About the campaign
At the beginning of the 2020s, the European Union has been defined by major global phenomena that have deepened cooperation between the Member States and highlighted the need to act as a united front in responding to challenges. The challenges of the new era have contributed to education policy increasingly becoming a strategic policy area for the EU.
With the joint EU election programme and campaign of the National Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences and the National Union of University Students in Finland, we want to build a better future for European higher education and young generations, and we encourage students to vote. We demand ambition, pioneering spirit and student-centred decisions in education policy. The EU must increase the funding and accessibility of education and mobility, ban unpaid traineeships and act as a peacebuilder in unstable times. Therefore:
Student, change Europe! Vote…
- Hassle-free student exchanges
- Make unpaid traineeships history
- A peacebuilding Union
About higher education students
Finland has nearly 300,000 higher education students. They are a diverse group of people in different life situations. For example, 18 per cent have families, 20 per cent have reduced study capacity and 6 per cent are foreign nationals. On average, students have very low incomes and often experience mental health problems. In general, their social position is weak compared with the rest of the population. Yet the future is in their hands, and Finland’s success depends on their ability to thrive!
Join the campaign using the hashtag
#opiskelijanEU
Read SAMOK and SYL's full European election programme here
Campaign press releases and statements
- Bulletin: Higher education students’ European election programme has been published
- Bulletin: Follow the launch event of higher education students’ European election campaign
- On the anniversary of the war, SYL and SAMOK support EU membership for Ukraine
- Statement: The EU must set up a Students at Risk grant scheme
- Statement: “I can’t cope anymore” has been heard far too many times – students’ mental health must be made a priority in the EU
- Eurooppanuoret, SYL & SAMOK: EU-liputusta tulee laajentaa merkittävästi Suomessa
- Statement: Funding for the Erasmus+ programme must be doubled
- Statement: Exchange students must be brought back to the scope of FSHS
Campaign blog posts
- Guest blog: EU Elections 24 – Who cares?
- Blog: EU’s micro-credentials complement lifelong learning opportunities
- Blog: European Universities shape the future of Finnish higher education
- Guest blog: Students at Risk Helps Students Escaping Persecution – The EU Must Take a Leading Role
- Blog: European Universities shape the future of Finnish higher education
- The Erasmus+ Programme Is a Strong Investment in the Future of Europe
Campaign themes explained
Hassle-free student exchanges
- The Erasmus+ budget must be doubled for the 2028–2034 funding period.
- The amount of the Erasmus+ grant received by students must be increased, and the grant must be better adjusted to the price level of the destination country.
- Grants must be developed to promote access to mobility for under-represented groups and to support environmentally friendly modes of travel.
- New ways to increase student mobility must be tested in the Erasmus+ programme, such as piloting an Erasmus+ Ambassador programme.
Make unpaid traineeships history
- The European Union must ban unpaid traineeships.
- Students must be guaranteed the opportunity for high-quality traineeships that include feedback and continuous guidance to support learning.
A peacebuilding Union
- The EU should draw up its own Youth, Peace and Security action plan and recommend the same to its Member States.
- The EU must continue its military and humanitarian support to Ukraine for as long as Russia's military operations in Ukraine continue. The EU must support Ukraine on its path towards EU membership.
- A Students at Risk grant scheme must be established in Europe to support students fleeing war, political violence and persecution.
Campaign events
EU election panel: The makers of Europe’s future
Who decides where the EU is heading? What could Europe look like in 2040? A joint election debate organised by Helsingin Sanomat, Sitra, SAMOK and SYL will explore the EU’s future from the perspective of young people and students. The debate takes place at Sanomatalo’s Mediatori on Wednesday, 29 May, from 17:00 to 18:30. You can attend in person or watch it live on HS.fi. Read more and get to know the panellists.
EU election-themed lunch sitsit
The EU elections are here again, and it's time to gather for sitsit! SYL and SAMOK invite all students and the student-minded to join a sitsit together at Kansalaistori Square in Helsinki on Tuesday 4 June from 11.00 onwards.
Our sitsit will not follow the most traditional rules or format. The idea is to hold two 60-minute sessions, with a break in between to go and vote together. You can join at any time between 11:00 and 13:30, for example during your lunch break. There will be songs and activities in the spirit of the EU elections. The event is free, so we recommend bringing your own food and drinks for a picnic-style gathering in the square.
Although the event is free of charge and informal, we ask participants to register for the sitsit in advance via Kide.app so that we can prepare for the number of participants.
Read more about the sitsit here.
