This weekend it was finally time for the SFS General Council! Over the course of three days, 187 representatives from all SFS member bodies gathered in Malmö to discuss the student movement's most important issues ahead of the next academic year. The General Council has the highest decision-making power in SFS. This time, the Malmö Student Union and the Malmö Dental Student Union hosted the meeting, as last year SFS named Malmö the student city of the year. SFSFUM was therefore held in premises on the Malmö University campus.
In this blog post, we summarize what happened at SFSFUM, what decisions were made and what policies SFS will pursue in the next fiscal year.
As the first council members in place since before the pandemic, the joy of finally being able to meet outside of Zoom was noticeable, not least in the engaged discussions in the opinion square. We probably also felt the wings of the future in the breath of the voting cards that fluttered as the unions voted during the meeting.
Since the 2021 General Council decided on the conditions for high educational quality as a political focus issue for the next three years, no new political focus issue was decided during this weekend's meeting. SFS will therefore continue to work to stop the underfunding of higher education and to work for better conditions for higher education teaching activities.
What happened at the SFS General Assembly in 2022?
- On Friday, a seminar was held with Martine Billing, vice president of the Norwegian organization SAIH – Studentenes og Akademikernes Internasjonale Hjelpeffond, and student Mariyah, who is studying in Norway after fleeing 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 the SFS Ukrainian counterpart UAS (Українська ассоциания статьевский) attended the link to talk about the situation of students in Ukraine during the ongoing war.
- The General Council decided to welcome three new member unions to SFS! Sophiahemmet University Student Union, Mälardalen Student Union and Gefle Student Union. Warm welcome!
- The business plan regulates SFS's work for the coming year and the members vote on which issues are most prioritized. Here, the council decided on an addition to SFS's prioritized issues: free workplace-based training (VFU).
- The General Council decided to instruct the board to investigate the possibility of a national standard for study places during the coming financial year.
- The council also instructed the board to continue investigating how SFS, together with the member unions, can represent foundation year students.
- On Sunday, the council elected a new presidium. Linn Svärd received renewed confidence and continues as chairman of SFS. Linn emphasizes that “it feels even more important to perform well this time because the expectations are higher than if one had been new to the presidium.” Linn also highlights that the coming year will be eventful, with parliamentary elections, the Swedish presidency of the EU and a troubled time in our world.
- Jacob Färnert was elected as the new vice-chairman, succeeding Oskar M. Wiik. Oskar gave a speech and was thanked by Linn and the entire 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. Replacements take office upon dismissal from regular positions on the SFS board.
After the general council, there was neither rest nor peace. The government commissioned the University Chancellor's Office, UKÄ, to investigate whether student housing agencies and other actors should be given more direct access to information in the admissions and study registers. This is something SFS has been working on for a long time. A review is important, among other things to ensure that only those who are eligible are living in student housing. In connection with the appointed investigation, Linn Svärd therefore met with Minister of Education Anna Ekström on Tuesday.
Read more about the weekend:
Article about the council in Lundagård: A democratic cow release – SFS holds 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 chair of SFS .
Interview with Linn in Lundagård: Linn Svärd is nominated as chair of SFS again .
Interview with Jacob in Ergo Uppsala Student Union chairman takes seat on SFS presidium.