiating cooperative body that does not have decision-making power regarding the restaurant management agreement between Kiinteistö Oy Opetustalo and the restaurant owner. The restaurant committee acts as a cooperation body for Opetustalo, restaurant and cafe and their users. The term of office is one (1) year starting on January 1st 2027. Four (4) regular members, not alternate members, are elected as representatives. The operating language of the restaurant committee is Finnish.
Examination Committee
The Examination Committee handles complaints made by students regarding the evaluation of credits or crediting of studies completed elsewhere. The term is two (2) years starting on January 1, 2027. One (1) regular member and a personal alternate member are elected as representatives. The operating language of the Examination Committee is Finnish.
Electoral Committee
Committee of the Student Union. The Committee oversees the election procedures of the Student Union. It also accepts the candidates and validates the result. You must be a member of Helga to apply. The term of office is one (1) year starting on January 1st 2027. The chairperson and two (2) to ten (10) regular members, not alternate members, are elected as representatives. The main operating language of the Electoral Committee is Finnish, but participation is also possible in English.
The process of applying to become student representative
The applying to representative positions happens by filling out the application form here before 1st of November 2026. The Electoral Committee will interview all the applicants (excluding the applicants for the Electoral Committee) that have sent their application before the deadline. The interviews will be held during weeks 45 and 46. The Electoral Committee will give their suggestion of the persons to be elected for the positions. Giving the suggestion the Electoral Committee emphasizes the suggested person’s motivation, experience, required competence for the position and suitability for the position.
Helga’s representative council will choose the student representatives of the Board of Haaga-Helia, Collegiate Body, Restaurant Committee and the Examination Committee committee at its autumn meeting on 19.11.2026 and the Electoral Committee at the organizational meeting of the new representative council on 24.11.2026. Apply to the positions is also possible by running for office at the meetings where the elections will be made, but we recommend filling out the application form before 1st of November.
The duration of the positions is 1-2 calendar years, so it is desirable and in certain positions required that applicants are able to commit to positions of trust for the entire term. All Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences students in education leading to a degree are eligible for election to the positions. If the elected student representative loses their eligibility in the middle of the term, for example due to graduation, they are considered to have resigned from their position of trust. The student must notify the student union well in advance of losing their eligibility, so that a new student representative can be elected.
The selections will be announced on the student union’s official information channels and to the applicants personally. The names will also be communicated to Haaga-Helia.
For more information about the tasks, please contact Helga’s advocacy and partnerships specialist:
Camilla Relander
[email protected]
+358 40 847 9350
