WHAT IS THE YOUTH FORUM?

The Association's Board has decided to make a strong commitment to young people in the years ahead. At the 1999 Autumn Meeting it was decided to establish a Youth Forum to stimulate activities aimed at young people. Forest Based Industries (FBI) Day brings together around 400 technology students and 100 industry representatives to discuss the forest industry's future and to meet each other informally.

The core of the Association's Youth Forum comprises the chairmen of the student guilds of universities. Current members are the Forest Products Guild (HUT), Bulk (TUT), the Chemists' Club (Åbo Akademi), the Chemical Technology Guild (LUT), the Process Guild (Oulu), the Paper Club (TPU), Fintappi ry (University of Jyväskylä) and representatives from the South Carelia Polytechnics. Other Youth Forum members include young people themselves as well as industry representatives interested in young people's affairs.

Youth Forum's activities include the FBI Day, which is now an annual event. In 2009, FBI Day was organized in Lappeenranta. Other activities include campaigns on behalf of their field by university technology students in senior secondary schools, seminars and theme talks for technology students, and Youth Forum meetings. The Youth Forum also offers young people a channel through which they can pass on their opinions and other information to the Association, thus giving them a better opportunity to influence the Association's present and future activities.