Chair’s Greetings

Greetings from the Chairperson


Welcome to the Faculty of Social Sciences and congratulations on your place of study!

I am Kaisla, chairperson of the student association of the Faculty of Social Sciences, aka Kannunvalajat. It is my great pleasure and honour to welcome you all into this wonderful community. The journey to university is not easy and it requires a lot of work, endurance and patience. Whatever your path to our university has been, you are an equally valuable member of our community. Summer is a time to rest and gather strength for the coming fall.

The world changed dramatically just over 100 days ago when Russia invaded Ukraine. Increased insecurity, the economic situation and the aftermath of the pandemic are also reflected in the lives of university students. The Faculty of Social Sciences is a great place to study and understand our current situation better. Its place is perhaps more important than ever.

Studying at the university is not always easy, comfortable or even interesting. However, the studies will accumulate your understanding, skills and knowledge that will be important to you in the future. In my own experience, the Faculty of Political Science specifically raises thinkers. You’ll run into a word pair of holistic and critical thinking many more times, but it sums up the core of the Valtsika. In our studies, you can and must disagree.

Along with your studies, remember to rest. There are many different options in Valtsika, from osakunnnat to student organizations, but you don’t have to go through everything at once and you can do everything later. Exhaustion and overachievement are a problem for our faculty, and I hope that you remember to set aside time for recovery and rest as well. There are enough parties and events, it doesn’t matter if one or two are missed.

After the corona years, the university will start mainly in contact teaching. This can certainly be exciting and even nerve-wracking. It also requires a new kind of orientation after long periods of distance learning or distance working. However, help is available and tutors and older students are happy to help you with any questions or issues. Contact studies provide an opportunity for discussion and help to deepen our understanding of the issues discussed.

For my part, I want to once again welcome you into this great community. Valtsika is a central part of my identity and has provided me with lifelong friends, awesome experiences and memorable events in addition to jobs and internships. I hope and believe that the Faculty of Social Sciences will offer all this to you as well.

I can’t wait to see you all, during University Orientation Week or somewhere in the depths of Kuppala. Let’s hug when we meet!


Kaisla Huhta

Chair 2022

Kannunvalajat