Pennala and Sippola appointed as student members of the University of Oulu Board
Pennala was appointed for a second term, Sippola joins the University Board as a new member
Lotta Pennala and Vilma Sippola have been appointed as student members of the University of Oulu Board for the 2026–2027 term. The decision was made by the Student Council of the Student Union of the University of Oulu (OYY) in its meeting on 15 October.
Pennala, a business student, has already served on the University Board during the 2024–2025 term. She has previous experience, for example, as Chair of the OYY Board in 2022 and as Chair of the National Union of University Students in Finland (SYL) in 2023. Currently, Pennala works as a Special Adviser in Education Policy at Suomen Ekonomit. “I’m thrilled to continue on the Board,” Pennala says. “The upcoming term will again bring many important decisions for the development of the university’s operations, so let’s keep the communication flowing! The development of the real estate strategy will certainly continue, and I’m especially glad to still be part of this project, bringing in the student perspective.”
Sippola, who was elected as a new member of the Board, currently serves as Chair of the OYY Board. She studies the history of sciences and ideas and has experience in university governance, for example, from the Faculty Board of the Faculty of Humanities. “I’m grateful for the trust the Student Council has placed in me. It’s great to be able to bring the student perspective into the University Board’s decision-making. I’m looking forward to the upcoming term and working together with the other Board members!” Sippola comments.
Student members are full members of the University Board, which also includes university staff and external members. The Board is responsible for, among other things, appointing the Rector and making strategic decisions for the university. It also carries significant financial responsibility. This year, the current Board has approved the real estate strategy, and campus development will remain a key theme in the coming years.
In the same meeting, two members were also elected to the Board of the Student Housing Foundation of Northern Finland (PSOAS). The term on the PSOAS Board is three years, and following a vote, Eevasisko Mehtätalo and Teemu Virtanen were elected. OYY has a total of six representatives on the PSOAS Board.