Membership Application Assessment Criteria
Applications are assessed as a whole based on the following criteria. Applicants are not required to meet every criterion fully but are expected to meet most of them.
The applicant organisation has been active for at least five years
The applicant must have operated as a registered association or another type of registered organisation for at least five years before submitting its membership application. The five-year period is calculated from the registration date of the current organisation. Previous activities, for example as a network or another association, do not fulfil this requirement.
The society’s activities must be regular and diverse. Members are also expected to participate actively in the society’s activities, rather than participation being limited to those serving on its governing bodies.
The applicant organisation’s membership and governing bodies are representative of researchers in the field
The society’s membership must broadly represent the research community in its field. Its activities cannot be based solely on the research or personal interests of individual researchers or enthusiasts. The majority of members of the society’s governing bodies must be researchers in the relevant field.
Scientific activities are at the core of the applicant organisation’s work
The society’s activities must be based on current and relevant research knowledge, its dissemination and further development. Applicants are primarily expected to demonstrate regular, sustained and diverse scientific activities. The society and its activities should be recognised among researchers and other stakeholders in the field.
The applicant organisation also engages in activities that support scientific work
In addition to scientific activities, the society may engage in other activities. Examples include professional training, collaboration between researchers, professionals and enthusiasts in the field, and activities that promote public understanding of the discipline.
The applicant organisation represents a field of research not yet represented within TSV
If the field of research is already sufficiently represented within TSV, the application must explain how the applicant society’s activities differ from those of existing member societies in the same field.
The applicant organisation has individual members
The society must have individual members. However, if the applicant strongly meets the other membership criteria, an organisation with only institutional members may also be accepted as a member of TSV.
The applicant organisation’s legal structure does not prevent membership
An organisation’s legal structure does not prevent it from applying for membership. For example, a foundation with no individual members may be accepted if it sufficiently meets the other criteria. However, the assessment will consider whether the organisation’s legal structure imposes any conditions or restrictions on its activities.
The geographical scope of the applicant organisation’s activities
As a general rule, applicant societies are expected to operate nationwide. However, a society operating at a regional level may also be accepted as a member of TSV if there are justified reasons for doing so.
Apply for TSV Membership for Your Society
If your society meets the membership criteria, you can apply for TSV membership by filling out the pdf application form below. Send your application and the required attachments to us via email: tsv [at] tsv.fi (tsv[at]tsv[dot]fi). If you cannot scan your application, you can also send it to us via regular post: Kirkkokatu 6, 00170 Helsinki.