Apply to OLL's board!

Interested in joining the OLL board?

On this page we have collected everything you need to know about applying to and being on the board. This page has information on the following topics:

• Advocacy work
• Board work and roles
• Collaboration between the board and the staff
• Standing for election and campaigning
• The election process

If you have any questions, please contact the OLL office.

This is the Finnish Student Sports Federation

The Finnish Student Sports Federation (OLL) is a national umbrella organisation for university sports. We help universities with developing an active culture and sports services, influence decision-makers on behalf of students, and support student sports. We are the only organisation whose mission is to promote physical activity among university students. This mission is carried out by a board, elected annually, and permanent staff.

Our goal is for all students to exercise enough in terms of their health and wellbeing. This requires sufficient resources and a study culture that is positive towards movement.

As an umbrella organisation, we work to develop the conditions for physical activity for students in both universities and universities of applied sciences. Our member organisations – the student unions and their students as well as university sports services – are at the heart of our organisation.

The scope of our activities is varied. Officially we are a sports organisation, and our stakeholders are our members, but also other student and youth organisations, higher education institutions, sports and exercise organisations, organisations in the social welfare and health care sectors, government bodies, and international organisations. We collaborate closely with SAMOK and SYL, the other umbrella organisations for university students.

The annual General Assembly is the Federation’s highest decision-making body. At the General Assembly, each student union has a number of votes based on the size of their membership. Universities have one vote per member. The General Assembly draws up guidelines for the Federation’s work and finances and elects the board for the following year.

Why apply to be on the OLL board?

Due to our board being small, you will be closely involved in all our activities, regardless of your area of responsibility. The board of the Federation consists of university students, and anyone can stand for election. During your term, you will have time to learn a great deal about advocacy and organisational activities. The Federation is a tight-knit workplace made up of experts, and you will get to work with various kinds of social issues. Our office is located in Sporttitalo in the Pitäjänmäki district of Helsinki, sharing a building with many other sports and exercise federations. Moving to Helsinki is not a prerequisite for taking up a board position.

Whether or not your term on the board falls on an election year, you will get to dive deep into both local and international lobbying. You will meet people from different parts of the country and possibly even the world, your communication and presentation skills will improve, and you will increase your governance knowledge. During your year on the board, you will also gain useful skills for working life in a safe and encouraging environment. You will also be able to build an extensive network with influential people in the worlds of sports, exercise, and youth work.

Discuss your thoughts on standing for election with your student union and get in touch with the OLL office.

What does the OLL board do?

The work of the board

The board of the Finnish Student Sports Federation consists of the President, one to two Vice Presidents and no more than two members. The term of the board is one calendar year. The board is the organ which draws up policy, makes decisions, and works with the OLL staff to lead the work of the Federation with a mandate from the General Assembly.

The President and Vice Presidents are part of the daily work of the Federation as much as possible. Alongside the advisors, the President and Vice Presidents are also responsible for specific members, which means that they will get to know the representatives of their member organisations and universities better.

The other board members take part in the decision-making of the board, and also in the other work of the Federation if they so wish. Each board divide responsibilities as they see fit at the beginning of their term. Below you can find some examples of how responsibilities can be divided on the board.

Board members’ compensation and roles

Those holding elected office receive compensation which has been agreed on by the General Assembly. For 2026, the board proposed the following fees for elected officials: 2,000 euros/month for the President, 5,000 euros/year for the two Vice Presidents, and 2,000 euros/year for the two Board Members.

The fee for the President is more in line with the fees paid by other youth organisations and the cost of living in the capital region. The role of the Vice President has become more part-time than before and does not require office holders to live near the office. The role does, however, require the elected individuals to commit to planning and developing the work of the Federation. The role of Board Members has not changed much, but the board has one more member than before.

President

The President coordinates the work of the board and presides over board meetings. The President leads the work of the Federation in close collaboration with the Secretary General and acts as representative of the Federation. The President participates in the Federation’s lobbying work and meets with interest group representatives.

Vice Presidents

The main job of the Vice Presidents is to support the President. The Vice Presidents share responsibility for areas such as advocacy work, Universities on the Move activities, events, and communications.

Board Member

The job description of the Board Members involves participating in the decision-making of the board, and traditionally also being responsible for the Network of university sports services. If they wish, the Board Members can also participate in the strategic planning of the Federation’s work and other current projects. Board membership takes up 2–10 hours per week, depending on the Member’s interests, so it is possible to work or study while holding this position.

Collaboration between the board and the staff

Together, the board and staff form teams and partnerships which delve into specific areas of the Federation’s work in more depth. Previously we divided the work into sectors, but as the work has developed and our annual priorities change, we no longer have such a clear division into various sectors. The work can be understood through the membership service units as shown in image 1.

The Federation currently has five permanent members of staff: a Secretary General, a Senior Special Advisor for University Sport, a Special Advisor for University Sport, a Head of Communications, and an Events and training specialist. Below we describe the areas where the staff and board collaborate.

Leadership and administration

The Secretary General and the President make up the leadership team. They lead the work of the Federation, are in charge of the administrative and financial tasks, and they also act as managers. The President and the Secretary General are also responsible for developing the work and organisational culture.

Universities on the Move team

The Special Advisors for University Sport, the Head of Communications and 1–2 Vice President(s) make up the established Universities on the Move team. They coordinate the development and lobbying work related to university sports, which includes election lobbying, the Universities on the Move work, and collaboration with the FSHS.

Communications

The Head of Communications usually works with one of the Vice Presidents. Together they are in charge of planning the Federation’s communications, producing content, and coordinating between the different teams.

Events and university sports

The Events and training specialist is in charge of events and university sports, usually in collaboration with one of the Vice Presidents. They coordinate the University in Sport committee, the arrangements for Finnish Student Championships and other competitions, and also the practical arrangements for various member events.

What is the application process for the board?

The annual General Assembly is the Federation’s highest decision-making body. At the General Assembly, each student union has a number of votes based on the size of their membership. Universities have one vote per member. The General Assembly draws up guidelines for the Federation’s work and finances and elects the board for the following year.

Before the General Assembly

Anyone can stand for election to the board of OLL. However, the President and the Vice Presidents must be students when they are elected. The official nominations are made during the General Assembly (see the section During the General Assembly), but the Federation’s member organisations often pick their candidates during their own meetings well ahead of the General Assembly. If you want to stand for election, it is a good idea to discuss this with your student union at an early stage.

You can also ask the Federation’s board members or staff about the work of the board. We also recommend taking part in the OLL Morning Coffee event that takes place before the General Assembly, as we will go through the General Assembly documents and give information for candidates. It is a good idea to ask about anything that is unclear at this point to make the General Assembly run more smoothly. At the start of the General Assembly, attendees are also given more detailed instructions.

It is worth putting effort into your campaign before the General Assembly. You can take part in OLL’s events, such as network meetings and morning coffees. This way you will become familiar with representatives of the member organisations, and it will be easier to find people to make a supporting address or nominate you at the General Assembly. Our communications are also available to you during your campaign if you want to let other member organisations know about your candidacy. After making the announcement, it makes sense to actively promote your activities in and goals for OLL. Before the General Assembly, we offer all candidates equal visibility on our channels. We will contact any candidates that we have been notified of when the General Assembly approaches.

During the General Assembly

We recommend that candidates attend the General Assembly, as there will be an opportunity for the members to hear from the candidates and learn about their thoughts at the General Assembly. Candidates are officially nominated at the General Assembly. At the agenda point “Election of the President of the Federation” and/or “Election of Board Members of the Federation” a General Assembly delegate who is eligible to vote must nominate you as a candidate. We encourage candidate nominations to take place on the first day. The nomination is done via electronic form and by making an address at the correct point of the agenda. There will also be an opportunity for candidates to make a short introductory statement.

During the Assembly there will be a candidate panel where the member organisations can hear the candidates’ thoughts. The panel discussion is organised by the board of the Federation, and the members can also ask questions. In addition to nominated candidates, people who are considering standing for election can also take part in the panel discussion.

The final discussion of the agenda points “Election of the President of the Federation” and “Election of Board Members of the Federation” is the last time candidates can be nominated. At the start of the discussion of these points, the General Assembly will go through any new nominations. Then the nominated candidates have time to make a short introductory statement. After these statements, a vote will take place if there are more candidates than available board positions. Alternatively, a direct selection will be announced. After the election those who have been elected have the opportunity to say a few words to the General Assembly.

As a candidate, you do not have to worry about the smooth running of the General Assembly. The Federation staff and board and the President of the General Assembly will give instructions for how the General Assembly should proceed and try to help everyone keep up. Do not be afraid to ask questions ahead of time and at the General Assembly if you are unsure of a point or procedure.

After the General Assembly

It is important to us to help the new board to adjust to their upcoming term softly and smoothly. After the General Assembly we will take contact details from the new board and give them the dates for the orientation. The orientation usually takes a few days.

In addition to the orientation, the current board and the staff of the Federation are also happy to answer any other questions you may have. Do not hesitate to get in touch even before the orientation!

The new board start working with the Federation staff in January. There is still a lot of orientation into the new roles taking place in January. Joining the board of OLL does not require you to move to Helsinki, as everyone can participate in the work of the board from wherever they live.

Candidate support from the OLL office

Everyone at OLL’s office is happy to discuss the application process with anyone who is interested. The candidates who have stood for election before the General Assembly can use the Federation’s social media and mailing lists to support their campaigns.

If you have any questions about OLL’s work, sitting on the board, standing for election or something else, do not hesitate to get in touch! Board members are happy to answer questions about the work of the board and the related tasks. The Federation’s staff are also happy to talk about the tasks they are responsible for. You can find all contact details on our website.

How fantastic that you are considering standing for election!