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

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

I’m Julia, and I’m the SAMOK Social Policy Advisor. My responsibilities include student health, well-being, and equality issues.

In the area of health and wellness, I work with the FSHS and do advocacy work related to it. It is my responsibility to take an active role in ensuring that student healthcare is of the highest quality and that its availability meets today’s needs. Other things in my purview include for instance therapy guarantee issues.

In my free time, I enjoy being with my family and friends. I also spend a lot of time in nature – either cosily at the cottage or orienteering When lounging on the sofa, I most prefer to watch horror or reality shows.

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.