ÅA Survival Guide 2015-2016

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As s o c i a t i on s
11. Associations
Finland has sometimes been referred to as the
promised land of registered associations. Finland
has some 133 000 (2012) registered associations
and many social occasions are organised
through associations.
11.1 Student Associations
The student life can and should be a lot of fun!
There are many student clubs and associations
within each department or faculty. These clubs
and associations arrange seminars, social events
and excursions. For complete information on
specific student unions, see:
ESN
The Erasmus Student Network (ESN) is an
international student organisation active in 37
countries. Its purpose is to help international
students during their stay in another country.
ESN sections in Åbo and Vasa organise a wide
range of activities for international students
throughout the academic year. The sections
want to make all international students feel
welcome and offer them unique Finnish
experiences such as ski and skating events,
sauna evenings, trips to neighbouring countries
and parties. The organised events are open to
all internationally minded people. For more
information check the ESN Finland website:
.
ELSA
The European Law Students’ Association (Elsa)
offers international activities for law students
and young lawyers. Co-operation with
other branches of Elsa as well as with other
international student organisations in Åbo
is seen in seminars, conferences and various
parties and get-togethers. Elsa has also been
involved in mentoring law students from abroad.
For further information, see .
ISHA – Turku
International Students of History Association
(ISHA) is an international, independent, non-
profitable network for all who are interested
in history and related subjects. The main goal
of the organisation is to develop contacts
between history students in different countries,
in order to break the traditional interpretation
of historiography for the benefit of a more
international and broader viewpoint. ISHA–Turku
is a collective organisation of history students
at Åbo Akademi University and the University
of Turku. For more information, see
.
ISTU - International Students of Turku
Universities
A joint network of the Student Unions of the
Åbo Universities organises activities primarily
for international degree students. They host
pub night regularly and function as a platform
for other events. For more information, check
out their Facebook page
11.2 Religious Communities
There are two university chaplains, one on each
campus, who are there to help the students
at the university if they feel like talking to
someone. For more information, please contact:
Ms. Mia Pusa (Åbo)
e-mail:
Phone: +358 (0)40 341 7308
Reception hours and location: Tuesdays 12.00-
14.00 at Kåren, Tavastgatan 22, 3rd floor
Ms. Tia-Maria Nord (Vasa)
e-mail:
Phone: +358 (0)44 480 8327
Office hours: Thursdays 13.00-15.00 room A114
in the A-staircase in Academill
Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA)
(Turun NNKY), Lilla Tavastgatan 12 A. Phone:
+358 (0)400 821 905, ,
. This association arranges Host Family