The Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland
Menu
The Student Union of the University of Eastern Finland
15.09.2026
Our membership survey revealed that students aren’t that familiar with ISYY’s Representative Council and would wish for more information about it in English. Thus, we asked a few questions about the ISYY Council from two international students who had heard the call of student advocacy and joined the Representative Council of ISYY to represent UEF’s international students. Shaun Cavestany (Vihreä lista) and Micheal Junior Aguiyi (Terveystieteilijät), who were Representative Council members of this Council term, are here to lift the veil on what goes on at the Council.
First of all, the Representative Council is ISYY’s highest decision-making body. The Council has 39 members; all of them are UEF students and ISYY members. Hence, all the decisions regarding ISYY and its operations are made by students. The ISYY Council is led by a Chairperson and two Vice Chairpersons. Representative Council members (‘edaattorit’ in Finnish) are elected in November of every odd year with student elections for a two-year term of office. All members belong to their own Representative Council group. This term, there are ten Council groups. You don’t have to be an aspiring politician to be a Council member; it’s enough that you’re interested in improving students' lives and making noise on students behalf. We asked Shaun and Micheal why they decided to run as a candidate in the Representative Council elections.
Shaun decided to become a candidate because he felt it was important for the Representative Council to include an international perspective. He states that “As UEF is an international university, I believe student representation should reflect the diversity of its student community. I wanted to help ensure that the voices and experiences of international students were heard in the council's discussions and decision-making.”
Micheal had a similar reason for joining the Council. “I can simply say that curiosity was the primary reason that spurred my ambition for joining the UEF representative councils. Back in my country, I served as the student union government (SUG) in similar capacity as a member of the House of Representatives (HOR), university of Nigeria, Nsukka. So I may say that I’m a legislator without borders. Essentially, I am often concerned about how decisions made within the university and student community affect students. As an international student, this desire intensified since many students come from different backgrounds. Instead of only discussing those issues with friends, I wanted to be part of the conversations where decisions are actually made.”
Micheal continues that “Running for the Representative Council felt like an opportunity to make sure that international students were not just present at the university, but genuinely represented. I believed that students from diverse cultures and experiences could bring valuable perspectives to decision-making. At the same time, I have always been encouraged to ‘allow the institution to pass through me, and not just me passing through the institutions’. Therefore, I considered the role as an avenue to challenge myself in a foreign land, develop leadership skills, and contribute to building a more inclusive student community and possibly beyond.”
Perhaps the better known tasks of the Representative Council are appointing the ISYY Executive Board, deciding the amount of ISYY membership fee and approving ISYY’s yearly action plan and budget. However, the Council has many other duties too. For example, the Council members decide about what kind of businesses the Student Union owns, buys and sells, decides on creating new positions in ISYY and elects student representatives to the University Collegiate Body, the Board of the University, and Faculty Councils. You can find a complete list of the Council’s duties from the Rules of the Student Union, pdf under section 18. If needed, the Representative Council may form Committees to aid the Council and usually there are at least a Rules Committee as well as a Finances Committee.
Micheal describes a Council member’s duties as “... much more than attending meetings and voting on proposals. It is about listening to students, understanding different viewpoints, and helping shape decisions that can have a real impact on every student.
He continues that “Preparing for meetings, reviewing documents, participating in discussions, and working together with other representatives to find solutions that serve the wider student community all shaped my thinking and placed some level of responsibility on me. In fact, my classmates began to call me a politician after winning my election. Others approached me and presented concerns such as a lenient parking rule for students, the impact of hiking tuition fees on international students, among others. It immediately dawned on me that as a council member, I had more responsibilities than attending meetings. I was obviously the link between several international students and the university leadership. What I have enjoyed most is the opportunity to collaborate with people from different academic fields, cultures, and experiences. During my time, I was a deputy committee member of the ‘Rules Committee’. Together with another international student representative, we moved the motion for the establishment of an international student Affairs Committee. Those conversations have shown me how diverse the student body is and how important it is to consider different perspectives before making decisions. These are experiences that will forever live with me beyond the formal university education.”
Shaun summarises their time at the Council as follows. “As a member of the Representative Council, I represented the Green Party group. My responsibilities included attending council meetings, discussing upcoming topics and proposals with my group, and contributing ideas related to student life and university matters. One of the highlights was participating in a networking event where council members from both the Joensuu and Kuopio campuses met in person for the first time. It was a great opportunity to connect with other representatives, exchange ideas, and build relationships across campuses.”
A common misconception of the Council work is that it takes too much time and delays studies. The Representative Council holds meetings about once a month during the semester excluding summer months so there are usually four to six meetings per year. The meetings are open to all ISYY members and they are usually streamed to ISYY’s YouTube channel. Upcoming Representative Council meetings can be found on the event calendar on the ISYY website. If you’re reading this text on Tuesday 15 September, you’re in luck since the next Council meeting is today at 5 pm, so tune in and see the Council in action! International Council members get an interpreter for the Council meetings if they request one. ISYY also offers snacks for the meetings. Before a Council meeting, the representative members gather together for an online meeting called “evening school” in which the members can discuss the items on the meeting agenda behind closed doors.
The agenda of every meeting is published in Finnish seven days before the meeting in the Documents-section of ISYY website. The English translation is typically published a few days later. The meeting minutes are published in Finnish on the ISYY website after the meeting, but ISYY staff also do a post about the meeting decisions in English so that our international members know what the Council has decided.
Micheal describes that “The workload varies depending on the time of year and the issues being discussed. Some weeks require only a small amount of preparation, while others involve reviewing materials, attending meetings, and engaging in discussions with fellow representatives. For me, the role has been manageable alongside my studies because it encourages good planning and time management. I have never viewed it as simply another commitment on my calendar. Knowing that the discussions can influence students' experiences makes the time invested feel worthwhile. On the average however, I spent roughly an hour per week or four hours per month on the rep council activities. This ranges from reading news blogs to official documents and attending online meetings.”
Shaun comments that “The time commitment was very manageable alongside my studies. During my term, I attended three council meetings, each lasting approximately 3 to 5 hours. In addition, I participated in monthly meetings with my party, where we discussed upcoming agendas, student concerns, and ideas for future initiatives and events. On average, the role required only a few hours each month.”
Another fact that many might not know is that a Council member or deputy member can get 1 ETCS credit if they attend at least 65 % of the Council meetings. Moreover, being a Council member is a good addition to your CV. ISYY also offers a small amount of money for each Representative Council group to organise activities for the group members outside the meetings. These are all nice bonuses, but what stays with you after your studies are the memories.
The Representative Council members have onboarding organised by ISYY staff at the beginning of their term. Usually, the onboarding period includes an overnight trip somewhere near the campus cities and the idea is, in addition to learning about the ins and outs of the Council work, to get to know the fellow Council members. This trip was a memorable moment for both Shaun and Micheal.
Shaun comments that “For me, the most memorable moment was meeting representatives from both campuses during the networking event. It was inspiring to hear about their experiences in the council and their lives outside of it. As an international student who is not yet fully confident communicating in Finnish, I especially appreciated how welcoming and open everyone was. The experience made me feel truly included in the UEF community.”
Micheal says that “Specifically, the most outstanding memory came from my experience at the evening school, held sometime in February 2026 at the Rauhalahti Hotel, Kuopio. It was the first physical meeting point for both the Joensuu and Kuopio campuses. The evening school is where issues that will be officially discussed at the meeting are first treated. Among many other differences, the university of Nigeria student union body does not have this kind of unique structure and it’s worth imbibing. Before the meeting, I had a nice time swimming with friends, enjoying the steam sauna and playing games with a glass of wine among other students. It was a happy moment and I never felt alone as the only black student among 39 legislators. I had the best moment and made real connections with other students. Those moments strengthened my belief that meaningful change often begins when people are willing to listen to one another and work together despite their differences.”
Now that you know about the Representative Council a bit more, consider running as a candidate in the next Representative Council elections which are held in autumn of 2027! All ISYY members may run for candidacy and are eligible to vote in the Representative Council elections. There are roughly 2000 international students studying at UEF so it’s important to get international students as Council members to represent their ideas, wishes and needs too! We requested Shaun and Micheal to give a few tips for the next Representative Council members.
Shaun advises future Council members to actively share their ideas and perspectives. He continues that “The council plays an important role in ensuring that students' voices are heard and considered in university decision-making. Don't underestimate the value of your own experiences, especially if you come from a different background. As an international student from Australia, I initially found the concept of a student representative council unfamiliar, but it has shown me how meaningful student involvement can be. It's an initiative I believe every university should have.”
Micheal notes that “Many students hesitate because they think they need years of experience or extensive knowledge of student politics before getting involved. The truth is that your unique experiences are exactly what make your voice important.
Ask important questions, stay curious, and do not be afraid to speak up, even if you are the newest person in the room. Some of the most valuable contributions come from people who are willing to offer a fresh perspective. Listen more than you speak. You may not have a second chance to make a first impression. People inadvertently associate you with your opinion. Therefore shape your thoughts around a properly reflected perspective. The Finnish students are well reserved. You need to understand when talking to them makes them uncomfortable. This is very important especially during the campaign. When speaking about an idea in the meeting, be bold but calm so that you do not sound intimidating or over confident. The Finnish language is an inestimable tool in your legislative journey. It is the language of deliberation although interpretation is provided for non-Finnish speakers. Students will be more attentive and buy into your views if you demonstrate an interest in speaking their language.
Finally, the Representative Council is not about having all the answers; it is about your willingness to learn, participate, and represent others with integrity.”