In spring 2021, we asked students how they would like to spend 12 000 euros of the university budget. The community discussion was based on the “One euro for every student” participatory budgeting pilot project launched in May. The goal of the project is to develop and use the campus in a more student-friendly way and to involve students in decision-making.
We received a total of 48 ideas which were submitted to the community conversation on aalto.fi and via a Webropol questionnaire. "We want to warmly thank all students who participated and submitted their creative ideas! There were a wide range of excellent and imaginative proposals. Some of the ideas we are currently promoting on different development projects at Aalto University. And all the proposals, which did not meet the scope of this particular project, we forwarded to the right parties who are in charge of these issues. For example, development ideas regarding educational platforms were brought to the person responsible for learning services respectively", says Raili Pönni, Head of Planning.
The organizers of the pilot reviewed all ideas and selected plausible ones for voting. All five proposals meet the main criteria of the pilot, which were student wellbeing, inclusivity, accessibility and sustainability, budget and timetable (detailed criteria can be viewed here).
If you have any questions on the pilot, please contact Project Manager Aapo Pihkala, [email protected].
Now it’s time to determine which idea is implemented in autumn 2021 or early 2022. Vote for the best idea here. The winner will be announced on later September. Five ideas selected for voting are described below.
Find all the five proposals and details below.
Public garden benches for students and staff, guilds, research groups! For example a flower/garden bed, with a broad bench along the edge, for sitting down with a friend etc. This will bring more colour to the campus, and the bench edge will provide more areas for spontaneous meetings and social interaction on campus.
Flower beds, fruit trees and more small-scale food production the Aalto campus. Flowers support pollinators which are important for the reproduction of a vast amount of plants, and many pollinators such as honeybees are struggling due to e.g. use of pesticides. Flowers also support human wellbeing and create a nicer environment to live in. If possible, it would be nice to have more fruit trees that students would be allowed to enjoy the fruit of as well as small scale food production such as what exists e.g. in the Otaniemi urban garden. When students and others living at the campus can benefit from the yield, this could in many ways support the wellbeing of the people at the campus.
A piano which can be placed for example at the main entrance or in a student dining hall/restaurant or other public location. This can create a lively atmosphere if students themselves can play. It can also make group music performance possible. It will create more fun if students can express themselves through music.
Purchasing an active sound system that could be used or borrowed by students or organizations based on a reservation system. Aalto already has similar services for tech like lights and cameras in Aalto Takeout. Currently, in events with music and/or DJs, sound systems need to be rented, and they can be a costly part of an event's budget. Aalto's own sound system would allow event organizers more money to be spent on other things or to reduce ticket prices. This sound system should be portable, like a 2x active speaker + 2x sub bundle, which could also be used in outdoor events with a generator.
Right beside Otaniemi campus is the Laajalahti bay area with vast possibilities for hiking and nature adventures. For example, the Maari bird tower is located in the area. More active utilization of this area would benefit the well-being of students and staff. As many of the equipment for e.g. bird watching are expensive, borrowable gear would make these opportunities more accessible to our community members. These equipment could include e.g. binoculars or a telescope. A small visit to the near nature during the day would be a refreshing element to our community members every day lives.
Aalto University Campus & Real Estate (ACRE) maintains, develops and rents out Aalto University facilities in Otaniemi and Töölö. We also build new concepts and shared facilities for parties outside the university, thus turning Otaniemi into a unique partnership centre and the most inspiring campus in the world.
