AUSTRIS ŠTĀLS to SAMOK executive board
The Student Union of Haaga-Helia - Helga presents
Austris Stals
to SAMOK executive board Austris Stals – or like his friends call him the Latvian guy – is a twenty-three year old man hailing from Haaga-Helia UAS and the student union Helga. Originally from Latvia, he moved to Finland back in the year 2012 to study in the Business IT degree programme in Haaga-Helia University of Applied Sciences. Life being wonderful, he shorty found himself tied up in student politics and the student union as he became the first international student to become elected as a member of the representative council of Helga. From there, he was chosen as the international officer of the board of Helga – and the rest, as they say, is history. Behind the facade of a politician and a student union activist, there is a highly motivated and multitalented man with various interests. Among other things, Austris has, for example, swam and played volleyball, played guitar and rocked in a band for many years both in Latvia and Finland. He is also an excellent brewer and home-made beverage master and has produced a few legendary vintage brands such as Kännispåra.
For almost three years, I have worked with Austris aiming to domestically internationalize Haaga-Helia. He is a straightforward man of action and has earned the respect of me and many other people in the international office of Haaga-Helia. - Harri Lähdekorpi, International Coordinator, Haaga-Helia During the years we have worked together in the board of Helga, I have come to appreciate the support and enthusiasm Austris brings to our community. His role in our Advocacy Team has been invaluable as we have sought to improve the position and future of our students. His understanding of domestic internationalization as well as foreign international advocacy is remarkable. - Max Laihonen, Chairperson of the Board, Student Union Helga Austris Stals is a young and ambitious man with a set of skills and motivation that will take him far. I believe, that SAMOK would benefit immensely from Austris and I am happy to recommend him for the position of board member of SAMOK. - Teemu Kokko, CEO & Rector, Haaga-Helia
Why SA Equity and inclusion of international students Breaking barriers. Opening previously shut doors. Austris has been an advocate of equity in Haaga-Helia and Helga – through example he has empowered the international students. As SAMOK is renewing its strategy and perhaps taking a turn towards a more service orientated organization, community will become a greater point of focus than before. Part of this community are the international students of every university of applied sciences in this fine country. It is a necessity, that their voice is heard within the student unions as well as in SAMOK.
Austris has worked hard to close the gap between the international students and our student organizations in Helga. He is willing and interested to transfer the experiences and knowledge gained from these years into SAMOK and its processes – both in strategic level as well as operational. Austris stands for equity among students and the inclusion of international students into our community. Takes one to know one, as they say.
photo: hhbileet.fi
AMOK? Continuity Not replacing anyone. Not trying to be a new someone. Austris is his own person and will bring continuity to the good work that has been done so far.
From topics like the language strategy to both domestic and foreign advocacy, Austris is aware of the work that has been done and is willing and able to continue it.
It can be tricky to manage a transition like the one we are facing now in SAMOK. A respected and valued team member moving forward is a shock to the work community, but the work must not stop. Austris is the perfect candidate to continue the work that has been done this year already.
Austris stands for continuity, trustworthiness and dedication.
Domestic and foreign international advocacy Advocate of the students. Voice of a minority. Austris understands the different levels and nuances of politics both in Finland and abroad.
international perspective and SAMOK affects the European Students’ Union ESU to form legislation and practices in a European level.
Students are mainly treated as one homogenous group – even though we know there are hundreds of sub-groups like the international students. We also simplify politics and aim to label the various nuances into something tangible.
For all this work, there are different starting positions and goals. One must be able to see beyond the homogenous labels used to direct our focus and see the true underlying political agendas – it is the only way to create a positive change.
Internationality is one such label that is used to describe various things, like advocacy. However, we might over-simplify things too much. SAMOK does domestic international advocacy and foreign international advocacy – in laymen’s terms SAMOK affects Finnish legislation from
Austris is familiar with both domestic and foreign international advocacy and is a very fast learner. He’s understanding of the different sub-groups of students make him a valuable asset to any organization focused on different levels of advocacy.
2013-2014 Vice-president of IDS HAAGA-HELIA Honorary diploma for significant work in benefit of the Student Union Helga 2014 - present Haaga-Helia Helia Student Union Helga Member of the executive board - Advocacy and International affairs EU Delegate in G20 Youth Forum, 2014 Organizer of Haaga-Helia International Day, 2014 Chairperson of the International Division Board, 2014-2016 Chairperson, viceroy of IDS HELGA, 2015 Member of Helga organizational renewal work group (strategy and quality system) Organizer of Finntegrated seminar, 2016 Miscellaneous: Youth Representative in Safer Internet Forum in Luxembourg, 2009 Moderator in Safer Internet Forum in Luxembourg, 2011 Official presenter of Safer Internet Day 2012 Laureate of Euroscola competition, 2012 Winner of AEGEE Helsinki Student Masterchef competition, 2013
Candidate Austris Stals Advocacy team austris.stals@helga.fi +358 45 670 2479 Campaign manager Aku Aarva Executive Director aku.aarva@helga.fi +358 41 432 6510