Swedish National Union of Students
Encyclopedia
The Swedish National Union of Students (Sveriges Förenade Studentkårer, SFS), is an umbrella organisation of students' union
s at higher education
facilities in Sweden
. The organisation was founded in 1921. It has around 64 affiliated students' unions, gathering around 270,000 students (2007).
The large number of organised students can in part be explained by the fact that membership in the official local students' union is mandatory for students at universities
and university college
s in Sweden. The local students' union is, however, free to decide whether to join the National Union of Students or not. Although a majority of the students' unions are members, some have opted to stay out, including several organising business, law and medicine students. Occasionally, affiliated unions choose to leave the organisation, but sometimes rejoin at a later date, a pattern followed by both the Stockholm University Students' Union and the Uppsala Student Union
. The latest case of a large local students' union withdrawing from the Swedish National Union of Students is The Stockholm University Students' Union, in 2005.
The organisation works to represent the interest of its members on a national level, towards the Government, the Swedish Parliament
, the political parties and the government agencies concerned with higher education. The organisation is also active on the international arena, particularly within the National Unions of Students in Europe
, ESIB.
At the annual national conference representatives from the member students' unions meet to decide on the policy framework of the organisation and to elect a national board. The board has 19 members, including the President and two or three Vice Presidents. The President and the Vice Presidents work full time at the head office in Stockholm
during their term.
Several former student politicians in Sweden have moved on to high-level national party politics. One of them was Olof Palme
, who served as President of the Swedish National Union of Students in 1953.
Students' union
A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities, and has started appearing in some high schools...
s at higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
facilities in Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
. The organisation was founded in 1921. It has around 64 affiliated students' unions, gathering around 270,000 students (2007).
The large number of organised students can in part be explained by the fact that membership in the official local students' union is mandatory for students at universities
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
and university college
University college
The term "university college" is used in a number of countries to denote college institutions that provide tertiary education but do not have full or independent university status. A university college is often part of a larger university...
s in Sweden. The local students' union is, however, free to decide whether to join the National Union of Students or not. Although a majority of the students' unions are members, some have opted to stay out, including several organising business, law and medicine students. Occasionally, affiliated unions choose to leave the organisation, but sometimes rejoin at a later date, a pattern followed by both the Stockholm University Students' Union and the Uppsala Student Union
Uppsala Student Union
Uppsala Student Union is one of two students' unions at Uppsala University in Uppsala, Sweden.According to Swedish law, university students are no longer required to be members of a students' union since 2010...
. The latest case of a large local students' union withdrawing from the Swedish National Union of Students is The Stockholm University Students' Union, in 2005.
The organisation works to represent the interest of its members on a national level, towards the Government, the Swedish Parliament
Parliament of Sweden
The Riksdag is the national legislative assembly of Sweden. The riksdag is a unicameral assembly with 349 members , who are elected on a proportional basis to serve fixed terms of four years...
, the political parties and the government agencies concerned with higher education. The organisation is also active on the international arena, particularly within the National Unions of Students in Europe
National Unions of Students in Europe
European Students' Union formerly known as ESIB - The National Unions of Students in Europe - is the umbrella organisation of 45 national unions of students from 37 countries and through these members represents over 11 million students...
, ESIB.
At the annual national conference representatives from the member students' unions meet to decide on the policy framework of the organisation and to elect a national board. The board has 19 members, including the President and two or three Vice Presidents. The President and the Vice Presidents work full time at the head office in Stockholm
Stockholm
Stockholm is the capital and the largest city of Sweden and constitutes the most populated urban area in Scandinavia. Stockholm is the most populous city in Sweden, with a population of 851,155 in the municipality , 1.37 million in the urban area , and around 2.1 million in the metropolitan area...
during their term.
Several former student politicians in Sweden have moved on to high-level national party politics. One of them was Olof Palme
Olof Palme
Sven Olof Joachim Palme was a Swedish politician. A long-time protegé of Prime Minister Tage Erlander, Palme led the Swedish Social Democratic Party from 1969 to his assassination, and was a two-term Prime Minister of Sweden, heading a Privy Council Government from 1969 to 1976 and a cabinet...
, who served as President of the Swedish National Union of Students in 1953.