The Board of the National Union of Students in Universities of Applied Sciences SAMOK for 2026 has been elected. Helena Maijanen from Tampere University of Applied Sciences was elected Chair. Maijanen studies in the Degree Programme in Networked Learning and Competence and has served this year as Vice Chair of the student union Tamko.

“I want to thank the General Assembly for its trust! I want to lead the union forward with courage even through difficult times and find solutions together with SAMOK, the student unions and our stakeholders. I’m excited and curious to see what the next year will bring!” says the newly elected Chair for 2026, Maijanen.

Laura Laakso (South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences) was elected Vice Chair. In addition, the General Assembly, which met in Seinäjoki for two days, elected three Board Members: Suvi Savola (Satakunta University of Applied Sciences), Senja Suntola (Humak University of Applied Sciences) and Annu Suvilehto (JAMK University of Applied Sciences).

During Thursday and Friday, the General Assembly approved, among other things, the action plan and budget for next year as well as SAMOK’s new political programme. The new Board will begin its work in January 2026 at SAMOK’s office in Helsinki.

Further information:

Helena Maijanen, SAMOK Board Chair 2026,
tel. +358 45 887 8300, [email protected]

Julia Väänänen, SAMOK Board Chair 2025,
tel. +358 50 389 1000, [email protected]

Vellu Taskila, SAMOK Executive Director,
tel. +358 44 238 5384, [email protected]