This weekend, it was finally time for the SFS council! In the three days, 187 representatives from SFS, all member unions, gathered in Malmö to discuss the student movement's most important issues for the next financial year. The council has the highest decision-making power in SFS. This time, the Student Union Malmö and the Odontological Student Union Malmö hosted, since SFS last year named Malmö the student city of the year. SFSFUM was therefore located on premises on Malmö University's campus.
In this blog post, we summarize what happened at SFSFUM, what decisions were made and what SFS will pursue for politics in the coming financial year.
As the first council in place since before the pandemic, the joy of finally being able to meet outside the zoom was felt, not least in the engaged discussions in the opinion square. We probably also felt the wings of the future in the breaths from the voting cards that blew when the unions voted during the meeting.
Since the 2021 General Council decided on the conditions for high quality education as a political focus issue for the next three years, no decision was made on a new political focus issue during this weekend's meeting. SFS will thus continue to work to stop the underfunding of higher education and work for better conditions for higher education pedagogical activities.
What happened at SFS council 2022?
- On Friday, a seminar was held with Martine Billing, vice president of the Norwegian organization SAIH - Studentenes og Akademikernes Internasjonale Hjelpefond, and the student Mariyah who is studying in Norway after moving to Belarus. The seminar focused on how students can participate in solidarity work and what the unions can do about it.
- At Saturday's seminar, Kyril, from SFS 'Ukrainian counterpart UAS (країнська асоціація студентів), participated in a link to tell about the situation of students in Ukraine during the ongoing war.
- The council decided to welcome three new members of SFS! Sophiahemmet University Student Union, Mälardalen Student Union and Gefle Student Union. Warm welcome!
- The business plan regulates SFS's work in the coming year and the members vote on which issues are the most prioritized. Here, the council decided on an addition to SFS's priority issues: free work-based education (VFU).
- The General Council decided to give the Board the task of investigating the possibility of a national standard for study places in the coming financial years.
- The council also instructed the board to continue to investigate in what way SFS together with the member corps can represent base year students.
- On Sunday, the council elected a new one presidium. Linn Svärd gained renewed confidence and continues as chairman of SFS. Linn points out that "it feels even more important to perform well this time because expectations are higher than if one had been new to the presidium." Linn also emphasizes that the coming year will be eventful, with parliamentary elections, the Swedish Presidency of the EU and a turbulent time in our world.
- Jacob Färnert was elected new vice chairman, succeeding Oskar M. Wiik. Oskar gave a speech and was thanked by Linn and the whole FUM!
- The council also elected a new board: Soha Kadhim, Jack Vahnberg, Kim Axelsson, Araz Farkosh, Carl-Johan Mellin, Dani Liljedahl, Paulina Samuelsson, Timmie Hansson, Sanela Lulic, Jessica Hagström and Vilhelm Weréen. Congratulations!
- Agnes Karonen, Emanuel Lindberg, Emma Svensson, Jonathan Sjölander and Philip Johansson were elected as replacements. Substitutes take over in the event of dismissal from a regular position on SFS's board.
After the council, there was no rest or quiet. Namely, the Government commissioned the University Chancellor's Office, UKÄ, to investigate whether student housing agencies and other actors should have more direct access to information in the admission and study registers. This is something SFS has been working on for too long. A review is important, among other things to ensure that only those who are eligible are living in student housing. Due to the appointed investigation, Linn Svärd therefore met Minister of Education Anna Ekström on Tuesday.
Read more about the weekend:
Article about the council in Lundagård: A democratic cow release - SFS holds a congress https://www.lundagard.se/2022/05/09/ett-demokratiskt-koslapp-sfs-haller-kongress/
Interview with Linn in the Althing: Hello there Linn Svärd - re-elected chairman of SFS .
Interview with Linn in Lundagård: Linn Svärd is nominated as chairman of SFS again .
Interview with Jacob in Ergo The chairman of the Uppsala Student Union takes a seat on the SFS presidium.