The application period for Tamko’s Board for 2025 is approaching and here we have collected a couple of the most frequently asked questions and answered them for you!
If you have a question that was not answered in this list, please contact us on Instagram @opiskelijakuntatamko or email vicechairperson@tamko.fi. We will be happy to answer!
Why should I apply for Tamko’s Board?
If you have a passion for advocacy work, creating a sense of community or developing things, that’s what you get to do in the Board!
As a board member, you can develop many different skills, such as presentation and leadership skills, teamwork skills and language skills. You will gain experience in organizing events, meetings and advocacy. All these skills are useful in working life! In addition, Board activities are a great addition to your CV.
In addition, you will get extensive networks and new friends! As a member of the Board, you will encounter opportunities to get to know Students’ Union actors nationwide and to have interesting meetings with, for example, politicians and leaders of the Tampere city and Finland.
Can I apply if I don’t speak Finnish?
Yes you can! If you are the right person to drive the change and be Tamko’s first English-speaking Board member, we would love to have you! We are exited to make Tamko more accessible for English speaking student, but our work is still in progress, so we hope you have a little bit of patiency and you are eager to create new new ways of working bilingually with us.
How can I apply for the Board?
Tamko’s members can apply for Board. The application process will take place at Council’s Constitutive meeting Wednesday 20.11. at 5 p.m. onwards. Matters will be discussed at the meeting according to the agenda, which will be posted on Tamko’s website before the meeting. The meeting will also introduce the positions open for application. When meeting comes to the election of Chairpersons or the Board, you can stand for election and stand up. All candidates usually stay at the front of the room in front of others and are asked general interview questions. Others present at the meeting may also ask questions of applicants on the spot. So you can think in advance speeches about yourself and, for example, reasons why you are applying for the Board.
How are Board members elected?
The members of the Council (elected in the current Council elections) elect the members of the Board at the Constitutive meeting. If there are more applicants than seats for the Chair positions or the Board, a vote will be held. During the vote, candidates leave the meeting room and return when voting has taken place. You can also withdraw from the application situation at any time if you feel like it.
Can I apply for the Board if I cannot attend the Constitutive meeting?
We hope that all Board applicants will attend the Constitutive meeting of the Council in November, but if you are unable to attend, you can definitely apply for the Board by sending a free-form application in advance to edustajisto.pj@tamko.fi. If you wish, you can tell us in your application, for example, about yourself, your background, why you are applying for the Board and whether you are available remotely via Teams or phone during the meeting.
Can I choose my own role in the Board?
The Constitutive meeting decides on the Chairperson and Vice-chairperson of the Board, which means that you can apply directly to those roles. Otherwise, the applicant applies for a position of trust, not directly for a specific role. Other positions are decided later in the Board’s own meeting, when each member is assigned their own area of responsibility, discussing and listening to everyone’s strengths. In recent years, responsibilities have included advocacy, stakeholders, communications, events, wellbeing and culture, tutoring and internationality (+ possible new role business cooperation?). However, you can highlight your strengths in certain positions at the Constitutive meeting.
Do I have to stand as a candidate in the Council elections in order to apply for the Board?
Applying for Tamko’s Board does not require running in the Council elections. So if you missed out on your candidacy, that’s okay! Only applicants for the positions of Chair and Vice Chair of the Council must have become full members of the Council.
Can I apply for the Board even if I am only in my first year of studies?
The Board needs people from all study fields and all year courses in order to represent the spectrum of students as comprehensively as possible. So go please do apply!
What skills do Board candidates need to have?
In the Board, you get to learn a lot of new things and everyone can utilise their own strengths. We don’t require any specific skills, but you can already think about what role you could excel in and develop yourself further, whether you are a natural performer, an excel wizard, the best organizer of the group, or perhaps an avid photographer.
Do I need to have previous experience in organisational activities?
The new Board will be properly acquainted before the start of the Board term, which means that everything is learned and taught! You don’t have to act completely alone either because you get support from other actors. Even though Tamko’s operations are student-led Tamko’s employees also support the Board throughout the year, bringing perspectives and help to difficult situations.
How do the activities of subject associations and clubs differ from Tamko’s?
Tamko represents all TAMK students and not students of any particular study field which is why many things are done on a larger scale and for a larger group. In addition, Tamko is involved in student activities more extensively throughout Finland.
How do the activities of subject associations and clubs differ from Tamko’s?
Tamko’s Board has had actors before who were part of two organisations at the same time so it is possible. Being part of two organisations at the same time you need a lot of prioritization and calendaring skills, as Tamko’s Board activities already fill the calendar a lot. It is likely that there will not be enough time to attend every activities of both organisations.
Look at your own resources realistically and remember that you can apply to both Tamko and organisations in any year furing your studies. So, if you are interested in the activities of several organisations, is it an option to try one organisation first and another the following year?
How much time does Board work take?
It takes time to act in the position of trust but the workload may vary from week to week. In some weeks, a position of trust takes a couple of hours but other weeks it takes several tens of hours. Please note when applying that we ask you to commit for the entire calendar year. If you have work or act other activities while studying please take a look at your own resources and calendar.
Many former actors say that Tamko time has been one of the best times of their lives!
Do you need to understand something about politics to apply?
No, but it is useful if you understand general social issues.
Do I have to be part of a political party to apply?
No, Tamko is a politically uncommitted organisation.
Do Board members get paid?
Tamko’s Board members are elected to act in the position of trust so they are not employees. Therefore they receive a fee, not a salary. The fee is 100€ per month, excluding the summer months. The Chairperson and Vice Chairperson of the Board receive a higher fee (1000€ / 600€ per month) as their workload is higher compared to other Board members.
The Students’ Union’s Board activities can also be accredited, which means that you can also receive study credits for your Board year.
Feel free to apply to join the Tamko’s Board to influence, create a sense of community and promote the interests of students!
Here you can find the most important dates from the Board Recruitment:
Open meeting of Tamko’s Board
Monday 18.11. at 5 p.m. at Tamko’s office Solu downstairs, TAMK main campus L-building
Everyone interested in applying for Board positions is welcome to attend this meeting. The current Board members will tell you about their roles, you will be able to follow the meeting and after that ask questions and discuss Board activities with other applicants and current Board members. We also serve snacks and possibility to go to sauna! You can definitely still apply for the Board even if you can’t attend an open meeting. The time of the open meeting was corrected: changed from 4.30 pm to 5 pm.
Constitutive meeting of the Council
Wednesday 20.11. at 17.00, TAMK main campus A3-27.
Here the Council elects a new Board, Chairpersons of the Council and elects student representatives to different committees.