By-laws of the organization
1. The name of the association is International Degree Student Community of Jyvaskyla- IDESCO and its domicile in Jyväskylä.
2. Purpose:
The purpose of the association is to unite the international degree students (International and Finnish, Doctoral and Master’s degree students) under a multidisciplinary club/group which focuses on:
a) Engagement and participation
● The engagement of the International Degree students to the university activities and to other sub-organizations and parties.
● Support student life and welfare within the university by helping in social and cultural integration (student life and Finnish Culture.)
● Promote the interests of this community and represent its voice.
b) Internationalization
● Connection with other University Networks within and outside Finland.
● Participation in other national, international networks and organizations.
3. Activities:
● Participation in the official orientation days in the beginning of every academic year
● Organizing events e.g. get together events, cultural events, workshops, company affairs, lectures
● Organizing trips
● Participation in various events organized by other parties.
In order to support its activities, the association can:
● Collect reasonable membership fees
● Define reasonable participation fees for its activities
● Organize fund-raising after having obtained due permissions
● Receive support, contributions and legacies
● Own movable and immovable property if necessary.
4. Members
Membership may be extended to Master’s and Doctoral students and Alumni of the University of Jyväskylä who accept the purpose and the rules of the association. The board of the association approves member’s application.
5. Resigning and removing a member
If a member violates the rules and insults the nature and the reputation of the association, the member will be removed. The removal needs to be approved by the majority (70%) of the board during an official meeting.
6. Working language
The organization is registered in Finnish. However, the language of meetings, meeting calls and organization documents will be English.
7. Membership fee/ joining the association fee
The amounts of the fee for joining the association and of the membership fee are decided by the autumn assembly.
8. Board
The board will be consisted of at least three members and a maximum of eight members: Chairperson, Vice president and treasurer. Apart from these main roles within the board, other roles and positions can be decided at the first general meeting. The size of the board is decided each year at the first general meeting. The term of office is one calendar year for all board members from 1/1 to 31/12. The Chairperson shall be, if possible, a registered student either Doctoral or Master’s.
The board meeting is called by the Chairperson or, if he/she is unavailable, by the vice president, when they deem it necessary or when a minimum of half of the board members so require.
The board’s purpose is to materialize the purposes and activities of the association. The board represents the organization and ensures the realization of the working plan. Board’s other responsibilities are:
● Calling the general meetings, preparing the agenda and making all the necessary preparations.
● Taking care of and keeping record of the organization’s finances.
● Drawing up an annual report describing their term of office
A board member may be removed from office through a general meeting/assembly.
Monthly meetings are also set by the board, once per month while the following meeting is decided by the end of each meeting. Notification by email or writing is sent to the members.
Below are indicated some possible board positions:
● Chairperson
● Vice-president
● Treasurer
● Public Relations- communication
● Event Coordinator
● Membership Coordinator
● Member
● Member
The board meeting has decision-making power if the Chairperson, Vice-president and at least half of the board members are present.
9. Operations Inspectors
One operations inspector and one deputy operations inspector will be elected at the autumn general meeting, for a term of a calendar year from 1/1 to 31/12.
10. Sign Authorities
Signatories will be the Chairperson with one other board member or the Vice president with one other board member.
11. Accounting period
The accounting period is one calendar year from 1/1 to 31/12.
12. General Assembly /meeting
There will be two general meetings per year, one each semester. The first meeting of the year will be during the spring semester and the second during autumn semester.
At the first meeting during spring (January-April), the out going board’s annual report is accepted, the accounts and operations inspector’s report are presented and approved and the outgoing board is discharged of its duties.
● Opening the meeting
● Selecting the scrutinizer(s) of the minutes and two vote counters.
● The legality and the quorum for the meeting are noted
● The agenda is approved
● The annual accounts, the annual report and the report of the operations inspector are presented
● The approval of the annual accounts is given and the board and other relevant people are discharged of liability.
● Any other relevant topics mentioned in the call for the general meeting/ assembly.
During the second meeting in autumn (August-November), the board, the operations inspector and the deputy operations inspector are elected. Additionally, the budget and plan of action for the upcoming term will be approved and the membership fee will be decided.
● Opening the meeting
● Selecting the scrutinizer(s) of the minutes and two vote counters.
● The legality and the quorum for the meeting are noted
● The agenda is approved
● The action plan, membership fee and the budget for the following calendar year are approved.
● The board and its Chairperson are selected
● The operations inspector and deputy operations inspector are selected
● Any other relevant topics mentioned in the call for the general meeting/ assembly.
The general meetings/ assemblies are called by the board and announced on the website of the association at least 14 days in advance. The general meeting has decision making power if it has been called according to these rules.
Each member has one vote in the general meeting/ assembly.
The decision of the general meeting/ assembly, unless otherwise stated in the rules, is the opinion that is supported by more than the half of the casted votes. If votes are equal, the vote of the Chairperson decides, except in elections the decision is decided by casting a die.
Additional assembly is held if the assembly of the association decides thus or when the board deems is necessary or when a minimum of one tenth (1/10) of the members entitled to vote demands it for a specific purpose from the board in writing. The meeting needs to be held within thirty days of the demand being given to the board.
13. Dissolution of the association and changing the rules
The decisions on changing the rules and dissolving the association needs to be made in the general meeting/assembly by a minimum of a majority of three quarters (3/4) of the casted votes. The call for assembly needs to mention the changing of the rules or the dissolution of the association.
In case of the dissolution, the assets of the association are to be used to advance the purpose of the association in a manner decided by the meeting/assembly deciding on the dissolution. In the case the association is dismantled, the assets are used for the purpose mentioned above.
14. Others
In areas not specified in these rules, the Finnish Association Act applies.
2. Purpose:
The purpose of the association is to unite the international degree students (International and Finnish, Doctoral and Master’s degree students) under a multidisciplinary club/group which focuses on:
a) Engagement and participation
● The engagement of the International Degree students to the university activities and to other sub-organizations and parties.
● Support student life and welfare within the university by helping in social and cultural integration (student life and Finnish Culture.)
● Promote the interests of this community and represent its voice.
b) Internationalization
● Connection with other University Networks within and outside Finland.
● Participation in other national, international networks and organizations.
3. Activities:
● Participation in the official orientation days in the beginning of every academic year
● Organizing events e.g. get together events, cultural events, workshops, company affairs, lectures
● Organizing trips
● Participation in various events organized by other parties.
In order to support its activities, the association can:
● Collect reasonable membership fees
● Define reasonable participation fees for its activities
● Organize fund-raising after having obtained due permissions
● Receive support, contributions and legacies
● Own movable and immovable property if necessary.
4. Members
Membership may be extended to Master’s and Doctoral students and Alumni of the University of Jyväskylä who accept the purpose and the rules of the association. The board of the association approves member’s application.
5. Resigning and removing a member
If a member violates the rules and insults the nature and the reputation of the association, the member will be removed. The removal needs to be approved by the majority (70%) of the board during an official meeting.
6. Working language
The organization is registered in Finnish. However, the language of meetings, meeting calls and organization documents will be English.
7. Membership fee/ joining the association fee
The amounts of the fee for joining the association and of the membership fee are decided by the autumn assembly.
8. Board
The board will be consisted of at least three members and a maximum of eight members: Chairperson, Vice president and treasurer. Apart from these main roles within the board, other roles and positions can be decided at the first general meeting. The size of the board is decided each year at the first general meeting. The term of office is one calendar year for all board members from 1/1 to 31/12. The Chairperson shall be, if possible, a registered student either Doctoral or Master’s.
The board meeting is called by the Chairperson or, if he/she is unavailable, by the vice president, when they deem it necessary or when a minimum of half of the board members so require.
The board’s purpose is to materialize the purposes and activities of the association. The board represents the organization and ensures the realization of the working plan. Board’s other responsibilities are:
● Calling the general meetings, preparing the agenda and making all the necessary preparations.
● Taking care of and keeping record of the organization’s finances.
● Drawing up an annual report describing their term of office
A board member may be removed from office through a general meeting/assembly.
Monthly meetings are also set by the board, once per month while the following meeting is decided by the end of each meeting. Notification by email or writing is sent to the members.
Below are indicated some possible board positions:
● Chairperson
● Vice-president
● Treasurer
● Public Relations- communication
● Event Coordinator
● Membership Coordinator
● Member
● Member
The board meeting has decision-making power if the Chairperson, Vice-president and at least half of the board members are present.
9. Operations Inspectors
One operations inspector and one deputy operations inspector will be elected at the autumn general meeting, for a term of a calendar year from 1/1 to 31/12.
10. Sign Authorities
Signatories will be the Chairperson with one other board member or the Vice president with one other board member.
11. Accounting period
The accounting period is one calendar year from 1/1 to 31/12.
12. General Assembly /meeting
There will be two general meetings per year, one each semester. The first meeting of the year will be during the spring semester and the second during autumn semester.
At the first meeting during spring (January-April), the out going board’s annual report is accepted, the accounts and operations inspector’s report are presented and approved and the outgoing board is discharged of its duties.
● Opening the meeting
● Selecting the scrutinizer(s) of the minutes and two vote counters.
● The legality and the quorum for the meeting are noted
● The agenda is approved
● The annual accounts, the annual report and the report of the operations inspector are presented
● The approval of the annual accounts is given and the board and other relevant people are discharged of liability.
● Any other relevant topics mentioned in the call for the general meeting/ assembly.
During the second meeting in autumn (August-November), the board, the operations inspector and the deputy operations inspector are elected. Additionally, the budget and plan of action for the upcoming term will be approved and the membership fee will be decided.
● Opening the meeting
● Selecting the scrutinizer(s) of the minutes and two vote counters.
● The legality and the quorum for the meeting are noted
● The agenda is approved
● The action plan, membership fee and the budget for the following calendar year are approved.
● The board and its Chairperson are selected
● The operations inspector and deputy operations inspector are selected
● Any other relevant topics mentioned in the call for the general meeting/ assembly.
The general meetings/ assemblies are called by the board and announced on the website of the association at least 14 days in advance. The general meeting has decision making power if it has been called according to these rules.
Each member has one vote in the general meeting/ assembly.
The decision of the general meeting/ assembly, unless otherwise stated in the rules, is the opinion that is supported by more than the half of the casted votes. If votes are equal, the vote of the Chairperson decides, except in elections the decision is decided by casting a die.
Additional assembly is held if the assembly of the association decides thus or when the board deems is necessary or when a minimum of one tenth (1/10) of the members entitled to vote demands it for a specific purpose from the board in writing. The meeting needs to be held within thirty days of the demand being given to the board.
13. Dissolution of the association and changing the rules
The decisions on changing the rules and dissolving the association needs to be made in the general meeting/assembly by a minimum of a majority of three quarters (3/4) of the casted votes. The call for assembly needs to mention the changing of the rules or the dissolution of the association.
In case of the dissolution, the assets of the association are to be used to advance the purpose of the association in a manner decided by the meeting/assembly deciding on the dissolution. In the case the association is dismantled, the assets are used for the purpose mentioned above.
14. Others
In areas not specified in these rules, the Finnish Association Act applies.