What does our advocacy mean?
Remember, POKA is here for you. We are always here to listen, support and help with any questions or challenges you may face along the way.
Joonas Sallinen, Chairperson of the Board 2024
POKA is Karelia’s own student union, which acts as your advocate, solves your problems during your studies and actively develop a better UAS! #pokastandsupforyou
Advocacy is the main task of POKA, which is defined in the Universities of Applied Sciences Act. Our advocacy work concerns all Karelia students. We act as students’ voice and support in difficult situations. Our activities range from local cooperation with Karelia and the city of Joensuu to national influence alongside other student unions. POKA is a member of National Union of Students in Finnish Universities of Applied Sciences – SAMOK. SAMOK does national lobbying in the student field and supports POKA in local lobbying. A small part of POKA’s membership fee goes to support important national advocacy work.
By becoming a POKA member, you support our important advocacy work. Your membership fee enables you to advocacy work and an effective student union. The more members POKA has, the more representative we are locally and the more influential we are nationally in terms of our voting power in the umbrella organization SAMOK.
In Karelia, we advocate for quality teaching and guidance, student rights and the learning environment. We base our advocacy on Karelia’s Degree Regulations, as well as, for example, the Guidance and Equity Plans. We meet regularly with Karelia’s management and the student’s voice is also heard in almost all Karelia’s decision-making working groups already at the planning and decision-making stage.
Every year, we solve a number of problems relating to the workload, the quality of teaching, late credits, interpersonal problems etc. POKA operates according to the Karelia UAS’ proximity principle and we encourage students to contact their teacher first. The easiest and quickest way to resolve most problems is to raise any problems directly with the teacher. However, if the matter does not progress, POKA will support you! Contact us or take the initiative.