National Union Of University Students In Finland Suomen Ylioppilaskuntien Liitto (Syl)

The National Union of University Students in Finland was founded in 1921. Suomen ylioppilaskuntien liitto, SYL for short, is an interest organisation defending and improving the educational, financial, and social benefits and rights of the students. In addition to being an interest organisation SYL has striven to take a role of a socially influential organisation on a wider scale and an inspirer of debate. SYL has 135 000 members in 15 universities. SYL today is the leading student interest organisation of Finland. The main areas of work are education politics, social politics and international affairs. There are also various other areas of work such as employment, equality, development co-operation and environment. As SYL has widely recognised expertise on matters of higher education, the opinion of SYL is heard in various official organs dealing with education. SYL is asked to make statements in a great variety of matters ranging from general housing and social welfare to study financing and student health. SYL takes actively stand on all questions concerning students and education. SYL is represented in diverse national bodies, involving those dealing with higher education policies, e.g. the Council for Higher Education and its sub-committees, and various committees and working groups of the Ministry of Education. SYL also arranges meetings and seminars, organises campaigns and publishes leaflets and publications.