METKA’s board is elected by METKA’s representative council. But what does that mean in practice? In some years, there are so few applicants for the board that all those who wish to join are elected. In other years, there are more applicants than there are positions, in which case a selection process is used.
The newly elected representative council for 2026 will be organized on November 17. The organizational meeting means that the representative council will elect a chair and vice-chair from among its members. At the same meeting, METKA’s board for 2026 will be elected.
Those interested in joining the board are encouraged to fill out an application in advance so that the representative council can get to know the applicants before the meeting. The application asks the applicant:
- Why are you applying for this position?
- Why should you be chosen?
- What previous experience do you have that is relevant to the position you are applying for?
- If you are applying to be a member of the board, which sector are you interested in?
- How much time are you willing to devote to the position?
- What does METKA do and what do you think is most important in METKA’s activities?
You can also add attachments to your application if you wish.
A panel discussion will be organized for applicants at the representative council’s organizational meeting. METKA alumni usually participate in the panel, asking challenging and less challenging questions to gauge the applicant’s motivation for the position.
If there are more applicants than positions, a vote will be held. The vote for the chair and vice-chair will be a two-stage majority vote, similar to the presidential election in Finland. For example, if there are three candidates for chairperson and no one receives more than half of the votes in the first round, a second round will be held between the two candidates who received the most votes in the first round.
The board is elected by proportional representation. The representative council decides on the size of the board at its organizational meeting, but in recent years the board has consisted of a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, and six board members.
In a proportional election, each voter may vote for as many candidates as there are positions to be filled. If, for example, there are 6 seats on the board and 10 applicants, the voter writes a maximum of six (6) names on the ballot paper in order of preference. For example:
- Maija Meikäläinen
- John Doe
- Pepito Peréz
- Maria Rossi
- Pierre Dupont
- Hans Jensen
In a proportional list election, Maija Meikäläinen receives 6 votes, John Doe half of that, i.e. 3 votes, Pepito Peréz half of that (1.5 votes) etc.
The vote counters elected at the meeting count the votes. Each candidate is thus assigned a comparative number, and the six (6) candidates with the highest comparative numbers are elected to the board.
Do I need to send my application in advance?
No, you don’t, because you can also run for office during the organizational meeting. However, we recommend sending your application in advance, because this allows the representative council, i.e., the people who decide on the composition of the board, to familiarize themselves with your skills and get the best possible picture of the applicant before the meeting begins.
Do I need to be a tutor or a member of the representative council or the board of a student association?
No, you don’t! Of course, various positions of trust and tasks that develop your ability to take responsibility provide good preparation for serving on the METKA board.
Do I need to know the representative council in advance?
No, you don’t! The main thing is that you are able to convey your motivation and skills in your application and during the applicant panel so that the representative council can make the best possible decisions.
This post is also available in Suomi.