Listen to international students when making decisions
We, international degree students, are a diverse group of people of various backgrounds and life situations. We have been left out of the recent immigration discussion, even though we are affected by several government proposals, one of them being the 3/6 month rule. If an immigrant does not find a job within three or six months, they will be deported from the country. It is not a realistic timeframe to find a job in Finland, because on average it takes over 14 months to secure a job as an unemployed jobseeker. A residence permit for a recent graduate to look for a job is no consolation when the longer term threat of eviction looms.
Abroad, Finland is known and admired for its advancements and equality. While many aspects of life here, like education and student life, are excellent, the challenges in finding employment make it harder for us to recommend Finland as a place to study both due to legal reforms and structural racism.
Decision-makers, you have the power to make a change by extending the timeframe for the 3/6 month rule. See us as people, not just as numbers and a way to save Finland from a low birth rate. Everyday, we make a conscious choice to stay here in Finland. However, the choice to stay might be only temporary if we are not welcomed here.
Mantė Žygelytė, Vice Chair of the Board at AYY
Omotola Adeshina, Board Member at TaiYo
Shashika Harshani, Board Member at TYY
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Good news for residents in shared apartments: Here’s how you can receive your own housing allowance while living in a friends’ apartment!
A joint liability rental agreement may affect the housing allowance, as Kela typically grants only one housing allowance for a shared household, which is influenced by the income of both residents. However, residents in friends’ apartments may receive separate housing allowances if Kela reviews them as separate households. This requires tenants with a joint liability rental agreement to draft a mutual possession agreement for the apartment and submit it as an appendix with their housing allowance application to Kela. Tenants draft the possession agreement by themselves.
The contract for the Otakaari 15 student housing project has been signed
Aalto University Student Union and Varte Ltd have signed an agreement for a student housing construction project in Otaniemi, Espoo. The project will be implemented on Otaniemi campus area at Otakaari 15, on a plot bordering Martti Levón Park. The project includes the construction of 153 student apartments in a residential building with 4–6 floors and 3 staircases. The total floor area of the building will be 4,465 m2. The property will also include geothermal heating and a solar power system with a capacity of 30 kWp.
Student representatives’ work to receive well-deserved recognition – Aalto to introduce meeting remunerations
Aalto University has decided to implement meeting remunerations for student representatives in administration! The decision will take effect on 1 Jan 2025. AYY has actively advocated for rewarding student representatives and views this decision as a significant improvement.