Two new experts have started working at the Aalto University Student Union in February. The new Specialist in Academic Affairs Minna Mäkitalo, and the new Student Advocacy Specialist for ARTS students and Executive Manager for TOKYO Tero Uuttana.

AYY’s new Specialist in Academic Affairs Minna Mäkitalo graduated as a candidate in theology from the Helsinki University, and currently studies the master’s degree for theology. She has also worked in the Board of the Helsinki University Student Union, and worked in the Tampere University Student Union.

Aalto University is also familiar to Mäkitalo.

”When studying in the Helsinki University, our faculty organization organized a lot in cooperation with the Otaniemi friendship teekkarit, after which I myself started studying industrial engineering and management as a minor subject.”

Mäkitalo smiles as she tells that even with plans to focus on her studies this year, she could not resist the allure of study policies as the AYY call for applications went out. Student advocacy has been dear to her for a long time.

”I’ve been active in the field of student advocacy since 2011, when I started in the Helsinki University as the student representative of the administration. I’m especially anxious to get to develop the well-being and equality of students at AYY.”

The tasks of Specialist in Academic Affairs include advocacy pertaining to the due process of students, development of the Aalto University and national educational policy, giving statements and coordinating the student representatives (hallopeds) and guiding them in their tasks.

”I’m a bit of a save-the-world type, but because I’m also quite pragmatic, I decided to focus on the University and advocacy”, Mäkitalo says with a smile.

The new Student Advocacy Specialist for ARTS students and Executive Manager for TOKYO Tero Uuttana has graduated from the Jyväskylä University cultural politics master’s programme, majoring in social politics. Previously he has worked, amongst other things, as the producer of the Jyväskylä ”Yläkaupungin yö” city festical.

Uuttana works simultaneously for both TOKYO and AYY. His job includes event production, leadership, and advocacy of all Aalto ARTS students.

Uuttana says that the largest project of 2018 is of course the moving of ARTS to Otaniemi. Some of the ARTS students have already moved, but during the summer of 2018 the last of the ARTS students will move to the new Väre building in Otaniemi.

”The ARTS students have never studied all in the same campus. Now ARTS is moving into common facilities to study and to join the Otaniemi campus. We need to get the ARTS community to make Otaniemi their own”, Uuttana says.

The move is celebrated through the year with different kinds of Taidevuosi 2018 (Arts year 2018) events. For the Fall there are plans for an Otaniemen Yö – evening arts event (Similar to the Helsinki Taiteiden Yö event, which it mirrors), which Uuttana is already anxiously anticipating.

”Since we’re doing this for the first time there is no full assurance on how things will work in practice, but I wish it will be an awesome event. The plans are in motion, and very lofty!”

Both Mäkitalo and Uuttana agree that there is still a lot to learn in the Aalto and AYY organizations and working culture. You learn best through work, though, and both agree that you learn and uncover new things every day.

”Aalto and AYY have a good, fresh atmosphere of getting things done. I like that”, Uuttana states.

”I think it’s great that the work in student unions is done with such real passion. The best part is when you get to do things you are passionate about with other individuals that feel the same way”, Mäkitalo sums up.