Voting in the 2026 Supplementary election for the Student Union Kaakko’s Representative Council ended on April 13, 2026, at 23:59. Early voting for the Representative Council election took place from April 7th to April 12th, 2026. Election Day was April 13th, 2026.

A total of 204 votes were cast in the 2026 Supplementary elections, and the voter turnout was 5.69%.

Congratulations to those elected and thank you to everyone who voted!

Everyone who voted in the Representative Council elections can pick up a Vaikutin overalls patch from Kaakko’s offices.

Voting results for the Representative Council by-elections:

Results of the Supplementary elections 2026 in PDF form.

Appeals

In accordance with Section 14 of the Student Union’s Election Regulations, a member of the Student Union may appeal the conduct of the election, the approval of a candidate or a voter, or the vote count within fourteen (14) days of the election’s conclusion. Appeals must be addressed to the Central Election Committee and submitted in writing.

Further information
Joonas Soukkio
joonas.soukkio@xamk.fi
+358504777187

Joonas Soukkio, a Bachelor of Business Administration (UAS) and Master's student in Human Resource Management, began his role as Kaakko's  new Executive Director on February 18. A native of Tampere, Joonas has extensive experience in the UAS student movement, political advocacy, and organizational leadership. He has served, among other roles, as chair of the board of the Student Union Tamko, on the board of Tampere University of Applied Sciences, and as a president of the board of the National Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences – SAMOK. 

"Joonas brings a strong contribution to Southeast Finland with his student union expertise and his relaxed yet consistent approach to advocating for students' interests." Board Chair Niko Heikkilä  

"It's rewarding and enjoyable to be back advocating for the interests of university of applied sciences students after a short break. I'm looking forward to getting to know the different campuses and cities and developing Kaakko's operations." Executive Director Joonas Soukkio  

Joonas is quickly getting up to speed in his new role, and the Southeast Finland region is becoming increasingly familiar to him. You can reach the new Executive Director by phone 0504777187 and by email joonas.soukkio(a)xamk.fi 

 In the elections, three (3) regular members and 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 on March 3, 2026, at 8:00 and ends on March 12, 2026, at 23.59. As a member of Kaakko, you are eligible to run as a candidate. Run for position N-O-W! 😎 

Important links can be found below: 

Candidate form
Election coalition founding form 
Electoral alliance supplement form 

What is the Representative Council?  

• It is the highest decision-making body of the Student Union – it decides what the Student Union does.  
• The Council consists of 20 elected members and up to 20 deputy members.  
• The Council’s term of office is one calendar year.  
• There are 3–6 meetings per year.  

What does the Representative Council offer students?  

• The highest decision-making power – you will play a key role in an active student community and have the opportunity to influence education and student affairs.  
• 5 ECTS credits for your freely chosen studies at the UAS level.  
• Experience in organisational activities, advocacy, and decision-making – valuable skills for working life.  
• Opportunities to network and meet students from outside your own campus.  

Who can run for election?  

• All members of the Student Union who have paid the membership fee and are registered as attending students may stand as candidates. 

Running for election is free, and you do not need prior experience with elections or Council work. You can serve on the Council even if you do not live in your campus city. 

How do I become a candidate?  

• Fill out this form – it only takes about 2 minutes. 

When will the elections take place? 

• 3.3.2026: Candidate nomination begins at 08:00 
• 12.3.2026: Candidate nomination ends at 23:59 
• 17.3.2026: Candidates and election numbers announced 
• 23.3.2026: Early voting begins at 08:00 
• 30.3.2026: Official voting day / Voting ends at 23:59 
• 31.3. 2026: Vote counting 
• 2.4.2026: Results announcement

You can find more information about the elections and the representatives through the links below: 

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

For further information:  

Anne Halinen 
Chair of the Central Election Committee 
danha034@edu.xamk.fi  

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

Have a wonderful spring, run for the Representative Council, and remember to vote at the end of March!

The Student Union of the South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences, Kaakko, is organizing supplementary elections for the Representative Council on April 7–13th, 2026. In the elections, three (3) 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. 

All members of the student union who have paid their membership fees by 28th of March 2026 at 23:58 are eligible to stand as candidates. The nomination period will begin on March 3rd, 2026, at 8:00 and end on March 12th, 2026, at 23:59. The nomination period has been extended starting at 12:00 on March 16th, and the new nomination period ends at 23:59 on March 29th.

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. Membership will be verified no later than nine (9) days before the start of voting. 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 April 7th, 2026, at 8:00 and is open until April 13th, 2026, at 23:59.

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

Election Schedule: 

• 3.3.2026: Candidate nomination begins at 08:00 
• 12.3.2026: Candidate nomination ends at 23:59
  
• 16.3.2026 extended  nomination period begins at 12:00
• 29.3.2026 extended nomination period  ends at 23:59
• 31.3.2026: Candidates and election numbers announced 
• 7.4.2026: Early voting begins at 08:00 
• 13.4.2026: Official voting day / Voting ends at 23:59 
• 15.4. 2026: Vote counting 
• 17.4.2026: Results announcement 

For further information: 

Anne Halinen
Keskusvaalilautakunnan puheenjohtaja
danha034@edu.xamk.fi 

Joonas Soukkio
Toiminnanjohtaja
joonas.soukkio@xamk.fi
050 477 7187 

Students have an important role in influencing decisions at the university of applied sciences. Opinions have more impact at the decision-making tables than in the campus corridors. At Xamk, student representatives speak for students in decision-making. As a student representative, you have the opportunity to influence where decisions are made.
Student representatives are students of South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences and full members of their respective bodies. They attend meetings and express the student perspective on the matters being discussed.
Student representatives ensure that the student voice is heard in issues concerning students. Anyone can become a student representative – including you!
Read more about student representatives and the application process on our website.

Eligibility Requirements

All students enrolled in degree programs at South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences and registered as present are eligible to apply. The positions require fluent Finnish language skills.
A student representative must remain eligible throughout their term, and no one should be knowingly appointed if they are expected to lose eligibility during the term.
Persons employed full-time by the university of applied sciences are not eligible to serve as student representatives.
Applications must be submitted via the electronic application form within the application period.

Application Period and Process

The application opens on 9 February 2026 at 15:00 and closes on 23 February 2026 at 15:00.
Decisions on the selected representatives will be made at the Representative Council meeting on 5 March 2026.

Applications must be submitted via the application form.

Selection of Student Representatives

The selection of student representatives for the university administration at Xamk is governed by the specific guidelines on the selection of student representatives.

Available Position:

Board of Examiners

(Proficiency in the Finnish language is essential for participation in this management team.)

The responsibilities of the Board of Examiners include handling appeals related to:

• Assessment of study attainments or decisions on credit transfer and recognition of prior learning.
• Study attainments include study modules, courses, and their components, including theses and internship periods.
• The format of a course can vary, for example, a lecture course, an online course, a laboratory course, or an exam.
• Decisions regarding student admission.
• Decisions regarding the loss of the right to study.

• The Board of Examiners cannot handle other types of dissatisfaction, such as a student’s dissatisfaction with the content of studies or the guidance provided by a teacher.

More Information

Nelli Kortelainen
President of the Representative Council

nelli.kortelainen(a)opiskelijakuntakaakko.fi

We have good news for you! You still have time during January to renew your membership or join as a member at the old price. From February 1 onward, prices will increase, so now is a great time to act and renew your membership or become a member!

From this link, you can renew your membership or join as a member: https://member.opiskelijakuntakaakko.fi/

• As a Kaakko member, you are also warmly welcome to participate in student union activities. Through our activities, you can make an impact and get to know other students. Feel free to ask for more information via social media, the chat on our website, or at the office.
• You can find study tips and up-to-date information, such as our office opening hours, on our social media @opkukaakko – make sure to follow us!

Happy studying, and welcome to member 

Best regards,
Student Union Kaakko

Regarding accessibility, we would like to inform you about the student union’s current staff shortage. Due to limited resources, the student union’s chat is temporarily closed, and offices may be exceptionally closed.

As a result of the staff shortage, the processing of student card applications is taking longer than usual. However, all applications are processed in the order they are received. There may also be delays in the delivery of plastic student cards to campuses, and the delivery time may take up to four weeks. If the card has been ordered by post, it will be mailed as usual once the cards arrive.

We apologize for any inconvenience this situation may cause and thank you for your patience.

For questions, please contact the Chair of the Student Union:
Nelli Kortelainen
+358 44 210 5100
nelli.kortelainen@opiskelijakuntakaakko.fi

For urgent matters related to student cards, please contact the Advocacy Specialist:
Anna Päivike
+358 50 591 6640
anna.paivike@opiskelijakuntakaakko.fi
toimisto@opiskelijakuntakaakko.fi

Student Card Orders for Incoming Students

Attention to those who have ordered or are planning to order a student card. Student card orders for students starting in January 2026 are currently on hold because the university’s system does not yet have their attendance information. This is completely normal for students starting in January 2026, and new members will begin to be approved no later than early January once attendance data becomes available.
After membership approval, the student will gain access to a mobile student card via Slice and/or Pivo. Printing a physical card takes a few weeks.

How do I order a student card?

You can order a student card from Kaakko’s website. Student cards are divided into two categories: degree students and open UAS students.

Degree Student and Master’s Degree Student (YAMK)

By joining Kaakko, a degree student is entitled to VR and Matkahuolto student discounts, Kela-subsidized meals, and thousands of student discounts across Finland. The student automatically receives a mobile student card (Slice and/or Pivo). A physical student card can be ordered for an additional fee. The physical card is usually delivered to the student union office, where the student can pick it up. If desired, the student can pay an extra postage fee to have the card delivered directly to their home address.

Order a degree student card here: ORDER HERE

Open UAS Student

By joining Kaakko, an open UAS student gains access to thousands of student discounts across Finland. Unlike the degree student card, the open UAS card does not provide VR/Matkahuolto discounts or Kela meal subsidies. The student automatically receives a mobile student card (Slice and/or Pivo). A physical student card can be ordered for an additional fee. The physical card is usually delivered to the student union office, where the student can pick it up. If desired, the student can pay an extra postage fee to have the card delivered directly to their home address.

Order an open UAS student card here: ORDER HERE

Where can I find my student number?

You can find your student number in Peppi (see image). For students starting in 2026, the student number format is “26xxxxx,” where the Xs represent the student’s personal number sequence.

The Autumn Meeting of the Representative Council of Student Union Kaakko will be held on December 18, 2025, at 5:00 PM. The meeting will take place remotely via Teams. The autumn meeting held on 4 December 2025 was not quorate, which is why the meeting was postponed to Thursday, 18 December.

The meeting agenda can be found HERE.

You can join the Representative Council meeting HERE.

During the Autumn Meeting, statutory matters will be decided, such as:

• Budget for 2026
• Action plan for 2026
• Election of the auditor for 2026
• Membership fee for 2026
• Meeting fees and/or compensation for elected representatives in 2026

If you are a member of Student Union Kaakko, you have the right to speak and attend the meeting, but only members of the Representative Council have voting rights. The meeting will be conducted in Finnish.

Welcome to the meeting!

More information:

Veikko Kotajärvi
Chair of the Representative Council
veikko.kotajarvi@opiskelijakuntakaakko.fi

Sauli Sarjus
Executive Director
sauli.sarjus@opiskelijakuntakaakko.fi

Students have an important role in influencing decisions at the university of applied sciences. Opinions have more impact at the decision-making tables than in the campus corridors. At Xamk, student representatives speak for students in decision-making. As a student representative, you have the opportunity to influence where decisions are made.
Student representatives are students of South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences and full members of their respective bodies. They attend meetings and express the student perspective on the matters being discussed.
Student representatives ensure that the student voice is heard in issues concerning students. Anyone can become a student representative – including you!
Read more about student representatives and the application process on our website.

Eligibility Requirements

All students enrolled in degree programs at South-Eastern Finland University of Applied Sciences and registered as present are eligible to apply. The positions require fluent Finnish language skills.
A student representative must remain eligible throughout their term, and no one should be knowingly appointed if they are expected to lose eligibility during the term.
Persons employed full-time by the university of applied sciences are not eligible to serve as student representatives.
Applications must be submitted via the electronic application form within the application period.

Application Period and Process

The application period opens on 5 December 2025 at 11:00 and closes on 16 December 2025 at 18:00.
Decisions on the selected representatives will be made at the council meeting on 18 December 2025.
Applications must be submitted via the application form.

Selection of Student Representatives

The selection of student representatives for the university administration at Xamk is governed by the specific guidelines on the selection of student representatives.

Available Positions

Pedagogical management team

1 regular member
1 deputy member
Term: 2026 (1 year)

The Pedagogical management team is responsible for developing, planning, and guiding the common processes of teaching activities. The goal is to ensure quality, improve effectiveness, streamline processes and annual planning, and create clear guidelines. The student representative’s role is to bring teaching planning and implementation closer to students and make the planning more student-friendly.

RDI Management Team

1 regular member
1 deputy member
Term: 2026 (1 year)

The RDI Management Team monitors and develops the results, quality, and impact of Xamk’s research, development, and innovation activities. Topics include decisions related to project applications, received funding decisions, initiating international project preparations, and other strategic and current RDI matters. As educational cooperation in RDI projects has increased, the student perspective is important in these meetings.

Ingenium Student Advisory Board

1 deputy member
Term: 2026 (1 year)

ISAB acts as a student representative group within INGENIUM. Some ISAB members also serve as student representatives in the alliance’s committees: the Ingenium Alliance Committee (representatives are selected from ISAB members), the INGENIUM Steering Committee (representatives are selected from ISAB members), and the INGENIUM Academic Committee (each university’s ISAB representative has a responsibility to participate every other year, regardless of whether the same person remains an ISAB member). ISAB representatives also review student initiatives for INGENIUM. Additionally, ISAB members foster international student collaboration through projects and activities. ISAB brings together students from different universities to exchange views, convey the student voice in INGENIUM decision-making, and support networking and joint projects. The group promotes student-driven ideas, monitors their progress, and highlights student needs in the strategic development of the alliance.

More Information

Laura Laakso
President of the Board
laura.laakso(a)opiskelijakuntakaakko.fi
044 4910 616

Sauli Sarjus
Executive Director
sauli.sarjus(a)opiskelijakuntakaakko.fi
050 592 7482