We started the year in a traditional manner with planning and familiarising ourselves with the operations. The year would include Wappu, designing the 2023 parliamentary election campaign, and writing our strategy. For me, the year started with recruitments.
Recruitment of the Secretary General and election campaign planning
The activities of the Student Union are steered by the Board while the employees are directed by the Secretary General. Venla Monter, our first Secretary General, got a new job, so we needed to find a successor. Roope Tukia held the role for a large part of the year. In late 2022, Tukia got the position of Secretary General at the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL), and Adam Zeidan was elected. Recruitments were an educational experience for me, and I am no longer nervous to sit on either side of the table at interviews!
In spring, we planned the parliamentary election campaign in cooperation with SYL and other student unions. The results of this collaboration were published in early 2023. We also helped student associations to recover after the COVID-19 pandemic, held regular meetings with the representatives of the City of Tampere and the University, prepared our strategy, organised the Associations’ Kick-off training event and the Tr3fest urban festival.
In spring, we planned the parliamentary election campaign in collaboration with SYL and other student unions.
The Biggest Wappu in Finland was celebrated together again
The end of the spring semester means celebrating, and in Tampere we want to do it in a spectacular way. Together with the Teekkari Union of Tampere, TREY organised the Biggest Wappu in Finland. After a break, the events took place on campus again. Wappu 2022 was the biggest one so far. For two weeks, the city was filled with students wearing overalls and there was a party atmosphere in the air! After Wappu, we planned the whole autumn and highlighted the importance of free education. After the party, it was a good idea to slowly move on to summer vacation.
For two weeks, the city was filled with students wearing overalls and there was a party atmosphere in the air!
Election of the Council of Representatives and strategy work kept us busy
In autumn, our largest project was electing the Council of Representatives to decide on TREY’s policy alignments. This project lasted for almost the whole autumn; the holding of an election is more easily said than done. In autumn, documents steering operations in 2023 were approved, we influenced at the general assembly of SYL, and our strategy was approved. In addition, we ran our normal operations, so there was much that needed to be done!
In autumn, our largest project was electing the Council of Representatives to decide on TREY’s policy alignments.
To mention a few of the main points in autumn, we purchased stunning new scarves for tutors, organised a call for student representatives, launched an award event for association operatives called the TREYHEM Gala, and organised our anniversary party, where we granted awards. Our first Secretary General Venla Monter was awarded TREY’s first badge of honour.
The new Council of Representatives was elected, and by the end of the year, a new Editor-in-Chief of the student union magazine Visiiri was also appointed. At the end of the year, we also got a new strategy, the first one prepared by the new student union. In my view, this and the appointment of the new Executive Board are giving TREY an excellent basis for progressing towards its fifth anniversary!
Aleksi Niemi
Chair of TREY, Student Union of Tampere University in 2022
The TREY Student Union of Tampere University represents all Tampere University’s students and promotes their interests. Please visit the website of TREY for more information.