Welcome Letter for a New Student!
Congratulations on your acceptance to the Humak University of Applied Sciences, shortly Humak!
A warm welcome to the start of your journey in the Humak community – this welcome letter has been created just for you, a new Humak student! You have some amazing study years ahead and we want to help you make the most of them. In this welcome letter we’ve gathered important information and practical tips to support your studies!
HUMAKO is Humak’s own student union – a community and voice for all students. As a new student, you’ll also have the opportunity to join HUMAKO as a member!
Members get discounts on student events, overall patches and even the student overalls themselves. You’ll also receive a digital student card that gives you access to a wide range of member benefits and discounts. Membership is also a requirement if you want to become a tutor, join a local division, a team, or the representative council. As a HUMAKO member you can also influence our activities and promote student rights and well-being!
Joining is easy through Kide.app, and it’s definitely worth it! Whether you’re a full-time, multiform learning or an online student, taking courses through the Open UAS or pursuing a Master’s degree (YAMK) – we are here for you!
To start off, we recommend following HUMAKO’s social media accounts:
- Instagram https://www.instagram.com/opiskelijakunta_humako/
- Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Opiskelijakunta.HUMAKO/
- TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@opiskelijakuntahumako?_t=ZN-8wxRQ0VUq18&_r=1
Welcome Meetings and WhatsApp Groups for New Students
HUMAKO is here to welcome you, a new student, into the HUMAKO community!
We recommend that you join the WhatsApp groups for new students. You’ll find more detailed information about the groups and when they open through this link.
We’re organizing opportunities for new students to get to know each other on campus areas at the beginning of the autumn semester. NOTE! Some of the welcome meetings take place before your studies officially begin. You can find detailed information about the events in different areas on the Instagram accounts of your local actives.
For Everyone:
Instagram: @opiskelijakunta_humako
TikTok: @opiskelijakuntahumako
Online:
@humakonverkkotutorit
Helsinki Metropolitan Area:
@humakohkitutors (TikTok: @humakohkitutors)
@granintutorit
@humako_pks
Turku:
@humako_turku
Tampere:
@humako_tre
Jyväskylä:
@humakotutoritjkl (TikTok: @humako.tutorit.jkl)
@jkljaosto
Kuopio:
@humako_kuopiontutorit (TikTok: @humak_kuopiontutorit)
@humako_kuohu
We’ll meet at the latest during the orientation days at the HUMAKO-info sessions. HUMAKO-info is a short introductory session about the student union for all new students! During the session you’ll also have the chance to try on student overalls and purchase HUMAKO products. (NOTE! HUMAKO info sessions for Work Community Developers and Master’s degree (YAMK) students will take place online.) You can find detailed, location- or study-mode-specific information on your area’s own page: Online students, Kuopio, Jyväskylä, Turku, Helsinki Capital Region, Tampere.
Support and Activities of HUMAKO
HUMAKO’s tutors and actives are here to support and cheer you on throughout your studies. You can also reach out to the tutors if you have any thoughts or questions about starting school:
Through the eTutor -course on the Hoodle platform, where you’ll also find
- The Student Lounge discussion forum, where students and tutors can chat together
- The Anonymous Students discussion forum, where you can ask questions anonymously and tutors will reply.
HUMAKO’s office is on duty during the summer and will respond to any questions that come up: [email protected].
The student union HUMAKO’s activities are open to all Humak students. We organize events and activities on different campuses and online. We look forward to meeting you!
As a member, you save – enjoy numerous benefits and discounts
As a new student, you can join HUMAKO as a member starting from August 1, 2025. As a member of the student union HUMAKO, you become part of the HUMAKO community and gain access to both local and nationwide student benefits and discounts. The membership quickly pays for itself!
You can get discounts on various student events, different products (which you can browse on platforms like Kide.app), travel and food. Degree students are also entitled to familiar student benefits from VR, Matkahuolto, and Kela. The HUMAKO mobile membership card can be found in Slice and Kide.App, where you can also browse available benefits. HUMAKO is part of the Opku+ network, which includes student unions from other universities of applied sciences (ASK, Helga, TUO, Laureamko, METKA, JAMKO, and O’Diako). As a HUMAKO member, you also get member discounts on events and products from these student unions.
Read more about how and why to join HUMAKO
Overalls – A Student’s Trusted Outfit from the Online Store
Student Overalls – a comfortable, durable & stylish outfit for all your study-time adventures!
HUMAKO’s bright red overalls are carefully designed specifically for Humak students.
Sales start on 8th of August 2025 and end on 12th of September 2025!
The overalls will be delivered before Christmas. We only produce them based on pre-orders, so make sure to order yours in time! To help you choose the right size, you can try them on at the HUMAKO-infos. It’s a good idea to ensure that there’s enough room under the overalls for warm clothing for winter student activities.
The overalls cost 100€/50€/25€ and will be available in the Kide.app online store, where you can also buy overall patches and event tickets! If you have gotten the membership of HUMAKO, you get the overalls and other products for half price! You can also get the membership of HUMAKO from the Kide.app.
Membership Service and Contact Information
For questions related to membership and services you can get help by contacting HUMAKO’s info email at [email protected] or by reaching out to HUMAKO Board´s vice chairperson Essi Rikkola at +358 45 134 5634 (best reached via WhatsApp or text message).
HUMAKO’s office is located on the Helsinki campus. At the office you can purchase products or pick up your online store orders. The office will be closed for the summer break after 12th of June, 2025 and it will reopen in September. HUMAKO members can also receive service at the service points of other student unions in the Helsinki metropolitan area, Turku, and Jyväskylä.
More information about the opening hours of our and other service points
Feedback, advocacy work and harassment contact persons
One of HUMAKO’s most important tasks is student advocacy. Advocacy means, among other things, that we collect, evaluate, and forward student feedback. We act as a messenger and a bridge between students and Humak. We meet with Humak staff, represent students, and promote issues that matter to students. With the help of feedback HUMAKO addresses reported concerns, gives credit to staff for their successes, follows up on delayed grades, and improves its own operations. This is why feedback is very important – so please don’t hesitate to give it! ❤️ You can give feedback about HUMAKO, the school or the staff using the form found on HUMAKO’s website.
HUMAKO also promotes student well-being in collaboration with other student organizations and student unions both nationally and locally.
At HUMAKO we do not tolerate harassment, discrimination or any form of inappropriate behavior. Each year, HUMAKO appoints designated harassment contact persons. You can reach out to them in any matter related to experiencing harassment, whether it occurred in Humak or HUMAKO activities. Experiences of harassment are personal and no issue is too small to bring up. The main role of harassment contact persons is to support and help those who have experienced harassment.
Contact information for harassment contact persons
Student Union HUMAKO´s Active Work can earn you credit points (ECTS)!
Any Humak student can apply to become an active member of HUMAKO. As an active, you’ll have a real say in what your student union does and how things run at your university. Being involved in HUMAKO is also a fun way to support your own studies, because you can earn credit points (ECTS) from your participation!
Local Activities – Tutoring, Team, and Section Activities
“The best part of working in a local division is organizing events and the amazing team!” -Paulus, Kuopio local division member
“I decided to apply to be a tutor because I wanted to help others with the skills I have. The best part has been that I’ve gained a lot of confidence and had the chance to try out actual new things!” -Elli, Helsinki tutor
“I joined the Tampere team to come up with and organize activities for fellow students in Tampere, as well as to boost HUMAKO’s visibility!” -Maiju, Tampere team member
HUMAKO’s local divisions develop activities on their own campuses and organize events that brighten up student life. HUMAKO’s tutors support fellow students and promote student well-being. HUMAKO’s teams create new, diverse activities by combining elements of both division and tutor work. By taking part in tutor, team, or division activities, you not only gain great experiences and a positive atmosphere, but you can also earn 2-10 study credits. You’ll also receive an overall patch, and you can turn many of your activities into credited coursework through recognition of prior learning.
New local actives are recruited in October. Read more about becoming a local active!
Board of the student union
“Through my work on the board I have gained more experience in communications and events, developed my professional skills, and discovered my own strengths. I’ve also had the chance to meet amazing people in the field!” -Essi, HUMAKO Board´s vice chairperson
HUMAKO’s board manages the student union’s daily practical operations. The board consists of a Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and at least three (3) and up to seven (7) members. Each board member has their own responsibilities which are carried out individually, in teams, and collectively as a board.
Currently, the HUMAKO board is divided into three teams: advocacy team, local activities team and services and events team. The teams meet online every few weeks and they prepare proposals for board meetings as well as work on the processes related to their specific areas of responsibility.
As a board member you’ll receive an overall patch, study credits, and you can also turn your work into credited coursework.
New board members are primarily recruited in the autumn and sometimes through additional application rounds during the year. Read more about the board’s work and how to apply!
The Representative Council
“For me, being part of the council is not only a way to influence student matters but also an important part of my student identity and belonging to the student network!” -Emmi, HUMAKO´s Representative Council´s vice chairperson
The Representative Council holds the highest decision-making power in the student union and guides the work of the board, enabling it to manage the student union’s everyday operations. As a member of the Representative Council, you get to make real decisions and influence matters within the student union. You’ll have the chance to connect with students from different campuses and degree programmes, get a close-up view of HUMAKO’s operations, and expand your understanding of how our university and student union function.
By participating in the Representative Council, you’ll receive an overall patch, study credits, and you can also turn many activities into credited coursework.
Members are elected in autumn elections. All who have gotten the HUMAKO membership are eligible to vote. Read more about the Representative Council and how to apply!
Student representatives
“Being a student representative has been exciting and something completely new. It opens the door to a world I knew nothing about before!” -Freja, Quality and Standards Committee student representative & HUMAKO Board´s member
Our university, Humak, includes student representatives in its working groups to ensure that the student voice is heard and student rights are upheld. In these groups members discuss, develop, brainstorm, and make decisions about the future direction of Humak. HUMAKO´s board´s advocacy team supports student representatives throughout their term.
You can earn study credits for working as a student representative!
The Humak working groups that include student representatives are:
- Student Welfare Team (Opiskelijahyvinvointiryhmä)
- Quality and Standards Committee (Laatu- ja toiminnanohjausryhmä)
- University Ethics Committee (Eettinen toimikunta)
- Degree Programmes Team (Tutkintokoulutuksen ryhmä)
- Academic Appeals Board (Tutkintolautakunta)
- Executive Board of the Finnish School of Arts and Humanities Ltd. (Suomen Humanistinen Ammattikorkeakoulu Oy:n hallitus)
Read more about student representatives!
In cooperation with HUMAKO
HUMAKO and our cooperation partners warmly welcome you to study at Humak! Are you studying to become a cultural manager, community educator or interpreter? Join the trade union for graduates in your field! You’ll receive full member benefits already during your studies.
