SFS new presidium Hampus Haugland and Victor Holmström summarize SFS in Almedalen 2026 - an intense but fun week!
In addition to new chairman Hampus Haugland and vice chairman Victor Holmström, SFS was also represented by then chairman Rasmus Lindstedt and the office in the form of Julia Lindström, investigator, and Mathilda Fredriksson, acting head of social policy.
SFS seminars
We organized two seminars: One together with Campus Total Defense and one with the Swedish Association of Universities and Colleges (SUHF).
Students' Role in Total Defence: What can we Learn From the Nordic and Baltic Countries?
SFS was entrusted with organizing a seminar on behalf of Campus Total Defense on the theme of the role of students in total defense.
We heard very interesting and moving perspectives from our Baltic and Nordic neighbors. Gabija Juzėnaitė, vice president of the Lithuanian National Union of Students (LSS) and Anselmi Auramo, former president of the Finnish Student Union (SYL), talked about their reactions to Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the legacy the countries have from World War II and the Soviet Union, and how it still shapes them today. Nina Sandberg, secretary general of the Norwegian University and College Council (Norway's equivalent to SUHF), contributed, among other things, about Norwegian students' resistance during World War II. The conversation ended with reflections from Beata Holmlid, SFS student representative in Campus Total Defense. The conversation was moderated by Rasmus.
Higher education – what do politicians know and want?
Every year, SFS usually organizes a seminar together with SUHF. This year we tried a new approach and moved the seminar from Thursday morning to the afternoon. It was a combined mingle and panel discussion in the beautiful garden of the University of Gothenburg. Thanks to everyone who participated!
In the political panel we had the Riksdag politicians Anders Ygeman (S), Anders Ådahl (C), Oliver Rosengren (M) and Joar Forssell (L). They discussed, among other things, student influence, teacher-led time, student finances and academic freedom. Maria Knutson Wedel, Vice-Chancellor of SLU, concluded with reflections from the panel. This conversation was also moderated by Rasmus.
Panels and roundtable discussions
During the week, Hampus, Victor and Rasmus have presented the student perspective in several panels and roundtable discussions organized by others.
Hampus has participated in Bliwa's seminar "Employers' requirement profile: perfect, experienced, 23 years old", Green Students' panel discussion to evaluate the past mandate period's higher education policy, Nitus' seminar "Local learning center - a solution to distance exams in today's AI world - but who pays?" and Uppsala University's Almedal lunch on the theme "Who gets hired in AI times?".
Victor has participated in Humtank's seminar "Can Sweden cope without a research policy for the humanities?", lunch discussions with the Swedish Research Council, IKEM's seminar "Unmanned - without the right skills, the industry stops", UKÄ's seminar "Researcher mobility in focus - are we moving in the right direction?", and SULF's seminar "Does the organizational form of universities play any role in academic freedom?".
Rasmus has participated in Realy Bostad and Fråga Lou's lunch discussion "How do we strengthen the attractiveness of municipalities in a time where comparisons are made in real time - and where the next generation sets new demands on housing and living environment?", roundtable discussions on the role of young people, engagement and perspectives in issues of preparedness, SLU's seminar "Education in the AI era - what role does a university really have now?", KVA's roundtable discussion on organizational form, and Futurion's panel discussion "Students, AI and anxiety".
Meetings
Almedalen is not just an arena for organizing and participating in seminars. A large part of the time is also spent on meetings, both planned and spontaneous at mingling. This year, the new presidium has had meetings with Christina Henryson (CSN), Lili André (KD), Sofia Rydgren Stale (Saco), Uppsala politician and former SFS chairman Tobias Smedberg (V), Stina Olén (Studentbostadsföretagen), and the Network for Young People for Accessibility (Nuft).
We have also had meetings with several student and youth unions: Tilda Kharazmi (Moderate Students), Rasmus Elfström and Filippa Torsvik (Center Students), Emil Rapp (LUF) and Anna Aronsson (Liberal Students), Ludwig Uller (Green Students), Rakel Friberg (Christian Democratic Student Union), Elfva Barrio (S-Students), and My Kårlycke (Young Left).
Meeting over an iced coffee or ice cream was much appreciated in the warmth of Almedalen Week. We also attended the Gothenburg University Student Union (GUS) student breakfast, had dinner with the Saco student council, and had lunch with the SUHF. presidium.
We participated in the mingle for “Ant upplýs val”, an initiative that SFS is behind together with Akavia, the Swedish Farmers' Association, SPF Seniors, Swedish Communicators and TechSverige.
Of course, there have been several other mingles as well, not least with the member unions and other student organizations that were present in Almedalen. We had the chance to make new contacts and find common ground for the upcoming academic year.
Bureau's reflections
One thing we thought about before this year's Almedalen Week was whether or perhaps how we would notice that we are in the middle of an election campaign. With a packed schedule that took us from meetings to mingling and on to the next meeting, all our focus has been on the higher education sector. There has certainly been talk about the election, perhaps not least because many are wondering what we will wake up to on September 14, when the votes are counted.
One question is whether the higher education sector, in comparison to other areas, is more protected from the excitement surrounding the election? We have been to Almedalen before and perhaps expected… more? More of what? Impact? But Almedalen Week is after all about exchange and getting both politicians and others to understand us, regardless of whether it is an election year or not. From SFS's perspective, we have been clear: We need to save student influence, restore the funding of student unions and, in practice, understand that it is the students who make the university.
The important role of the student as a co-creator in the university and the undignified study time students today receive from the lack of recovery and a tough economy is something we believe that everyone who has spoken to us takes with them. And that is a good thing. After the summer and the election in September, we will, just as always, continue to spread our messages and inform those who have the greatest opportunity to contribute to change together with us.
The week in Almedalen is undoubtedly a kick-start to the new academic year and the conversations we have had show how important it is to talk to both like-minded people and those who disagree. Both we in the presidium and the office have learned a lot and look forward to continuing to stand up for Sweden's students.
First, we in the presidium would like to take this opportunity to once again thank everyone we met in Almedalen, both in panels, at mingles, in meetings and on the cobblestone streets of Visby. The Swedish National Union of Students wishes you all a nice summer!