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06.10.2026

Get to know ISYY's Parliamentary Elections Programme 2027

The Representative Council of the Student Union the University Eastern Finland (ISYY) approved ISYY’s Parliamentary Elections Programme for the year 2027 in its meeting 15 September 2026.

The purpose of the programme is to bring the student perspective into the public debate surrounding the parliamentary elections and to influence decision-making during the upcoming parliamentary term. The key themes highlighted in the ISYY’s Parliamentary Elections Programme 2027 are the quality and sustainable funding of education, student’s financial security, supporting students’ ability to study, and integrating students into working life.

Students are the future, and the future cannot be built by making cuts to the areas mentioned above.

The Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland hopes that the candidates for elections in our region will familiarise themselves with these themes, and commit to promoting them in decision making during the 2027–2031 parliamentary term. In spring 2027, we will publish a form through which candidates in the region can sign ISYY’s Parliamentary Elections objectives. We will publish the names and parties of the parliamentary election candidates who have signed the objectives collectively on our website.

ISYY’s Parliamentary Elections Programme 2027 (PDF) can be found from the Documents section of the ISYY website under folder Plans and Programmes, and in full below.

ISYY’s Parliamentary Elections Programme 2027

Quality of education and sustainable funding

Finland thrives on expertise, but higher education and student well-being are in a critical state. The aim to raise the level of higher education to 60% by 2040 requires concrete resources, not just festive speeches.

ISYY insists that during the next electoral term:

• Resources and funding meet the defined degree objectives. If degree objectives and numbers are raised, basic funding must be increased in a front-loaded, linear and index-bound manner.
• The current increases must not be one-time, but funding must be predictable and permanent.
• The funding model must be developed so that it rewards pedagogic quality.
• Higher education institutions must offer enough flexible completion methods in order to make education accessible for allEducation remains cost-free.

Students’ income

Student’s indebting combined with a poor employment market situation is a national economy risk in the long term. Students’ confidence in their income and employment is being tested. While costs are raising, more and more students have to work alongside studies in order to survive, which may often slow down the completion of studies and transfer into the working life. It is in the interest of both students and the society that students can concentrate on their studies and more likely graduate in the pursued time. In addition, the transfer from general housing support to students’ housing supplement deteriorates the economic situation of many students. The demand for affordable student housing is increasing, and the demand must be addressed.

ISYY insists that during the next electoral term:

• Study grant is restored as index-bound to correspond to real living costs.
• A 100-Euro level raise is made in the study grant.
• Students are guaranteed with affordable housing.
• Studying is enabled without debt burden.

Ability to study

Students’ mental health crisis is a significant national economy factor and impacts productivity in the long term in a manner that can cost billions for the society.

ISYY insists that during the next electoral term:

• Therapy guarantee is extended to cover everyone under 30 and all students regardless of age.
• FSHS funding must be on a sustainable basis as the number of students increase and the funding must correspond to demand.
• Students must have the possibility to access treatment assessment and treatment in a sufficient time.

Integration of students into working life

Finland educates international talents but is not fully able to commit them into the society. As a result, significant talents leave Finland. The frictionless commitment of all talents into the society is important.

ISYY insists the following measures to be completed in the next electoral term:

• At graduation, an international student must be automatically granted with a permanent residence permit.
• The entry and permit processes of international students shall be made more fluent.
• Career counselling included as part of a degree, for example, through professorships of practice.
• Tax deduction possibility for students’ working life internships and theses made for employers.

Contact persons:

Janina Gunnar, Chair of the Representative Council, The Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY), epj(at)isyy.fi, tel. +358 44 576 8410

Lassi Valli, Vice Chair of the Executive Board, The Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland (ISYY), lassi.valli(at)isyy.fi