NESU-Waasa

NESU-Waasa is part of Warrantti. Its main purpose is to organize most of Warrantti’s academic dinner parties, known as sitz parties. Each sitz party has its own theme and includes singing, snaps, food and, most importantly, great company. Among the most unforgettable events are NESU-Waasa’s legendary and extremely popular “harksitsit”, where new freshmen get the chance to experience Finnish student dinner party culture for the first time.

NESU-Waasa also gives students the opportunity to attend sitsit in other cities as part of the ulkkarikiintiö, meaning as a guest from another city. Likewise, students from other cities regularly attend sitz parties in Vaasa. Through NESU, students can also participate in a week-long seminar held twice a year, combining a variety of workshops with plenty of fun and social activities.

The NESU-Waasa board consists of six members: the Chairperson, Treasurer, Communications, Graphics, Corporate relations and Secretary. Together, they are responsible for the day-to-day activities of NESU-Waasa. Every autumn, a board application process is held to select the new board, with the exception of the Chairperson.

In short, NESU brings together some of the best aspects of student life: fellow students, corporate collaboration, networking and, of course, having fun.

You do not need to become a member of NESU to participate. Every Warrantti member is welcome to join NESU’s events.

The seminar can be summed up in two basic parts:

• A group of business students from across the Nordic countries gathers to discuss and learn about the Nordic business world.
• At the same time, participants get to meet other business students and have fun together.

What follows is just a quick glimpse into the amazing atmosphere and experiences of a NESU seminar. The description is loosely chronological and, at times, highly generalized. The only way to discover the whole truth is to attend a seminar yourself…

THE BASICS A week-long seminar held twice a year, the NESU Seminar is the organization’s most important event. It also brings together NESU’s decision-making body, where, among other things, the President is elected.

Each seminar has a theme related to business or the corporate world. The themes are usually broad topics that are explored through several smaller perspectives with the help of various partner companies and the host university. The Nordic perspective is strongly present throughout the seminar, as NESU is a Nordic organization. The programme aims to broaden participants’ knowledge of the chosen topic and, where applicable, provide additional value and new ideas for their studies. Of course, the programme also includes plenty of entertainment and time to have fun together.

BEFORE THE SEMINAR Invitations to the seminar are usually sent out a few months before the event. Those interested can then apply by submitting an application to the organizing city or country. The number of participants is usually limited to around 40–60 people.

AT THE SEMINAR A NESU seminar consists of the following elements:

The more official part This part includes lectures, company visits, excursions, workshops and case studies. The lectures cover both the theoretical foundations of the week’s theme and practical applications within real companies. Speakers may include professors, lecturers and students from the host university, as well as representatives from local companies. Depending on the theme, case studies may be used to explore the topic in more depth. Company visits offer an opportunity to gain a broader perspective.

The not-so-official part The Sitz party, cabin trips, clubbing, shopping, sightseeing, general partying and simply hanging out. The week traditionally includes two sitz party evenings. The Local Evening (cabin sitz party) is usually held at a cabin and focuses on the host country’s culture and local specialties. The Nordic Evening is more similar to a traditional sitz party, and students from NESU organizations outside the seminar can also participate.

NESU ACTIVITIES Country Meeting, Union Meeting. At the Country Meeting, representatives from each country discuss current events and activities in their respective countries and may agree on common positions regarding topics on the Union Meeting agenda. All seminar participants attend the Union Meeting, which is NESU’s decision-making body. The different cities present their activities and plans, while the President and board members report on their activities and plans since the previous seminar.

The order of the above-mentioned parts can vary quite freely, but one event always has its own special place in the schedule:

GALA The Gala takes place on the final evening of the week, usually on Saturday. This is when the overalls are left at the hotel and everyone dresses in their finest attire. The dress code for men is a dark suit, while women traditionally wear long evening gowns. Getting ready for the Gala usually takes several hours, so there is plenty of free time before the cocktail reception. Etiquette is followed, with a few NESU-style twists. The wine flows and the singing continues, perhaps with voices that are already a little hoarse, but always with great enthusiasm. Dinner usually lasts at least a couple of hours, but the time always seems to pass far too quickly in the company of old and new friends. The Gala may seem somewhat similar to a sitsit, as there is plenty of singing and more than a few snaps are enjoyed throughout the evening, but in reality, it is something quite different. The menu is sophisticated and consists of several courses. Various traditions are an essential part of the Gala, and these are best discovered in person. The Gala is often followed by a lively and energetic afterparty. Even though the seminar lasts seven days, the long-awaited and slightly dreaded Sunday morning always arrives far too soon.

The traditional saying about the seminar goes: “What happens in conference, stays in conference.”

The only way to experience the full uniqueness of the seminar is to be there yourself. BE BOLD AND JOIN US.