What is the Helga Board?
The Helga Board consists of a Chairperson, two Vice Chairpersons and up to seven other Board Members.
The Board is responsible for Helga’s day-to-day operations together with Helga staff, represents Helga in various forums, implements the action plan and supports other Helga representatives and active members.
A Board Member’s term lasts one calendar year, from January to December. Board Members receive compensation for their work. The Representative Council will decide on the compensation sums for 2027 at its autumn meeting on 19 November 2026.
The Board divides more specific areas of responsibility among its members and contributes to the Student Union’s day-to-day operations accordingly. The Chair and Vice Chairs lead the Board’s work and are each responsible for a broader area of operations. The Chair is responsible for advocacy, one Vice Chair for tutoring and events, and the other for communications and support services.
We expect the Chair to dedicate approximately 30 hours per week to Board work, the Vice Chairs approximately 20 hours per week, and the other Board Members approximately 10 hours per week. All Board Members are expected to participate in Helga’s joint events and activities, so the indicative 10 hours per week will be exceeded during some weeks. In June and July, the expected workload decreases considerably, particularly for Board Members who are not chairpesons.
However, Board Members do not have official working hours, as they serve in elected positions of trust. Joint work and meetings mainly take place between 9:00 and 17:00, but occasionally the role also requires working in the evenings and at weekends.
What does the Board do?
As a Board Member, you will have the opportunity to learn a great deal about organisational leadership, operational and financial planning, and cooperation with various stakeholders. Depending on your area of responsibility, you may get involved in recruiting and training tutors, communications, organising events, advocacy within and outside Haaga-Helia, and promoting sports and wellbeing.
As a Board Member, you will also have the opportunity to influence how Helga supports students and how Haaga-Helia as a whole develops! Former Helga Board Members often say that their time at Helga has provided them with valuable professional networks and direction for their future careers. Many are also able to earn study credits through their Board work, for example by completing an internship or advanced studies as part of their Board responsibilities.
How is the Board elected?
The newly elected Representative Council will elect the new Board at its constitutive meeting on 30 November 2026, starting at 17:00, at the Pasila campus, room 1007. We encourage you to attend in person, as candidates are usually interviewed during the meeting. If there are more candidates than available positions, an election will be held. The meeting will first elect the Chair, followed by the Vice Chairs, and finally the other Board Members, who will be elected in a single vote.
Interested? Fill in the application form by 22 November. Your details will be shared with the Representative Council together with the meeting invitation, allowing us to prepare for your candidacy when organising the meeting. After the deadline, the details of everyone who has submitted the form will be delivered to the Representative Council as part of the meeting materials without a separate message.
You can also nominate yourself during the Representative Council’s constitutive meeting. Make sure to arrive on time so that you have an opportunity to introduce yourself. If you only put yourself forward during the meeting, the Representative Council members will not have had the same opportunity to familiarise themselves with you as a candidate as they have with those who submitted their applications by 22 November.
Apply to the Helga Board for 2027
Board Induction
Some of the Board induction sessions will already take place this year, during week 50. The Board will also organise itself during the induction sessions by dividing areas of responsibility among its members.
The induction sessions will take place at the Pasila campus according to the following schedule:
- Monday 7 December, 9:00–18:00 (may also finish slightly earlier)
- Tuesday 8 December, 9:00–16:00
- Wednesday 9 December, 9:00–16:00
- Thursday 10 December: from 10:30 onwards for the Chair and Vice Chairs, and from 15:00 onwards for the other Board Members. The day will end at approximately 17:00.
More information about the Board application process
You can contact the current Board Members to hear about their personal experiences. You can find the contact details of the entire Board at https://helga.fi/en/helga/contact-info/
Otso Muhonen
Chairperson of the board
Student advocacy and company cooperation
[email protected]
Veronika Jokikokko
Vice-chairperson of the board
Communication and support
[email protected]
Arpit Jain
Vice-chairperson of the board
Community and Tutoring
[email protected]
Tekla Kosonen
Executive Director
[email protected]
+358 45 850 4280
More information about the Representative Council meeting and practical arrangements
Kiira Uutela
Chairperson of the Representative Council 2026
[email protected]
