I’m Nuutti, and I’m your freshman representative (FV). I’m 21 years old and moved to Lahti last year to study business and IT. Feel free to reach out to me anytime if you have questions, ideas, or just wantsomeonetotalkto.
You can easily recognize me by the FV hat at school or events. Of course,youcanapproachmeandchatevenifI’mnotwearingthe hat ��
My name is Vladislav Shpakov – just call me Vladi – and I’m the Chairperson of Lahden tradenomiopiskelijat LINKKI ry for the year 2025 Congratulations on your study place and on joining the greatest BBA student community in Finland – and maybe even in the whole world In other words, welcome to the little circus known as Lahden tradenomiopiskelijat
You’re about to start your very first year as a freshman, a year filled with new experiences, friendships,andchallengesthatwillhelpyou grow. There will be a lot of new information coming your way, but don’t let that discourage you You’re not alone on this new and unfamiliar path – we are a community precisely so we can support and help one another In addition to us, you’ll also be supported by tutors, tutor teachers, and the student union, so don’t hesitate to turn to themwheneverneeded
Most importantly, this is the time to build memories–andthebestwaytodothatisby getting involved in different activities. Studying and completing courses are, of course, important, but it’s also worth taking thetimetorelaxandhavefun.
So, make the most out of this freshman year – and even more out of the years to come I wishyoujoyandsuccessonyourjourney
VladislavShpakov Chairperson
TuukkaMäensivu Vicechairperson
KerkkoSalenius Treasurer
Advocacyrepresentative
PapuHartikainen Memberrepresentative
JamiMäkelä Communications
MaijuKomppa Memberrepresentative
EmiliaTapio Secretary
NuuttiRoiha Freshercaptain
AinoLoisa Communications
Eventmanager
VilmaVesanto Eventmanager
JereAmpuja
LINKKI acts as an advocate for Bachelor of Business Administration students The organization's duties include ensuring and monitoring that students receive high-quality and appropriateeducation Thisalsoinvolvessafeguardingtheproperrightsofthestudents
SPRINGANDAUTUMNMEETINGS
The association's general meetings are open to all members. Members have the opportunity to vote and influence the activitiesoftheassociation
AUTUMNMEETING
At the autumn meeting, among other things, we elect the board for the following year, approve the next year ' s action plan, and review the budget. If you ' re interested in joiningtheboard,staytunedintheautumn fresherscanbeontheboardtoo!
SPRINGMEETING
Atthespringmeeting,wereviewtheprevious year ' s financial statements, annual report, andtheauditor'sstatement
OVERALLS
YougetyouroverallsfromLINKKI!Studentsin Finnish and English business degree programmesweartheblueLINKKIoveralls
This means that when you see someone wearing LINKKI overalls they are a busimess studentinLahti!
Wegetthesponsorsforthethem, orderand sell the overalls. If you have ideas for sponsors,letusknow!
- Reetta
LINKKI has some traditional events but in addition to these there is member events like beer bong,movienightsetceverynowandthen Hereisthetraditionaleventsexplained:
Hi new Linkki members, greetings from StudentsofBusinessandTechnology!
It’s fantastic that you’ve joined the community of BBA students Your choice will lead you towardsadiverseandrespectedexpertcareer The BBA degree opens doors to many fields, and in the future, you will play an important role in society The first fall as a fresher is a uniquetime!So,bebrave,jointheevents,meet new people, and collect memories that will bringjoyforyearstocome.
What is the role of Students of Business and Technology in student life then? We are a community of over 14,000 members, bringing togetherallstudentsinFinlandpursuingaBBA degree OurmissionistoensurethateveryBBA student has the chance to enjoy the best possible student life Students of Business and Technology is a community for you! We are here to make your student life as smooth and rewarding as possible and to support you whenit’stimetostepintoworkinglife
Locally,yourstudentassociationLinkkiryacts as your voice and advocate. Meanwhile, Students of Business and Technology providesawiderangeofvaluablebenefitsto support your studies, career, and wellbeing These include salary counseling, insurances, career coaching, unemployment security andvariousdiscountsforleisureactivities
We wish you an exciting start to the fall and thebestofluckwithyourstudies!
MEMBERSHIP LEVELS
LINKKI ry does not have its own membership; instead, you join as a member of the Students ofBusinessandTechnology!Youcaneasilydo this during the fresher weeks Come visit our stand, and we will guide you through the membership process. By joining as a gold or black level member, you will also receive a discount on our beautiful blue student overalls andgetreducedratesforourownevents!
questions about mberships? Give nudge or send s a message!
Black-level membership costs €87 for year and includes all the benefits of Silver- and Gold-level memberships, plus access to legal and unemployment insurance To qualify for Black-level membership, you must have an active employment relationship, as you cannot jointheunemploymentfundwithoutit
Gold-level membership costs €24 for year and includes all the benefits of Silver-level membership, plus access to events organized by Tradenomit, career services, job search assistance, and well-being services, as well as leisure accident and travel insurance. This level also includes a CASHBACK benefit, meaning you will receive all the membership fees you have paid back after graduation, provided you continue your membership with the Tradenomi association!
BLACK SILVER GOLD
Silver-level membership is free and valid for 18 months from the date of joining. After this period, the membership will either expire or need to be upgraded to a higher level. The membership includes legal advice and salary consultation services, as well as Member+benefits
HOWTOLAB
eLAB
eLAB is one of the most important tools for LAB students eLAB is the school's website, where you can find various information about completing your studies, campus details, IT support, and student life. eLAB also conveniently provides links to Peppi, Moodle, and TimeEdit. From TimeEdit, you can view yourclassscheduleandbookstudyspaces!
WELLBEING
LABstudentshaveaccesstovariouswellness services. For academic concerns, study psychologists are available to help with es such as stress or lack of motivation. personal problems, students can turn to mpus chaplains, who are available to talk ardless of religious background The menkatu campus also offers MOVEOn ts services, which can be accessed with wsemesterfee
CAMPUSLUNCH
The student card and the Kela meal support card entitle students to receive lunch at a discounted price in student cafeterias The student card must always be carried with you The Kela meal support card provides a discount at all student cafeterias On the Mukkulankatu campus, you can find Isku Center's Food&Co and KOE's café-bar Lamkooma.
TUTORTEACHER
Each incoming student group is assigned a Tutor Teacher, who guides their group and each student throughout their studies. The Tutor Teacher leads the Professional Growth course and conducts HOPS (Personal Study Plan) discussions. With your Tutor Teacher, you will agree on your personal study plan, including the content of your HOPS and potentially recognizing any prior learning as partofyourstudies
TUTORSAND CLASSREPS
Alongside the Tutor Teacher, there are Tutor Students whose role is to help new students get acquainted with the institution, their studies, the local area, and leisure activities Thetrainedtutorsassistthestudentgroupin selecting a representative who will collect feedback and represent the group in feedbackdiscussionsledbythecompetency manager Thegrouprepresentativeactsasa liaison between students and teachers, presentingstudents'feedbackandopinions.
PEPPI,MOODLE ANDTUUDO
Peppi provides a wealth of information, including details about your academic progress, and is where you can also enroll in courses It's worth taking some time to familiarize yourself with it. Moodle is the digital learning environment used by both LAB and LUT. Most of the courses at LAB are conducted through Moodle. Tuudo is a mobile app that allows you to easily view yourclassschedule,campusmaps,cafeteria menus,andmuchmore!
STUDENTUNION KOE
KOE is the student union of LAB University of Applied Sciences The main role of the student union KOE is advocacy, but it also carries out tutoring and organizes events activitiesthatareoftenmorevisiblethanthe advocacywork
Studying in Lahti takes place at two different buildings: M19 (Mukkulankatu 19) and N73 (Niemenkatu 73) However, the Mukkulankatu building is where most of the studies are concentrated For instance, students in business and some from LUT might have lectures at the Niemenkatu building Both buildings offer various study and relaxation spaces. Moveo rooms are located in the Niemenkatubuilding.
TheM19buildingisopenwithaccesscard600 and between those times you need a permittoaccessthespaces
CAMPUSLUNCH
The student card and the Kela meal support card entitle students to receive lunch at a discounted price in student cafeterias The student card must always be carried with you The Kela meal support card provides a discount at all student cafeterias On the Mukkulankatu campus, you can find Isku Center's Food&Co and KOE's café-bar Lamkooma.
REGISTRATIONOFDATA
TomakeyourupcomingresidenceinFinland valid, you need to register as a resident at the Digital and Population Data Services Agency (or DVV). This is HIGHLY IMPORTANT. This applies to every foreign student, and your citizenship will only shorten some steps oftheprocess
Byregistering,youget:
Apersonalidentitycode
Anaddresslinkedtoyourname
Amunicipalityofresidence
Herearethesteps:
Register your right of residence (if applicable)
Complete the registration notice of a foreigner Register on campus Thursday 5 September9.00-12.00and13.00-15.30. Visit the DVV office: DVV Lahti has reserved dates for students to register without appointment between the opening hours 800-1200 and 13001600
Thursday01August
Monday12August
Thursday12September
Thursday19September
Thursday26September Wait(mighttake4+weeks)
You have the choice of registering your address as permanent or temporary Permanent is recommended since it allows you to access a wide range of services, both publicandprivate.
FINNISHIDCARD
By registering your address as permanent, you become eligible to apply for a Finnish ID Card through the police. It is important to notethatthecardisentirelyoptional.Serving as a supplement to your passport, the ID Card remains valid for up to 5 years for EU/EEA citizens or until the expiration of your residencepermitfornon-EU/EEAindividuals
The Finnish ID Card can prove to be immensely valuable, particularly for nonEU/EEA students who lack eIDAS identification
MoreinfoabouttheIDcard:
DRIVERSLICENCE
If you possess a driving license from an EU/EEA country, it remains valid for driving in Finland until its expiration date. However, once your EU/EEA license expires, you must apply for a Finnish driving license. For those with licenses from other’ countries, the rules fordrivingandexchanginglicensesaremore complexandmayvary.
Moreinfoaboutdriverslicence:
ELECTRONICIDENTIFICATION
WhenloggingintocertainserviceslikePoliisi, Kela, or Vero, you may encounter a screen displaying various banks' logos. This screen facilitates the verification of your identity online through strong e-identification (EU's eIDAS). There are several methods available forthispurpose:
Certificate card: This method involves retrievingyourpersonalinformationfromthe chip on your Finnish ID card To use this method,youneedacardreaderanda dedicated program installed on your computer
Mobile certificate: This option is linked to your subscription phone number When you select this method, a window will pop up on your phone, prompting you to enter the passcode,andupondoingso,you'rereadyto proceed Enabling the mobile certificate requiresanonlinebankID OnlinebankID:This method is connected to your bank account. To confirm the verification, you will need to use your bank's mobileapp.Toenablethischoice,youmust possessabiometricEU/EEApassport/IDcard or a Finnish ID card. You can request your bank to activate it when you open the account or return later with the necessary document
Identification for foreigners: The eIDAS system uses identification tokens from other countriesthatareapprovedforcross-border identificationinEurope Ifyoupossesssimilar e-identification systems from other EU/EEA countries,youcanutilizethisoption.
It is highly recommended to acquire electronic identification, as this authentication method grants you access to a wide range of services from the comfort of your home. For instance, you can change your LUT account password without needing the old one, request a tax card without calling the tax office, or update your address in the DVV system without visiting the post office,amongotherconveniences
BANKINGOPTIONS
n Finland, there is a variety of banks, each offeringdifferentlevelsofservicequalityand pricing Generally, banking services are often free for student customers The banks commonlyusedbystudentsareasfollows:
Nordea: The largest commercial banking corporationintheNordics Itoffersservicesin English
Osuuspankki (OP): A cooperative of 180 banks ItprovidesservicesinEnglishandhas a partnership with the grocery chain Kesko, allowingcustomerstocombinetheirbank cardwithaloyaltycard
Danske Bank: The largest retail bank in Denmark ItoffersservicesinEnglishandhas apartnershipwithFrank
S-Pankki: The bank of S-ryhmä. If you become a customer-owner by making a one-time refundable payment, it will be free indefinitely(theywillexplainthistoyou).Itis available only in Finnish and Swedish. Additionally, being an S-Pankki customer provides benefits at all stores owned by Sryhmäanditspartners
PHONESERVICES
During your time in Finland, obtaining a Finnish phone number can be beneficial If you already have a phone plan from an EU/EEA country, you can use it here without incurring additional charges, but make sure to check the data roaming limit Nevertheless, having a Finnish number will proveusefulforfutureneeds
You have the option to purchase a prepaid SIM card from R-kioski or phone stores like Elisa, Telia, and DNA. Additionally, there is Moi,avirtualoperator.
Apart from prepaid options, you may consider a phone subscription, but bear in mind that you might require e-identification if ordering online The prices for phone subscriptions in Finland are generally affordable, and the service quality is outstanding Elisa, Telia, and DNA also offer themobilecertificatefreeofcharge
STUDENTLIFEINLAHTI
On the next pages you will learn about student culture in Lahti and in general. Finland has a lot of interesting student traditions you most likely have not heard aboutbefore.
Here is some info to get you started with the student culture here in Lahti Even thought it might feel like a lot, remember that it was sometimenewforeveryone!
By being an active member in the student community, you will get to know both internationalandlocalstudents.
EVENTS101
SITSITorSITZ:Anacademictablepartywhere the toastmaster's word is law. At sitsit, participantseat,drink,andsingtogether. Itis recommendednottohaveaorepartybefore sitzparty.
WAPPU: A long-lasting celebration, typically extending over several weeks The festivities peak on Wappu Eve with events like statuetopping, parades through the city, and picnics
EXCU: Excursions or company visits, akin to classtripsbutforadults.
VUJUT: Annual celebrations for a student organization’s anniversary, often featuring a formaldinnerandsillis.Dresscodeisusually darksuitortuxedo.
SILLIS: A relaxed event following the annual celebrations,sometimesbecomingthemain event It’s a more casual occasion known for itslaid-backatmosphere
APPRO: A bar tour where you collect stamps in an appro-pass by drinking alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages, eating, or sometimes completing tasks. Completing different levels of the appro earns you a patchasproofofyourachievement.
OVERALLS,HCP,LAHOANDCAPS?
Originating from Swedish sitz culture, overalls made their debut in Finland’s Otaniemi region during the 1950s to 1960s. Initially popular among Teekkaris, overalls gained widespread popularity among all studentsinthe1980s
At all student events in Lahti, there are designated harassment contact persons or HCPs who are announced in advance on social media Their role is to address reported harassment, provide support to thoseaffected,and,ifnecessary,guidethem to appropriate assistance. All harassment contacts from student organizations have completed harassment contact training and arequalifiedtoperformtheirduties.
LAHO is an community in Lahti that includes allstudentorganizations,guilds,andstudent unionsKOEandLTKY LAHOstandsforStudent Organizations in Lahti (fin Lahden Opiskelijajärjestöt) LAHO's main task is to organize and promote student events for everyone All events listed on the @lahoevents Instagram account and Telegrambotareopentoall!
You will see student caps, and they tell you different things about the wearer Most common caps in Lahti are Ylioppilaslakki (white cap with a black rim, worn by those who have completed the matriculation examination at the graduation ceremony and later, especially on Wappu), Teekkari cap (similar to the Finnish graduation cap. The cap has a black tassel that hangs over the right edge of the cap), Engineering cap (cap with a black tassel that has a violetcolored velvet cover. ) and our own BBA cap (Thecap'sdomeiswhite,thebandencircling thecapisgray,andthetasselisgray-green A Tradenomit lyre is attached to the cap ' s band) BelowyoucanseetheBBAcaporfin Tradenomilakki
ReLary-HospitalityManagement
LASOLAry-Healthcareandsocial services
LINKKIry-Business
MIOry-Designandfinearts
LIROry-Engineering
LaKury-FineArts
Fuusiory-EnergyTechnology
SoSary-SoftwareEngineering
Kapitalry-IndustrialEngineering andManagement
EXCHANGESTUDENTS
ESNLahti
There is also association for Wood Technology (PINO) they also wear the LIROovera
Finnish students are walking around the city in their overalls, “haalarit”, filled with patches and colors? What's going on, what are these weirdpartypants?!
Wearing overalls is a very big tradition amonghighereducationstudentsinFinland. Each student guild and association has a distinct overall colour, making it easy to identify a person’s study program. Overalls serve a a representation of oneself and are commonly worn at various student events, partiessitzandexcursions
The overalls of Lahden Tradenomiopiskelijat LINKKI ry are blue These overalls are worn at both local and national student events, but you can also wear them in your free time or campusunlessthereisaspecificdresscode. It's important to remember that when wearing the overalls, you represent business students and LAB University of Applied Sciences. There are also important etiquette rulesrelatedtotheoveralls,listedbelow
1§ The Lahden Tradenomiopiskelijat LINKKI ry overalls are bright blue When wearing the overalls, you represent the LINKKI association andLABUniversityofAppliedSciences
2§ The overalls can be worn at various student events (unless dress code says otherwise) and other situations where it is deemedappropriate.
3§PutontheoverallsinawaythattheLINKKI logoremainsvisible,withthetextonthelogo showing Lift the overalls entirely only when there is no more space for additional patchesatthebottom
4§ Under no circumstances should the overalls be washed! However, if fellow studentspointouttheodorofyouroveralls,it isadvisabletocleanthem.Thiscanbedone, for example, by taking a small swim in Lake Vesijärvi. The owner of the overalls must be inside the overalls throughout the cleaning process.
5§ Allpatchesontheoverallsmustbesewn by hand! Patches stay in place best with bear thread, and diligent overall wearers are recommended to use double thread Logos on the overalls should be left visible until there is no more space to sew additional patches However,logoscanbecoveredonly afterthefresheryear
6§ You can exchange the leg of the overalls with your significant other. If a breakup occurs, you can try to ask for your leg back. Exchanging sleeves and pockets among friendsisencouraged.
7§Ifyouhavealreadycompletedauniversity degreeorarechangingfields,youcan combine old and new overalls by sewing halves together, creating a completely new anduniqueoverall
8§ Various accessories, such as a bottle openerorshotglass,canbeattachedtothe overalls. These should not be removed after attachment.Inotherwords,everythingyou attachtotheoverallsstaysthere.
9§ It's important to have fun while wearing the overalls So, put on the overalls and attend student events, sing, and dance as muchasyoursoulcanhandle!
Sewing on patches on sometimes a bit tricky, so here are a few tips for attaching them Patches should be sewn on; gluing them is not considered the correct method for attaching them. You can also modify your overalls, such as swapping a leg with a partner's or a sleeve with a friend's. If you are changing your field of study, you can mix and match new and old overallstocreatemorepersonalizedanduniqueoverallcombinations.
1. Before you start sewing on patches, it's a good idea to plan where you want to place them and remove the backing to make sewing easier Removing the backing also makes the patch a bit thinner, which can make movement in the overalls more comfortable When overalls are full of patches, they become stiffer, and activities like squatting can become difficult "Thinning out" the patches can help alleviate this issue somewhat!
2 It’s a good idea to secure the patch in the desired position with pins or a large safety pin This helps keep the patch in place while yousewiton!
3. Use strong thread for sewing, such as heavy-duty thread. Fold the thread in half to ensure that the patches are securely attached.
4 When sewing on patches, it's a good idea touserelativelytightstitches Thisway,there won't be gaps between the patches, and the finalresultwilllookneatandtidy!
A153 This is where you can find LAB's organizations,includingLINKKI!
AETHER The guild for all international LUT programs at the Lahti campus Aether operated from 2022 to 2024, after which three new guilds (SoSA, FUUSIO, and Kapital) continued developing Lahti's student culture Members of Aether have darkyellowoveralls
ASSOCIATION An organization that brings together students from the same field, oversees their interests, and organizesevents
APPRO A bar crawl where participants collect stamps in an appro pass, usually by drinking, eating, or completing tasks. Completinganapprooftenearnsyouan event patch or achievement badge Approcanalsobedonealcohol-free.
ARMAS Some student events are held here.
BANDROOM located on the ground floor of the Niemenkatu building in Lahti, available for rent through the student unionLTKY.
FRESHER First-year student. Also known asfreshmanorfin.fuksi.
FRESHER RACE fin. fuksiaiset is an event organized by KOE for all students, especiallyfreshers.
eLABThestudentinformationhub
EVENT ARENA A social area next to the Lamkooma café-bar where events take place
ESN Erasmus Student Network (ESN), aims to enhance intercultural understandingandsupportstudents.ESN Lahti members wear lime green overalls, and ESN Lappeenranta members wear blueoveralls
LTKY The Student Union of LUT University, oftenpronounced"lytky".
LUT Lappeenranta-Lahti University of TechnologyLUT.
MEET A LOCAL FRIEND The programme brings together international students with Finnish students or local people or local families. The aim is to help foreign students to learn more about the Finnish culture and everyday life. In return, international students give the local friend a greater understanding and appreciationofothercultures
MIO The student organization for the Design Institute at LAB, recognized by blackoveralls
N-FRESHER N-freshmen will be called any LUT student who is known to be a sixth-year teekkari or kylteri” A student who has studied for more than 4 years Afterthis,theyearsarenotcounted
NOPPA Credit points that are collected (Strongly recommended) during studies tograduate.
20
OFFICER a member who performs small and easy tasks for the association.Can be appointed and removed whenever deemednecessarybytheboard
OPKUStudentunion.
OPSorPSPisthePersonalStudyPlan.
ORIENTATION WEEK is an essential part of starting studies for new students The orientation week is the week before the start of the semester. During the orientationweek,courseregistrationsare handled under supervision and studies for the beginning of the academic year are planned under the guidance of the supervisors and study advisors. Also knownasfreshmanweek.
PIKKU-VESKUis the PicNic place in Lahti LAHOPicnictakesplacehere.
PINO The organization for wood technologystudents.Woodtechnologyis taughtonlyinLahti
RANNAT Nickname for Lappeenranta. Oftencalled"lappeenRannot."
RELA Lahti’s hospitality students' organization, recognized by black overallswithpinkpockets.
REPCO or fin. edari (edustajisto) the representative council is the highest decision-making body of the Student Union,electedannually
SAMOK The Union of Student Unions in Finland.
SAUNISA saunaeveningevent
SILLIS A relaxed event after annual celebrations, commonly known as "sunnarit"(sundaydinking)or"pääpäivä" (themainpartyday)
SITSITAnacademictablepartyinvolving drinking, eating, singing, and listening to toastmasters.
SLOUNGE A shared LUT guild room locatedattheLahticampus
SOSA The Software Engineering guild in Lahti,recognizedbyolivegreenoveralls.
STUDENTHUBAspaceincentralLahtifor LTKY and KOE, where student organizationscanhostsmallevents.
LYMO The environmental students' organizationinLahti
TEEKKARI An older engineering student at the university. First-year students become Teekkarit during Wappu at midnightafterthebaptism
TELEGRAM A messaging app used for communication, including by LINKKI. It's recommended to join the Lahen Tradet channel!
TENTTI An exam, which is a measure of understanding the studied material. Not allcourseshaveexams.
TRADENOMIOPISKELIJATOurunion,which is part of Tradenomi and Akava Also called Students of Business and Technology.
TRADENOMILAKKI The cap worn by graduated or graduating Tradenomi (BBA) students after their first Wappu. It can be ordered from Tradenomi’s website, and there are guidelines for wearingit.
TUTOR A support and mentor for new students, helping with group formation and introducing them to student culture. However,nottheirmom
TUUDO a mobile app that makes your studentlifeeasier!
VUJUTAnnual ball, or the birthday of the subjectorganization,typicallycelebrated withadinnerpartyandsillis.Oftenhasa formaldresscode
WAPPU The highlight of the year, celebrated in Lappeenranta for a longer periodthanelsewhereinFinland.In2024, Wappu was celebrated in Lappeenranta for36daysandinLahtifor22days
