SATY asked members for their opinion on the grants awarded by the association

SATY asked it’s members for their opinion on the future of the grants awarded by the association through a survey from 23.9.-4.10.2024. A total of 43 members responded to the survey, and the results were used by the SATY Board to consider the future of the grants and to plan activities for 2025. At the Association’s autumn meeting, it was approved the Board’s proposal for the continuation of the grants as part of the 2025 action plan and budget. SATY will continue to give grants in the coming year, but will also develop other activities to support its members.

Respondents were surprisingly evenly split on whether SATY should distribute grants

The majority of respondents had never applied for an SATY grant and the opinion on whether SATY should award grants at all was surprisingly even. However, the majority were in favour of giving grants. For many respondents, even a small grant had a great symbolic importance in supporting science and research. On the other hand, almost as many felt that some other purpose would serve the membership better than grants.

If grants continue to be shared in the future, it seems that the members will favour both large and small grants. The uses of the grants were seen as working fine in their current form. The most popular destination was different types of congress and conference travel, although a few respondents felt that travel grants are already distributed by many organisations and that the costs should be paid by the employer. Covering the rent of office space and learning languages were suggested as new types of grants. The career in research was seen as precarious and fragmented, and there was general support for providing even a little financial support and promoting researchers’ well-being at work.

If grants are dropped, the most popular use of the money was for various recreational events related to well-being at work. There was also support for expanding the already well-established activities of SATY and for various cultural expenditure. Various peer meetings and activities outside Helsinki were much sought after. On the other hand, some also hoped for different personal benefits, such as book fair tickets.

There were also requests for a reduction in membership fees, especially for young researchers or students.

Plans for SATY grants and membership activities

SATY will continue to award grants, but their share of the 2025 budget has been halved to 1 000 euros (2 000 € in the 2024 budget). The purpose of the grants will be clarified and the maximum amount will probably be reduced (currently 500 € per applicant). 3 000 euros has been earmarked for membership events and recreational activities (2 000 € in the 2024 budget). The intention is to organise events also outside the metropolitan area, in cooperation with local members. Part of the event budget will be set aside for events organised by members.

The responses also reflect the fact that the division of labour between the union and the member associations is unclear. In the Union of Research Professionals (URP), all members belong to the member association (e.g. SATY), but the Union provides a significant part of the member services, organises national lobbying and represents researchers in the central organisation Akava. Collective bargaining and salary negotiations are carried out by JUKO (the Organisation for Public Sector Professionals) and YTN (the Federation of Professionals and Managerial Staff). Through JUKO and YTN, shop stewards represent the members of the Union of Research Professionals, including SATY. The survey suggested a reduction in membership fees, but SATY follows the membership fees agreed at the level of the Union of Research Professionals.