Laureamko is looking for a Laurea student candidate for the SAMOK Board! Want to make a difference for a better student life? Are you interested in what the Parliament and the Government decide about education and social security for students? Would you dare to lobby a politician?

The Board of the Finnish Association of Student Unions (SAMOK) will be elected for 2025 at the General Assembly on 31.10. – 1.11.2024 in Jyväskylä. Laureamko wants the Laurean voice to be heard on the board of our national student organisation and therefore we are looking for a candidate for SAMOK.

SAMOK’s Board consists of a Chairperson, 1-2 Vice-Chairpersons (1 vice-chairperson for the past seven years)  and a minimum of two and a maximum of seven other members. This means that a total of 4-10 people are elected to the Board. The term of office of the Board will start on 1 January 2025 and end on 31 December 2025.

The primary task of the SAMOK Board is to implement the Union’s action plan and strategy. Working on the board involves lobbying, i.e. meeting and influencing various representatives, such as members of parliament, their assistants, political parties, labour market organisations and civil servants, for the benefit of students at universities of applied sciences. The board members are expected to familiarise themselves with the background materials, follow the current debate and communicate SAMOK’s activities. They will be supported by SAMOK staff.

The application period is open from 10 April to 12 May and Laureamko will elect its candidate to the SAMOK Board at the Assembly meeting on 15 May.The student union will introduce the elected candidate and offer support for the campaign.

We expect the successful candidate to:

  • To be studying at Laurea at the time of application
  • Being committed to campaigning before the SAMOK General Assembly
  • Be able to work in Finnish

We hope that the person selected will:

  • Commitment to Laureamko’s values and political programme
  • An interest in student advocacy
  • Knowledge and experience of lobbying
  • Membership of Laureamko
  • Knowledge of student union activities

If you are interested in being a candidate, please send your application to Minny Meriläinen and Tytti Rissanen at [email protected] by 12 May. The Laureamko Representative Council will select the candidate at its meeting on 15 May. Applicants will be given time to introduce themselves at the meeting. Please be prepared to answer a few questions posed by the Assembly.