On October 20-23, it was finally time for SFS to host the Nordic Presidency Meeting, NOM, in Gothenburg! NOM is the cooperation body for the Nordic and Baltic student organizations, and SFS's main platform for cooperation in matters within the European student cooperation, ESU. The Göta student union was responsible for implementing and coordinating the local work around NOM, with the support of Sahlgrenska Academy's Student union, the Art union and the Chalmers student union.
During the pandemic years, NOM has not been able to be physically kept in place, but now it was finally time. In order to focus on the experiences and lessons learned from these years within higher education in the region, the theme this time was just that Falling through the cracks? Student work environment and mental health.
The majority of the program items took place in Gothenburg University's new premises in Nya Humanisten. Thursday began with SFS chairman Linn Svärd's opening speech, which can be read here. Emphasizing the international solidarity as the basis of the student movement and the value of meeting for real, the tone was set for our coming days. Claes Andersson from Malmö University then took over with a presentation of data on students' mental health from the WMH-ISC project and how the pandemic has affected students' well-being.
Friday was NOM82's first full day. Peder de Thurah Toft from the Nordic Council began the day by talking about the council's work in the field of education. Then Susanna Young Håkansson and Angelica Simonsson from NIKK presented theirs investigation report about the changing labor market and gender equality in the Nordics. Before lunch, we also had a workshop where we reviewed the work of each organization in matters relating to mental illness and the working environment for students. We were not only there to learn from the speakers, but also from each other!
Friday continued with Johan Häggman presenting the work within the Network for students' work environment and Alma Joensen from the University and Higher Education Council, UHR, presenting how the exchange within Erasmus+ in the Nordics and Baltics was affected during the pandemic.
Saturday offered presentations with a mix of different themes. Ninni Carlsson and Sylvia Frisk from the University of Gothenburg started the day with a presentation on student-centred teaching. This was followed by Hector Ulloa from the Studentenes og Akademikernes Internasjonale Hjelpefond, SAIH, who discussed student activism and the reception of refugee students, focusing on Norway's work with Students At Risk. This is something that Komit will use in the continued work with Scholars at Risk. Then Shruti Taneja Johansson from Gothenburg University presented her research on support for students with functional variations. The final presentation for NOM82 was given by Adrian Hyde-Price, also from the University of Gothenburg. Adrian spoke about the changed security policy situation with a focus on the Baltic Sea area. All presentations offered a great variety but at the same time a clear connection to student political issues!
NOM ended on Sunday after the decision-making meeting in Studenternas Hus. On the agenda was, among other things, information from board members from ESU, discussion about the upcoming ESU Board Meeting and discussion about coordination of work with solidarity issues such as Students at Risk.
SFS would like to thank all the union associations present and everyone who was part of organizing NOM, from SFS, Göta student union, Chalmers student union, Art Corps and Sahlgrenska Academy's Student Union! We also extend a big thank you to all the speakers!
Photos: Eric Diaz Milla, SFS International Committee, Komit.