OYY's Parliamentary Election Programme is out now – the future is build by students
We’re handing over the keys to tomorrow.
Finland’s future is built on its students. This is not just a slogan, but a fact. It is evident in every student sitting in a lecture, every research project, and every young adult trying to balance their studies with everyday life. Students are the experts, teachers, and doctors of the future. Yet students’ voices are often barely heard in decision-making.
The Student Union of University of Oulu’s 2027 parliamentary election programme, “The Future Is Built on Students,” highlights what students experience in their daily lives. Uncertainty, anxiety, and the insecurity of current structures. The status of students is not just a matter of education policy, but of future policy. That is why we need clear, bold, and long-term action. This work is carried out every day through advocacy, but now political will is also needed.
Education is the key to every door and lock
Education is not an expense, but an investment. This seems self-evident, but unfortunately it is often overlooked in political discourse. Free education is the cornerstone of Finnish civil society, and undermining it would pose a direct threat to equality. Education must be accessible to everyone, not just those who can afford it.
When university funding is uncertain and short-sighted, it directly affects the quality of education and students’ daily lives. Universities cannot build a future if their own future is uncertain.
At the same time, we must approach internationalization with an open mind. Finland needs skilled professionals, and we cannot let them leave to work abroad.
The challenge international students face in settling into life in Finland is a persistent problem, as one in four does not feel connected to society (State Youth Council, 2025). This is not their failure, but that of the Finnish government and its institutions. We must build pathways to working life and community that make integration genuinely possible. The status of international students is not an isolated issue, but part of a broader picture: what kind of future Finland wants to build and for whom.
A stable income is key to a secure daily life
Students’ financial situation is in crisis. Daily life is dominated by debt, uncertain, and, for many, a heavy burden. The level of student grants is not enough to cover even basic expenses. Repaying student loans is a particular concern for those whose job prospects are uncertain. This is not just an economic issue; it is a matter of well-being. When one’s livelihood is unstable, everything else is unstable. Daily life then becomes burdened by coping, academic progress, mental health, and planning for the future.
Students’ financial insecurity is also evident more broadly in society. When young adults are constantly forced to make compromises regarding their livelihood, their ability to focus on their studies is diminished. This delays graduation, increases stress, and undermines students’ confidence in the future. Society needs students. Therefore, society must also support them. Strengthening students’ financial security is not a gift to students, but an investment in the future of society.
A student in good mental health can open doors as a future expert
Access to mental health services is a critical part of students’ daily lives. Mental health issues are one of the leading causes of delays in studies, and the FSHS’s resources are currently insufficient to meet the need. This is unacceptable. Student well-being cannot be left to chance.
Well-being is a prerequisite for learning, participation, and building a future. When students are thriving, they learn better, participate more actively, and build their future with greater confidence. That is why strengthening mental health services is one of the most crucial steps we can take for the future.
We foster students’ well-being by ensuring a safe environment for everyone. Finnish society must be equitable and safe for everyone. We must have an environment where everyone can be themselves without fear of discrimination or exclusion.
Students are the key to the future
The Student Union of University of Oulu’s parliamentary election programme is not just a list of goals. It is a vision of the kind of Finland students want to build: a cultured, equal, and prosperous society. It is a reminder that students are not merely users of the education system. They are the future’s shapers, experts, teachers, researchers, entrepreneurs, and decision-makers. The students’ voice is essential to ensure that decision-making remains grounded in reality, in the everyday lives of the future’s experts.
If we want to build a future where students thrive, we must strengthen the systems that ensure their financial security and access to mental health services. We must make a long-term commitment to education and guarantee that education remains free in the future. Above all, we must listen to students continuously and sincerely. Students hold the keys to the future.
We will also be highlighting the election themes across all of OYY’s communication channels during this fall and next spring.