National Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences – SAMOK

Lapinrinne 2 | 00180 HELSINKI
samok (a) samok.fi
first name.last name (a) samok.fi

SAMOK’s billing information can be found here.

Our office is located in Helsinki at Lapinrinne 2, next to the B-ladder.

If the matter concerns a student card (ordering a card, paying for an academic year sticker, the effect of changing a university of applied sciences on the card, etc.), contact your student union directly.

Clicking on a “READ MORE” will open a more detailed profile of what they do at SAMOK.

The Board

lauri kujala

lauri kujala

PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD

050 389 1000
[email protected]

Political lobbying and leadership, strategy reform

Godparent to Student Unions: Tamko

Languages:  

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My name is Lauri and I serve as the chair of SAMOK. My duties includes political advocacy work, administration and strategy reform.

In my free time, I like to make music and play electric bass in a small folk music band. I also enjoy folk dancing.

Sanni Koivuluoma

Sanni Koivuluoma

VICE PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD

050 360 9376
[email protected]

Political lobbying and leadership, social policy: students’ social security and benefit systems, equality

Godparent to Student Unions: Rotko, Copsa, Hamko, JAMKO, Humako

Languages:   

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My name is Sanni and I am SAMOK’s vice chair. My sectors include political advocacy, administration and social policy, where my focus is on students’ livelihoods, benefit systems and equality.

This year, important themes in students’ livelihoods and benefit systems include financial aid and social security reform. My sector also includes advocacy work related to pensions.

In my free time, I watch a lot of TV series and movies. I also like to read, especially detective novels and thrillers!

Janina Brunfeldt

Janina Brunfeldt

BOARD MEMBER

050 300 1550
[email protected]

International students, services, community, EU elections

Godparent to Student Unions: ASK, Novium, SkÅHla, Kaakko, Sammakko

Languages:   

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My name is Janina and I am a member of the board of SAMOK. My sectors this year include international students, services and community. In the spring, I will also be responsible for the European elections. I also serve as one of SAMOK’s anti-harassment officers.

I am interested in all kinds of things, so my free time is often spent on self-improvement and pursuing hobbies. At the moment, I enjoy literature in all its forms, board games, drinking coffee, Korean drama series and various sports, such as dancing.

Asta Nieminen

Asta Nieminen

BOARD MEMBER

050 389 1002
[email protected]

International relations, EU lobbying, education policy

Godparent to Student Unions: OSAKO, Kamo, Laureamko, KOE, O’Diako

Languages:   

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I’m Asta. I’m a member of the board of SAMOK this year. My sectors are education policy, EU advocacy and relations with international NGOs.

In my free time, I enjoy going to the gym fairly regularly. My other hobbies vary depending on the time of year, from crafts to reading and everything in between.

Linda Vallenius

Linda Vallenius

BOARD MEMBER

050 389 1015
[email protected]

Communication, social policy: student housing, students’ health and well-being

Godparent to Student Unions: Poka, METKA, Samo, Vamok, SAVOTTA, Helga

Languages:   

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I’m Linda, a member of the board of SAMOK. My sectors are communications and social policy. In social policy, I get to improve the status of students in student housing and student health and well-being. I also serve as one of SAMOK’s anti-harassment officers.

In my free time, I listen to a lot of true crime podcasts. I also enjoy crafts and I just started playing basketball!

Personnel

Vellu Taskila

Vellu Taskila

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

044 238 5384
[email protected]

Leading the personnel and advisory work, relations with other NGOs and financial management

Godparent to Student Unions: Tamko

Languages:    

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I’m Vellu, other manifestation of SAMOK’s management. At SAMOK, I am responsible for the operation and development of the administration and I am the staff supervisor.

In my free time, I cycle and engage in related advocacy activities, read, do a cycling podcast, and produce dad jokes.

Johanna Fonsell

Johanna Fonsell

EDUCATION POLICY ADVISOR

050 389 1014
[email protected]

Education policy and student union financing

Godparent to Student Unions: Poka, METKA, Samo, Vamok

Languages:   

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I’m Johanna, SAMOK’s education policy expert. The biggest things on my desk are funding and higher educational institution steering, as well as the development and quality of higher education. In practice, this includes investigation, discussions, writing, participating in working groups, and presenting SAMOK’s views on e.g. annual tuition fees, student feedback, quality systems, the development of teaching, research, development and innovation activities, digitalisation, student admissions, and degree structures.

In addition to education policy affairs, I coordinate SAMOK’s advocacy activities. It is my responsibility to ensure that SAMOK always has a plan for who to meet and when and what information should be generated at any given time. The entire office is involved in the implementation of such plans.

I spend my free time with my family and travelling between three major cities. I live in an old wooden house in Turku, so I also get to enjoy both minor and major home renovation activities in my free time.

Roosa Veijola

Roosa Veijola

International Affairs and EU Advocacy Adviser

050 389 1012
[email protected]

European Union, international lobbying and international organisational cooperation

Godparent to Student Unions: KOE, O’Diako, Kaakko, Sammakko

Languages:   

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I’m Roosa, SAMOK’s specialist in European policy and international affairs

In practice, I plan and implement SAMOK’s EU advocacy work in matters that affect students and maintain our relations with student organisations in other European countries and our umbrella organisation ESU (European Students’ Union). I also represent Finnish UAS students at meetings of the ESU. It is also my responsibility to promote the equality of international students compared to domestic students, which in practice means facilitating entry into Finland, livelihood, integration and employment. My duties also include the internationalisation of Finnish students, which includes exchange and internship periods abroad as well as internationalisation in Finland.

In addition to working on internationalisation, I have carried out several projects at SAMOK, such as several Europe Information projects and the Equality in Higher Education Institutions project.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends, exercising, hobbies and travelling. My favourite hobbies right now include ceramics, tennis, HIIT and yoga. I also enjoy playing boards, animals, sunsets, hanging out leisurely, immersing in conversations, swimming in natural waters, music and good food.

SOCIAL POLICY ADVISOR

 

Students’ health and wellbeing

Godparent to Student Unions: Rotko, Copsa, Hamko

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Erica Alaluusua

Erica Alaluusua

SOCIAL POLICY ADVISOR

040 773 1854
[email protected]

Students’ social security and benefit systems, student housing, equality

Godparent to Student Unions: OSAKO, Kamo, Laureamko

Languages:   

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I’m Erica, social policy specialist at SAMOK. I work with students’ livelihoods, benefit systems, housing and equality.

In terms of income and benefit systems, I am responsible for advocacy work related to students’ social security. The most important issues in my work include the student financial aid reform and the social security reform. In student housing, we work actively to ensure that students have the opportunity to live in reasonably priced housing with good transport connections.

Equality is an important aspect of my work, especially in various trainings and orientations. In addition, I am involved in equality planning within SAMOK and am also responsible for accessibility issues in advocacy work.

In addition to national advocacy activities, I train and support student unions in local advocacy work.

Aleksi Airaksinen

Aleksi Airaksinen

COMMUNICATIONS AND SERVICES ADVISOR

044 051 9521
[email protected]

Events, trainings and communication

Godparent to Student Unions: ASK, Novium, SkÅHla, SAVOTTA, Helga

Languages:    

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I’m Aleksi, SAMOK’s communications and services advisor. I’m responsible for implementing and coordinating communications, events and training and for managing partnerships.

I coordinate communications and provide instructions and training when necessary. In practice, my duties includes assisting in releasing statements, maintaining the website and coordinating social media communications. I also do content production and proofreading. I edit SAMOK’s newsletter together with the board member responsible for communications, I am responsible for the implementing the communications strategy and ensuring it is up-to-date, and I am involved in the planning of influencer communications.

I am also responsible for planning, organising and marketing events and for communciation related to events. My work also includes developing and coordinating services, planning training related to various projects and serving as a sparring partner.

In addition to these, I am responsible for SAMOK’s fundraising and partnerships.

In my free time I enjoy travelling, badminton and good food and wine.

Veeti Mieskonen

Veeti Mieskonen

ADMINISTRATIVE AND EVENT COORDINATOR

050 329 7706
[email protected]

Administration and event production

Godparent to Student Unions: JAMKO, Humako

Languages:   

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I’m Veeti, SAMOK’s administration and events coordinator. The other half of my duties consists of administrative tasks, such as development, preparation and planning related to finances and ICT management processes. An additional spice to my work is planning and producing events together with other members of our service team.

I am currently working part-time while also studying social sciences. In my free time, I enjoy all kinds of activities that allow me to spend time in nature and travelling around Finland. I also love dry humour both on and off work, as well as 90s sitcoms.

Tekla Kosonen

Tekla Kosonen

PROJECT MANAGER

040 775 2816
[email protected]

SAMOK supporting student unions project

Godparent to Student Unions: ASK, Novium, SkÅHla 

Languages:    

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My name is Tekla. I work as a project manager in the project SAMOK Supporting Student Unions.

What I do in practice is organise project-related trainings and workshops, develop SAMOK’s internal operations within the context of supporting student unions, and coordinate the overall progress of the project. During the project, we will also publish a report on the activities of student unions, which will hopefully continue to benefit SAMOK and student unions long into the future!

At work, I sometimes have Vox, my Prague Ratter, working as my assistant project manager. Outside work, I enjoy being with my dog, going to the gym, and spending time with the people closest to me. If the conversation veers into topics like single transferable vote, education policy, or the human condition, it’s even better!

Student at Risk Finland personnel

Ville Jäppinen

Ville Jäppinen

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR (STUDENTS AT RISK FINLAND)

[email protected]

Students at Risk Finland’s operational activities