Have you ever wondered what your membership fee is spent for? Why does membership cost and what does it get? Does it feel like the membership fee is not worth the price? Does it feel like METKA is doing nothing and the money is flowing into the board’s Jallu bottles?
In this text, METKA strives to open as comprehensively as possible to where the Student Union METKA uses its money (including your membership fee).
What is METKA and what does it do?
METKA is the student union of Metropolia University of Applied Sciences. The student union is a statutory part of Universities of Applied Sciences and therefore it is mandatory to have one in every UAS. Student associations representing students from different campuses and fields do very similar work to METKA, but they have no legal obligations.
METKA’s statutory tasks are defined in Section 41 of the University of Applied Sciences Act. According to the law, the administration of the student union consists of a Council of Representatives and a board, in addition to which the student union may have employees if its finances allow it.
In addition to the University of Applied Sciences Act, METKA’s operations are regulated by the Associations Act, meaning METKA cannot make significant profits from its operations.
Where does the money come from?
The biggest amount comes from funding and co-operation agreements. This means funding from Metropolia University of Applied Sciences, which is used by METKA, and funding from 3AMK, which is used by Zone Sports Services.
The co-operation agreement between Metropolia and METKA defines what tasks METKA must perform each year. Such tasks include, for example, the tasks of a Student Counsel and tutoring.
METKA would not be able to represent more than 16,000 students through membership fees alone, but on the other hand, membership fees play a key role in the extent to which METKA can organize activities. Membership incomes make up for less than 10 percent of METKA’s annual income. Currently, about 8 percent of Metropolia’s students are members of METKA.
In addition, METKA receives income from events. Events that make more or less money are for example Freshers’ Party, METKA’s Speksi and Annual Gala. Due to the Covid pandemic, event profits have been low recently.
Last but not least, METKA receives funding in the form of project grants. METKA currently has three ongoing projects funded by the Ministry of Education and Culture and the URLUS Foundation. With this money, for example employees have been hired to work with these projects.
What is the money used for?
Most of the money goes to the salaries of employees. METKA has paid employees who receive a monthly salary. In addition to the Executive Director METKA currently has four employees and one trainee. A fifth employee is currently being recruited. In addition, Zone Sports Services has two employees. Metropolia is Finland’s largest University of Applied Sciences. There are a lot of students, a lot of degrees and a wide range of activities. Therefore, METKA also needs employees to run its operations.
The members of the Board and the Representative Council are the backbone of METKA and they are invaluable. They make decisions and implement those decisions, that is, organize events, for example. But the board changes every year. Employees therefore play a key role in continuity. Employees are also experts in their field, so help is close by. The salary of the employees is determined according to Palta ry’s collective labor agreement for Student Union Employees.
The members of the Board and chaipersons of the Council of Representative are paid a reward for their position of trust. The reward is not comparable to salary received from work and does not correlate with time that is spent on these activities. Due to the financial situation, the reward had to be reduced. The result is that the trustees study more or less normally during their term and may also go to work.
In addition, the money goes to current matters, such as the maintenance of telephone subscriptions, bank charges and rents. For events for example, you have to get decorations or print appro passports and make overall badges.
METKA is also a member of University of Applied Sciences Students in Finland – SAMOK and the Finnish Student Sports Federation OLL. These organizations are paid an annual fee based on the number of members. Both organizations are important and valuable partners for METKA in terms of the national advocacy of students.
In addition, METKA is part of the Opku + cooperation, which involves eight student unions. Opku+ network has for example a common membership register platform, which METKA pays for.
Does METKA spend money on anything sensible?
Direct answers to what membership fees are used for cannot be given. Membership fees are not directly pointed for any particular use. The budget is considered as a whole. The structure of the membership fee, on the other hand, can be opened more easily, as the amount is decided each year separately by the Council of Representatives. The Board makes a proposal for the amount and the final decision is made by the Council of Representatives.
The amount of the membership fee is not made from whole cloth, but is based on calculations and forecasts of how much euros the student union needs to function well and in the desired way. This is part of the daily work in METKA.
It is up to each individual to decide whether ordering overall badges, buying tutor T-shirts, or hiring an advocacy specialist is a sensible use of money. What is certain, however, is that everyone at METKA would want a little more money so that it could sometimes be used for something a little less sensible.
At present, each purchase is put out to tender. METKA considers carefully whether the purchase is mandatory or whether it will bring us financial or other benefits later.
This post is also available in Suomi.