The UNIC European University Working Conference in Oulu
The conference was held in Oulu from the 24th to 26th of September, 2024. The three-day event offered a wide range of activities at the university.
The UNIC European University Working Conference was held in Oulu from the 24th to 26th of September, 2024, with the theme “Crossing the Silos and Engaging with Cities”. The three-day event at the university featured a diverse range of sessions and networking opportunities, running from 9 a.m to 6 p.m.
The board of the Student Union of the University of Oulu (OYY) and representatives from the UNIC Student Board gathered together on the first day of the conference to share their thoughts on the activities of student unions in different countries. The meeting focused on how student advocacy is organized in universities, potential improvements and what the Finnish system could learn from the policies of other universities. The discussion was fruitful and provided the participants with an opportunity to learn from each other.
The mayor of Oulu, Ari Alatossava, and the Vice Rector for Education at the University of Oulu, Mirja Illikainen, spoke at the conference’s opening ceremony. On behalf of UNIC, the organization’s Secretary General and the Alliance Coordinator also addressed the audience. On the second day of the event, representatives from UNIC visited the Oulu City Hall, where Mirja Vehkaperä, the Chair of the City Board, delivered a speech.
“The conference was great not only because it strengthened the international activities of the student union, but also because it improved connections with the City of Oulu,” says Viljami Viinikka, OYY’s Community Specialist.
European Universities are networks that operate within the European academic and research community. They collaborate for the benefit of students, teachers, researchers and surrounding communities. UNIC offers the students of the University of Oulu opportunities such as international exchange programs, joint degree programs as well as summer and spring schools. Students can pick courses from other UNIC universities and include them in their degree.
Further information about UNIC can be found on the website of the University of Oulu.