Elsa Aarnio

Hello there, former of the board and other guild folks! 🙂 

I’m Elsa, a third-year chemical engineering student and a proud Prosessiteekkari. I’m applying for the position of Head of Internal and External Affairs (SUV) for the year 2026! 

Guild activities swept me along right from the start of my studies, when I first joined as a host/hostess helper and later became a head ISO. This year, I’ve served on PT’s board in the role of host. Over the year, I’ve gained experience in planning and executing various events, as well as leading different officials. Applying for SUV has been on my mind for quite some time, and my decision has only grown stronger throughout this year, as organizing events and meeting guild members has been incredibly rewarding. I’d describe myself as cheerful and conscientious, and ready to take action decisively when the situation calls for it. 

What especially appeals to me about the SUV role is its versatility — it allows for organizing events that promote wellbeing while also involving work that remains more “behind the scenes” (or in another city 😉 ). The variety can be a challenge, but I believe I’m capable of keeping all the strings together in many directions. My year as an IE has especially developed my teamwork skills, and I’d love to offer the SUV officials an amazing year while giving them space for their own ideas as well. I’m particularly excited about developing the already strong culture and sports sectors further, as I believe their importance in a student’s life is greater than ever today. I’d also like to develop the pHuone to make it as approachable as possible for all kinds of people!

If you have any questions, the grill is hot here — and also on Telegram @elsaaarnio! 🙂 See you at events! 

1. Is there any specific unit of Care committee that you would like to develop? Why and how / why not? 

I am especially interested in cultural and wellbeing activities. PT is a large guild, which can sometimes make it difficult to get to know other members, and I believe that wellbeing, cultural, and sports activities in particular can bring together different kinds of people — sometimes in surprising ways. For example, I would be interested in developing some kind of regular, low-threshold breakfast or movie night concept for pHuone. 

The “Cultural tips of the month” that were launched this year have been fantastic in my opinion, and I would love to continue that kind of activity as well! Sports activities have also been developed further, and I would like to consider whether we could improve them even more — for example by increasing inter-guild collaboration in sports and excursion-related events. 

2. Managing sister guild relations is an important part of the tasks of the Head of Internal and External Affairs. What goals or ideas do you have for fostering sister guild relations in the coming year? 

I think PT’s relationships with our sister guilds are already in a good place: we actively participate in events such as Kemiat kohtaa, NKK, and the annual celebrations of our sister guilds. We also host visits from our sister guilds in Otaniemi, and my goal would be to encourage even more of our members to take part in these gatherings. The sister guild relationships are both important and rewarding, so I’m definitely motivated to maintain and strengthen them. 

I also have a bit of a shy interest in organizing a foreign excursion. PT hasn’t yet had an international excursion, and arranging one would be amazing. As a “wild card” idea, I would suggest establishing a working group for this — possibly in cooperation with the Corporate Relations Committee. We already have sister guild connections in countries like Sweden, which could be an excellent destination. 

3. The Care Committee has a wide range of officials. How would you ensure the communication and activity in each part of the care committee throughout the year? 

In a large committee, clear communication is especially important. I would hold regular meetings with different officials, with the meeting times decided together through a poll. I would aim for clear and transparent communication and make sure everyone knows what is expected of them and what tasks are currently on the committee’s “to-do” list.

I believe that motivation and activeness can be maintained by listening to and implementing people’s ideas — seeing your own contribution come to life is inspiring. Reflecting on my experiences as an rapu-IE, I would also say that getting to know your fellow committee members never hurts motivation, so I would also make sure to organize recreational activities for the Care Committee.