Operating rules of Anja Mäntylä Fund

The Operating rules are based on the Rules of Anja Mäntylä Fund. Principles and practices governing the activities of the Administrative Committee and the Agent of Anja Mäntylä Fund have been recorded in the Operating rules. The Operating rules are approved and any changes to them are made by the Board or Directors of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences based on a proposal made by the Administrative Committee of the Fund.

Operating rules of Anja Mäntylä Fund

Approved by the Board of Directors of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences on 24 November 2022 (section 63).

1 Administrative Committee

The meeting of the Administrative Committee is legal and has a quorum when it has been convened by email or letter two days before. The meeting has a quorum when the Chair or the Vice Chair and at least two other members are present. Decisions must be unanimous.

Minutes shall be kept of the meetings of the Administrative Committee and the participants of the meeting acknowledge them as approved by e-mail. The minutes shall be signed by the Chair and the Secretary.

2 Agent

In accordance with the Rules of the Fund, the Agent of the Administrative Committee of Anja Mäntylä Fund has an employment relationship with Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences. The costs incurred in the performance of the Agent’s tasks are covered from the funds of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.

The Agent’s tasks include:

secretarial tasks of the Administrative Committee
preparation of matters to be discussed in meetings
preparation of funding decisions, communication of information about the decisions and implementation of the decisions
initiation and monitoring of the measures that have been decided on
tasks related to finances
participating in the monitoring of the finances of the Fund together with the financial administration of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences and the Administrative Committee of the Fund
informing the Administrative Committee of the financial matters of the Fund
acting as a contact person in financial matters between Anja Mäntylä Fund and financial administration of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.

3 Documentation

The deeds of foundation, the rules, documents related to accounting and the funding decisions are stored as an archived entity in the archives of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences. The guidelines on document management at Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences and the guidelines/regulations on data protection and data security are complied with in the processing of the documents.

4 Communication of information

The communication of information by the Fund is open, diverse and equal and the guidelines on communication at Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences are applied to it.

5 Modes of operation of the Fund

The values of Anja Mäntylä Fund, presented in Appendix 1 of these Operating rules, are taken into account in the operation of the Fund.

The Administrative Committee draws up an action plan for the calendar year and the plan is approved by the Board of Directors of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.

The number and the possible focus areas for targeting the grants, scholarships and operational grants are decided on annually in connection with the plan of action.

Grants, scholarships and operational grants must be linked to South Ostrobothnia in one of the following ways:

topic
municipality of residence or place of education of the grant or scholarship recipient
location of the research or educational organisation (when the applicant is an organisation).

5.1 Scientific grants

A scientific grant can be awarded for conducting a scientific study on themes related to the social sector. The grant is aimed at researchers who have completed a Master’s degree. The grant can also be awarded to an individual researcher or a group.

There is a continuous application process for scientific grants. Applications shall be drawn up in Finnish or English according to the more specific instructions given by the Administrative Committee.

The grant recipient has the obligation to submit a report on the use of the grant to Anja Mäntylä Fund within a year and a half from the date on which the grant was awarded and in accordance with the more specific instructions given by the Administrative Committee.

5.2 Scholarships to students

Scholarships are awarded annually to students who have completed the Bachelor of Social Services and/or Master of Social Services degree at Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences. The criterion for awarding a scholarship is interest in development activities in the social sector during studies. The scholarship recipients are named by Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.

5.3 Operational grants

An operational grant can be awarded to an individual or a community for the promotion of research and/or development activities in the social sector. For example, grants can be awarded to activities such as research or development projects, the building of a development network, publishing activities, training events, and the development of training and research environments.

Operational grants can also be awarded to activities implemented by Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences in accordance with the Rules of the Fund if they are typically one-off activities and are not funded within the normal operational economy of Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences.

There is a continuous application process for operational grants. Applications shall be drawn up in Finnish or English according to the more specific instructions given by the Administrative Committee.

However, reports on operational grants received by Seinäjoki University of Applied Sciences must be submitted within one month of when the use of the grant ended; however, by the end of the calendar year in question at the latest.

5.4 Independent development activities of the Fund

The Administrative Committee of Anja Mäntylä Fund may also launch research and development projects focusing on social issues on its own initiative and promote development networks in the social sector, act as a publisher and organise training events on themes related to the social sector.

Independent development activities of the Fund can be implemented only if the measures concerned have been specified in the plan of action of the Fund for that year.

6 Entry into force of the Operating rules

These Operating rules enter into force on 1 January 2023.

APPENDIX 1: Values underlying the Fund’s operation

The following socio-ethical principles govern how the resources of the Fund are targeted:

Community-based approach: The Fund wants to promote joint development activities of different parties and related interaction as widely as possible.
Taking into account diverse social issues: The Fund also enables research and development activities related to marginal topics.
Promoting a high standard and quality of professional work: The Fund wants to promote a high standard and quality of professional work in the social sector and improve the dissemination of current information and the adoption of new information.
Work approach taking into account peer support and expertise by experience: The Fund wants to strengthen client-oriented and citizen-oriented development work in the social sector and promote cooperation between public and private actors and communities.
Appreciation of the client’s will and resources: In connection with development work, the Fund wants to take into account citizens’ and clients’ opportunities for growth, development, learning and participation.
Highlighting disadvantage: The Fund wants to promote research and development activities that highlight the perspectives of disadvantaged persons and persons without power and promote the equality and high standard of services.
International interaction: The Fund wants to promote international activities that enrich perspectives in the social sector and support the development of cultural competence in the region.