AYY’s EU election panel: The Grand Debate on the Future of Europe

Aalto University Student Union AYY will organise the EU election panel in English at Design Factory in Otaniemi at 5pm on Thursday, 8 May 2014. Doors will open at 4pm, when you can meet the representatives of political parties. Themes of the interactive panel include European employment and economic policy, climate and energy policy, as well as the future of the European Union.

Come to challenge the candidates or follow the panel via the live stream (http://new.livestream.com/accounts/6845410/events/2975277?query=&cat=event you can also find live stream address from ayy.fi/live). You can also follow the discussion at Twitter with the hashtag #EUdebate. You can also find the event on facebook at facebook.com/ylioppilaskunta/events

The panel includes experienced parliamentarians and keen challengers:

Antti Kaikkonen, Centre (Anneli Jäätteenmäki has unfortunately cancelled her participation)
Janne Paalijärvi, Pirate Party: “Respect privacy, end the spying!”
Jyrki J.J. Kasvi, Greens: ”Civil Digital Futures for Europe”
Silja Sandelin, Swedish People’s Party (Marcus Rantala has unfortunately cancelled his participation)
Simon Elo, Finns Party (Sampo Terho has unfortunately cancelled his participation)
Sari Essayah, Christian Democrats: “Let the good work continue!”
Sirpa Pietikäinen, National Coalition Party: “Get it together, loose it alone”
Timo Harakka, Social Democratic Party (independent): “Putting Europe to work – protecting people, not banks”

The discussion will be led by Juhani Mykkänen.

Event: AYY’s EU debate: The Grand Debate on the Future of Europe
Time: Thursday, 8 May 2014, 5pm–7pm. Come and meet the representatives of political parties at Design Factory before the debate from 4pm onwards.
Location: Aalto Design Factory (Betonimiehenkuja 5, Otaniemi Espoo)
Social media: #EUdebate

Further information on /en/blog/2014/05/06/ayys-eu-election-panel-the-grand-debate-on-the-future-of-europe/ or

AYY’s Specialist for International Affairs Milla Ovaska, 050 520 9446 or milla.ovaska@ayy.fi

Sano se suomeksi was a joint campaign arranged by Aalto University and AYY. The campaign was held on Aalto campuses for the first time in January-March 2014. The purpose of the campaign was to encourage international students to speak Finnish in everyday situations – and to remind the campus staff about the students’ opportunity to practise Finnish. Students were able to participate in the campaign at the Student Service Desks (OOP), libraries, student cafeterias, AYY’s services points and Unisport centres. International students collected signatures to their Sano se suomeksi passports from the organisations that participated in the campaign after speaking Finnish in everyday situations.

The Director of the Language Centre Heidi Rontu says the campaign was a successful step towards increasing encounters on campus. ”International students are bold to study Finnish, but the Finns also need to be bold and speak Finnish with our international students in order to develop their language skills”, Rontu suggests. Inkeri Lehtimaja, Coordinator of the Finnish language teaching at the Language Centre, says that the purpose of the campaign, on one hand, was to encourage international students to practise Finnish outside the classroom. On the other hand, the aim was to increase awareness of the possibility to speak Finnish with international students.

The campaign received positive feedback both from students and the organisations which participated in the campaign. Lyubov Milakhina, who received an honorable mention in the campaign, says that she felt she exceeded herself after having a long discussion on the effects of different vitamins at Otaniemi pharmacy – in Finnish. International students were satisfied with the open and patient attitude, by which they were approached in the campaign. The participating services also reported about good experiences. Täffä student restaurant signed several passports, and discussions progressed to small talk about the weather when making lunch orders.

”During the campaign, many international students could be found at AYY’s service desk getting a stamp on their passport. We have made a big effort to encourage them to speak Finnish, and most of them have in fact tried to do so. Some have pronounced a few words but some of them have been able to say a couple of long sentences. I remember one Polish man who knew 2 sentences in Finnish: I cannot speak Finnish and I am good-looking – and he if anyone did earn his stamp!”, explains Karita Nohrström at the AYY’s Otaniemi Service Desk.

On Mikael Agricola Day, i.e. the Finnish Language Day on 9 Apr 2014, the most distinguished students in the campaign were awarded. Indian Gaurav Das won the contest, who had not only filled his passport with signatures but also with useful phrases he had learned during the campaign.

”This fun campaign motivated me in the middle of the job application process during the darkest moments of the winter, when my job applications were rejected day after day. Now I have found a summer job and in my job interview I was able to demonstrate that I have eagerly studied Finnish”, Gaurav says. In the viewpoint of international students, Finnish language studies are important not only for understanding the surrounding culture and people, but also for their future career in Finland. Employers appreciate the Finnish language studies of international students, even if fluent language skills developed slowly.

”It has been easier to make Finnish friends along with the campaign. They have wanted to help me to fill my passport and they have been enthusiastic to tell me about the specialities of the Finnish language”, Gaurav praises the campaign and will continue the Finnish language studies.

Honorary mentions were awarded to the following students: Kseniia Belenestceva, Lyubov Milakkina, Dmitry Buiskikh, Tetsuya Kudoh and Vikram Kamath.

Please provide feedback on the campaign at:

https://www.webropolsurveys.com/Answer/SurveyParticipation.aspx?SDID=Fin787547&SID=91a99b9f-f1e1-4611-8c09-58b5f97a7201&dy=1417448576

International student,

do you want to improve your Finnish language skills? Wish you had more opportunities to use Finnish? Aalto University’s Sano se suomeksi! campaign, starting on 13 January is just the thing for you! It gives you the chance to practice Finnish in everyday situations and makes learning Finnish fun.

How can you take part in the campaign?
Pick up a “Finnish passport” from the Aalto Language Centre, from an AYY service point or from the Student Services Office of any Aalto School.  Use Finnish in everyday situations at the University and ask the staff to sign your passport with their name as well as the date and place where you used Finnish. Return the passport(s) to the Language Centre or to the Student Services office of your School by 14 March 2014. Five students who collect the most signatures will win small prizes. In addition, a lottery will be organized among all participants who collect at least ten signatures.

Where can you use Finnish and collect signatures for your passport?

• Student restaurants and cafeterias
• University libraries
• Student Services Offices
• AYY service points and KY office
• From guild and other student organization officials
• Teachers etc.

For a complete list and more information, please visit www.facebook.com/SanoSeSuomeksiAtAalto. The campaign is organized by the Aalto University Language Centre, the AYY and the Aalto University Schools.