November 17 is International Student Day. A day for all students around the world. An opportunity for reflection. A day to act.
Access to education is a right and no one should be left without education due to structural shortcomings. Therefore, SFS demands that all higher education should be free of charge - especially at a time when the knowledge nation Sweden has closed its borders to the surrounding knowledge society.
Students are imprisoned and killed for their views on the right to education and the possibility of co-determination. Students get into debt to be able to change their life situation. Individuals never cross the high threshold to the gates of academia.
People are fleeing.
Students fly.
Students are stopped.
Students are questioned.
Almost a year ago, the country's borders were closed. When the autumn semester 2016 was to start, the Swedish Migration Agency questioned the study intentions of many admitted international students. Some were able to start their education, but many were and still are prevented from taking part in higher education in Sweden. That is unacceptable. The regulations must promote each other, not counteract each other's purposes
Tuition fees create obstacles. Education is an investment for the individual, for society and for the survival of the knowledge society.
Three measures that would make higher education more accessible to international students are to make scholarship programs more generous so that more people can have a secure study period in Sweden, allow asylum seekers to study free of charge at Swedish universities and in the long run completely abolish all tuition fees.
Helene Hellmark Knutsson (S), Minister for Higher Education and Research, believes that the government took responsibility when the borders were closed. At the same time, the promotion of internationalization, broadened recruitment and gender mainstreaming is promised. We students and our higher education institutions take responsibility for promoting for all students and want to make it possible for those waiting for asylum to be able to study - free of charge. What will the government do? When can we see that resources are actually allocated to be able to invest in an open and equal university? The human right to access education must be promoted. When it is promoted, only then will the government take overall responsibility for the closed borders.
Caroline Sundberg, President of the Swedish National Union of Students