Swedish National Union of Students

SFS
Swedish National Union of Students
Student participation in academia
- Student unionism as prerequisite for quality assurance in
higher education
Erik Arroy, Chairperson
SFS is a non-profit member
organization
47 member unions, representing 90% of
students in Sweden
SFS history
• Founded 1921
• Member of La Confédération Internationale des Etudiants
(CIE)
• Co-founder Western European Student Information Bureau
(WESIB) 1982
– Now known as European Students’ Union (ESU)
• Co-founder Nordic Organisational Meeting (NOM) 1946
• SFS senate
SFS represents the students
and the member unions
• The national student organization in Sweden
• Opponent for politicians and policy makers
– Lobbying towards the government and important policy makers
regarding higher education and students conditions
SFS general assembly
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Once a year
Highest decision making body
Decides eg on SFS plan of work and budget
Consists of 349 mandates – ca 100 delegates
SFS board
• Appointed by the general assembly, 15 members
– 13 volunteers and a presidency (Chair and Vice-Chair)
• Represents unions from all over the country
• Highest decision making body between general assembly
• Working groups
Office
• Chair and ViceChairperson
• 7-9 employees in projects
and everyday work
• Making sure the plan of
work is being followed
• Competences within:
-Law
-Communication
-Campaigns/projects
-Media
-Analysis
Projects as of today
• Representation tetiary education
• ”Så funkar det” – Accessible student participation
• Development of our General Assembly
SR/P3
SVT Rapport
DN
SvD
TT
Metro
Dagens Industri
Ny Teknik
Sydsvenskan
Blekinge Läns Tidning
Örnsköldsviks Allehanda
Västerviks‐Tidningen
Ölandsbladet
Uppsala Nya Tidning
Gotlands Allehanda
Landskrona Posten
Nya Ludvika Tidning
Borlänge Tidning
Södermanlands Nyheter
Gefle Dagblad
Länstidningen Östersund
Norra Skåne
Skånska Dagbladet
Laholms Tidning
Piteå Tidningen
Västerbottens‐Kuriren
SFS in media
SFS
Bostadsrapport
2011
Lobbying in short
• Politicians and policy makers
• Seminars and conferences
• Participating in seminars and panels
• Experts on students situation, provides information
to media and others
• Supports local unions
• Writing material for bills on higher education
• Student representatives
Some things SFS’ work has
resulted in
• Grants and loans for students
• Law about equal treatment of students
• Making sure a committe was in place for students social
situation
• Students with children get extra grants
• Higher grants and loans
• Secure situation for Phd students
• Student participation in decision making bodies
• Co-founder of Kilroy
• Student housing
Political priorities 2012/13
• Quality and employability in higher education
• Student influence in higher education
• Social security for students
More issues (eg)
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Tuition fees for students outside EU/EEA
Students grants and loans
Admission to Higher Education
Student housing
Student mobility
Autonomy of HEI
Members of ESU
– Europeans Students’ Union
Student participation
- Democracy in academia – added value!
- Quality assurance
- Efficiency
- Legal certainty/ rule of law
The most important pieces of
legislation governing higher
education institutions are:
•The Higher Education Act
•The Higher Education
Ordinance (including the
System of Qualifications).
The Higher Education Act
2:nd chapter
• 4 § The government appoints the chairman of the University
Board. The Vice-Chancellor shall be in the Board. Teachers
and students at the university have the right to be
represented in the Board. Provisions about who appoints
such representatives is stipulated in ordinance. The
government appoints the other members of the Board.
Representatives of the employees have the right to attend
and speak at Board meetings.
The Higher Education Act
2:nd chapter
7 § Students have the right to be represented when decisions or
drafting that is relevant to education or students' situation is
being made.
The Higher Education Act
4:th chapter
9 § A student union must have as its principal purpose to
monitor and assist in the development of education and the
conditions for studies at the university.
11 § A student union must be democratically structured and
able to represent students within the union’s field of
operations.
Student participation at
HEI:s and in national policy
making
Analogy:
- At Higher Education Institutions – Student unions
- In relation to government, Riksdag (parliament) and
authorities – SFS
The legislation process
• Commissions of inquiry
• Committee reports
• Proposals/ government proposition
bills
• When concerning higher
education/research – SFS
consulted
SFS appoints student
representatives nationally
-
CSN Advisory Council (Swedish student aid)
Swedish National Agency for Higher Education (HSV)
The Swedish Agency for Higher Education Services (VHS)
International Programme Office for Education and Training
The Assiociation of Swedish Higher Education
Bolognaexperts
Higher education institutions
are public agencies
•Have authorities
•Public documents
Contact SFS
erik.arroy@sfs.se or erik.pedersen@sfs.se
or sfs@sfs.se
www.sfs.se
Facebook: SFS - Sveriges förenade studentkårer
+46(0)8-54 57 01 00