How did student influence fare in the University Chancellor's Office's higher education institution reviews? In a new report, the SFS Quality Committee, SQC, has analyzed student laws for the past evaluation cycle, which was from 2017 to 2023.
In the report, we have chosen to look ourselves in the mirror and reflect on how student influence is mentioned. The report has aimed to study when, where and how student influence appears in student submissions for the University Chancellor's Office's higher education institution reviews. Within the framework of the higher education institution review, the relevant student union(s) at the higher education institution are given the opportunity to write a document, called a student submission, which the assessment group can include in its assessment of the higher education institution's quality assurance system. The student submission is not a mandatory part of the review process. UKÄ describes that the purpose is to give the student union an opportunity to present its views on and experiences of the higher education institution's quality assurance work. This may concern, for example, how student influence works in practice and how it is reflected in the quality work.
In its conclusions, SQC recommends that the emphasis on systematics needs to increase, that is, to be careful that it is the system that is studied and not necessarily the content of the education. Here, both UKÄ and SFS can make efforts to strengthen the student unions in their work. This applies to information, education and to talking with student unions about the student submission.
Camilla Åsberg, member of SQC, about the results of the report:
– It has been useful to reflect on what we students can do to contribute to quality development in the best way. We hope that the analysis can develop student influence in UKÄ's upcoming processes. We see that there is work to be done, both by us student unions, but of course also by the universities and UKÄ.
The report was launched and discussed during a breakfast conversation organized by SFS on January 25, 2024. The following panel commented on the report.
- Karl Kilbo Edlund, doctoral student with experience in quality assurance, student influence and author of a student paper.
- Viveka Persson, acting head of department at the evaluation department at the University Chancellor's Office.
- Liselott Lycke, Head of Department for Academic and Management Support and Quality Manager at University West.
The conversation can be viewed later on SFS page on Facebook.
SFS Quality Committee, SQC, can be contacted at [email protected].
Read the full report below.