Board Recruitment 2027

Are you interested in influencing student affairs, advocating for students’ interests, or perhaps organizing and developing events and member services? If you answered “yes”—even hesitantly—to any of these, apply to join the Student Union Kaakko’s Board using this form: APPLY TO THE BOARD

Board Responsibilities

The Board manages the Student Union’s day-to-day operations together with staff members, both from the Student Union offices and remotely via Teams. The Student Union offices are located on the Kotka, Kouvola, Mikkeli, and Savonlinna campuses. In addition to managing daily tasks and leading teams, the Board actively advocates for students and protects their interests, represents the Student Union, and is responsible for implementing the action plan.

The Board’s responsibilities include, among other things:
– Managing the Student Union’s finances and administration in collaboration with the Executive Director
– Attending Board and Representative Council meetings
– Advocating for students’ interests at Xamk
– Advocacy work in campus cities and nationwide
– Organizing events
– Collaborating with student associations and other student unions
– Handling communications and member services
– Planning and participating in tutor training sessions
– Participating in the work of Xamk’s working groups.

Each board member has their own team, for whose operations they are responsible and in which they are actively involved. In 2027, the board’s teams are as follows:

Management and Finance (This includes the Executive Director, the Board president, and one Vice President)
Advocacy (This includes an advocacy specialist and 2–3 Board members)
Guidance and Tutoring (This includes a guidance and tutoring specialist and 2–3 Board members)
Member Services, Communications, and Events (This includes a member services specialist and 2–3 board members)

Board members are paired with staff members from their respective teams. Despite the teams, much of the board’s work is done collaboratively!

Serving on the Board

A monthly salary is paid for serving on the Student Union Board. The term of the elected Board is one calendar year, but elected Board members will begin familiarizing themselves with their duties before the end of this year.

The number of hours required for board members is determined in accordance with the agreement on positions of trust approved by the Representative Council. In 2027, the hours and salaries will be determined as follows:

Board President: a minimum of 100 hours per month (800€/month)
Vice President of the Board: a minimum of 40 hours per month (300€/month)
Board Member: a minimum of 20 hours per month (100€/month)

Composition of the Board

Voting for the 2026 Student Union Kaakko’s Representative Council elections ended on November 4, 2026, at 15:00. Voting for the Representative Council elections took place from October 28 to November 4. Election Day was November 4, 2026.

In 2026, a total of 396 votes were cast, and the voter turnout was 11.89%. Everyone who voted in the Representative Council election can pick up a “Vaikutin” overalls patch from the Kaakko’s office.

Results of the elections:

You can view the election results here as a PDF file.

The teachers' trade union has issued a strike warning for the period from September 1 to 3. 

Xamk strives to provide students with the most up-to-date information possible regarding the status of classes. In addition, during a potential strike, the campuses will organize activities that support student well-being, community, and student life. 

On potential strike days, the Student Union Kaakko will keep its member service desks open on campuses from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM and organize community activities, where possible, in collaboration with student well-being services, parish educational services, and student associations. Tutors will be on campus organizing safety walks and leading 30- to 45-minute walking tours with groups in the vicinity of the campuses. Students will also have the opportunity to play board games or outdoor games. 

Kaakko and any other participating organizations are located in the following spaces on the campuses: 

• Kotka: Associations space between the 1st and 2nd floors 
• Kouvola: Restaurant Paja 
• Mikkeli: Restaurant Dex 
• Savonlinna: Restaurant Kaari 

Xamk will provide information about canceled lectures locally at the information desk on campus whenever possible; however, please note that advance notice may not be available for all cancellations. Participation in the strike is voluntary for faculty members. 

During these days, you can attend information sessions covering topics such as student well-being, academic performance, and smooth progress in your studies. Educational administrators will also be available on campus for discussions and questions. 

Xamk will provide students with a small snack free of charge. 

You can find more detailed information about the program at your campus at the campus information desk and in the campus-specific event information on Lux. 

A potential strike will not affect the operations of campus restaurants. Other campus services, such as the library, will also remain open. The systems and learning environments used for studying will function as usual. 

Heini Hänninen has started as a member services specialist at Kaakko. Heini previously held the same position in Kaakko but spent the last year “on loan” to Xamk’s admissions office. Now Heini has returned to Kaakko! Heini has extensive experience in member services, communications, and event production.

“Heini brings strong expertise to Kaakko and is a great asset to our other specialists and Kaakko’s elected representatives. I’m really looking forward to working together to revitalize Kaakko’s operations and make our member services even better!” – Joonas Soukkio, Executive Director

You can find Heini on the Savonlinna campus on Tuesdays and Thursdays in room 247.

If you have any questions about your student ID or membership, you can contact Heini by visiting her in person or sending an email to heini.hanninen@opiskelijakuntakaakko.fi.

For more information:
Joonas Soukkio
Executive Director, Student Union Kaakko
joonas.soukkio@xamk.fi
tel. 050 477 7187

The Student Union of the South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences, Kaakko, is organizing elections for the Representative Council on 26.10.- 4.11.2026. In the elections, twenty (20) regular members and a maximum of twenty (20) deputy members will be elected to the Representative Council. The elections will be conducted by electronic voting. 

The nomination period begins at 8:00 on 24.8.2026 and ends at 23:59 on 4.10.2026. All members of the student union who have paid their membership fees at 23:58 on 4.10.2026, is eligible to run for office.  

Candidates may form electoral alliances consisting of at least two candidates. Electoral alliances may in turn form electoral groups. 

All members of the student union who have paid their membership fees are eligible to vote in the elections. You are a member of the student union if you have a valid student card or Slice mobile student card issued by Kaakko.  

Voting takes place electronically via a link sent to your student email address. Voting for the representative elections begins on 26.10.2026, at 8:00 and is open until 4.11.2026, at 15:00.  

• Election Regulations (only in Finnish)  
• Representative Council Elections 
• Representative Council 
• Representative Council Regulations(Only in Finnish)  

Election Schedule: 

• 17.8.2026 Election anouncement 
• 24.8.2026: Candidate nomination begins at 08:00 
• 4.10.2026: Candidate nomination ends at 23:59 
• 8.10.2026: Candidates and election numbers announced 
• 26.10.2026: Early voting begins at 08:00 
• 4.11.2026: Official voting day / Voting ends at 15:00 
• 4.11. 2026: Vote counting 
• 6.11.2026: Results announcement 

For further information: 

Oona Yhtiö
Chair of the Central Election Committee
fooyh001@edu.xamk.fi 

Joonas Soukkio
Executive Director
joonas.soukkio@xamk.fi
050 477 7187