Let’s do a quick recap: what is the Representative Council? Nicknamed “Edari,” it’s the highest decision-making body in the student union. It consists of 21 students from different degree programmes, and it’s responsible for making the big decisions – like strategy, focus areas, and key goals.
So yes, the Representative Council is a super important part of how the student union works and runs.
Who Can Apply?
All students studying at Häme University of Applied Sciences are members of the Student Union (HAMKO).
When applying, you must have a valid HAMKO membership and be an attending student at HAMK. Your student type does not matter, you can be a full-time, part-time, path or Master’s student.
Applicants for the Representative Council must be attending their studies also in the calendar year 2026. If you are elected to the Representative Council and discontinue your studies, or are absent, you will lose your place on the Representative Council.
Psst! There are no quota places for campuses or educations, so ensure the visibility of your campus on the Representative Council by applying!
Are there language requirements?
Official working language for the Representative Council is Finnish and decent form of understanding the language is for your advantage. Some materials and discussions can and will be translated, but unfortunately not everything.
What Does the Representative Council Actually Do?
The representative council meets on average once a month (except in the summer). The meetings include decisions on, among other things, the budget, the action plan (i.e. what the student body will focus on in its activities), student representatives, electing the board, how much the membership fees are, and many other matters.
The members of the representative council also have the opportunity to participate in representing the student union, for example with stands. The representative council is also often asked to participate in events and activities of the university and its partners, so being at the student body is not necessarily just about meetings. The representative council also has informal meetings and evenings of recreation.
The meetings are mainly held at the Hämeenlinna University Centre, but there is also the possibility of remote participation in some meetings. Travel expenses can be reimbursed for members of the representative council who come from other HAMK campuses. Note! There are no organized custom or taxi transport for council.
Why to Apply?
Being part of the Representative Council is a low-threshold way to learn about decision-making and advocacy. Plus, you’ll:
- Network with students from other fields
- Earn study credits
- Influence how money is spent
- Gain valuable experience for your CV
- Learn leadership, finance, and organizational skills
- Share your views on things that affect student life
Bonus: You’ll get a unique overall patch! ⭐
A small effort with big rewards – the Representative Council is your chance to grow!
How to Apply?
Submit your candidacy by filling out this form before the deadline.
You can also run as a group and form an electoral alliance! Gather 2–21 people and create a team. All votes for your alliance help boost each member’s chances of getting elected.
How Do the Elections Work?
- Submit your candidacy by
Monday, October 13th, 2025 at 12:00Addition: The nomination period has been extended. Nominations close on Monday, October 20, 2025 at 12:00. - The Central Election Committee confirms your candidacy and assigns you a candidate number
- Fill in your info for HAMKO’s candidate gallery
- The gallery will be published on HAMKO’s website and social media
- Campaign and encourage students to vote! (All HAMKO members can vote)
- Voting is electronic. On Friday, November 3rd at 09:00, all eligible voters will receive a voting link via their student email
- Voting ends on Wednesday, November 5th at 16:00
- Results will be published no later than the next day.
If you’re elected, you’ll be contacted personally.
If not, you’ll become a reserve member. If a regular member steps down during 2026, reserve members will be promoted based on vote rankings.
Meetings of the Representative Council
The first meeting of the Representative Council is called the organizational meeting. At this meeting, the Representative Council elects a chairman and vice-chairman from among its members. This meeting is usually held after mid-November, but before the end of the month.
The Representative Council will be introduced, so you do not need to have any previous experience. During the introduction, you will become familiar with meeting techniques and how to act as a member of the Representative Council.