Student influence at universities and other higher education institutions

Each higher education institution is to give students who are participating in, or have completed, a course an opportunity to present their experience of and views on the course in an evaluation conducted by the institution. The institution is to collate the course evaluations and provide information on the results and any measures decided on. The results are to be made available to the students. (Chapter 1, Section 14 of the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100))

Student representatives

As a basic rule, students have the right to representation when decisions are taken or preparations are made that significantly affect the education or situation of the students (Chapter 2, Section 7 of the Higher Education Act). It is normally the student union at a higher education institution that may appoint and dismiss student representatives (read more about student unions below) (Section 7 of the Student Union Ordinance (2009:769)). Another general rule is that a student representative must also represent students who are not members of a union (Section 8 of the Student Union Ordinance). Representatives are therefore responsible for protecting the interests of all students within their area of activity.

If a decision is to be taken on a matter by a single individual, a student representative must be informed and consulted in good time before the decision. The same applies if a matter is to be prepared by a single individual.

If a decision on a matter (the structure or implementation of a course, for example) is to be taken by a group, the students have the right to be represented by at least three members. However, the number of student representatives in such a group may be fewer if there are special grounds given the total number of members in the group. Otherwise, a higher education institution can itself decide on students' right to representation (Chapter 2, Section 14 of the Higher Education Ordinance).

In certain areas more specific provisions regulate students' right to representation. For example, students have the right to be represented by three members on the board of the higher education institution (Chapter 2, Section 7(a), second paragraph of the Higher Education Ordinance) and by two members on the disciplinary board that must be established at every higher education institution (Chapter 10, Section 4 of the Higher Education Ordinance).

Student unions

Student unions are voluntary associations of students at higher education institutions.

Decisions on student union status

A student association at a higher education institution can apply for student union status (Section 3 of the Student Union Ordinance). The higher education institution decides on student union status if the association fulfils certain requirements (read more below) (Chapter 4, Section 8 of the Higher Education Act). Such a decision usually applies for three years. The decision must also specify the organisational or geographical part(s) of the higher education institution within which student union status is granted (Section 4 of the Student Union Ordinance). There can, therefore, be several student unions at the same higher education institution. The decision can be revoked if the student union no longer fulfils the requirements or if the union applies for this in writing (Section 5 of the Student Union Ordinance).

Decisions to grant an association student union status or to revoke that status can be appealed to the Board of Appeals for Higher Education (Section 10 of the Student Union Ordinance).

Conditions for student unions (Chapter 4, Sections 9-14 of the Higher Education Act)

The main purpose of a student union is to monitor and participate in the development of educational programmes and conditions for studies at the higher education institution.

A student union's area of activity may not extend beyond the higher education institution and must correspond to at least one organisational or geographical part of the institution. In addition, a student union must be democratically constituted and be able to represent the students within the union's area of activity.

All students within the student union's area of activity must have the right to be members of the union, and all members must have the right to vote in elections to the highest decision-making body of the student union.

Another requirement is that an association seeking student union status must have statutes and a board. The statutes must have been adopted by the association's members.

The statutes must contain information on the following:

• the aim and area of activity of the association;
• the highest decision-making body and how it is appointed;
• how decisions of the highest decision-making body and of the board are taken and communicated;
• joining and leaving procedures for the association;
• the procedure for granting the board a discharge from liability;
• the procedure for amending the statutes; and
• the procedure for disbanding the association.

The student union must also keep a register of its members and submit this annually to the higher education institution. The register should also be submitted to the higher education institution at the institution's request.

Other provisions concerning student unions

When students have a right to be represented in a body that covers the areas of activity of several student unions, or in decisions that concern several student unions, the student unions may decide between them how representatives will be appointed. If the unions cannot agree, the higher education institution may decide how the student representatives will be appointed.

If there is no student union within one of the higher education institution's areas of activity, the institution must hold direct or indirect elections of student representatives.

Government grants for student influence

The Government allocates financial support annually for student influence in the bodies of higher education institutions. The allocation depends on the number of full-time equivalent first and second cycle students, and the number of research students calculated as full-time equivalents. In 'Freedom and influence - abolition of compulsory membership of student unions' (Government Bill 2008/09:154), the Government proposed that higher education institutions should be given SEK 30 million annually to distribute to the student unions. Grants are also given to private education providers with student unions.

Government grants are distributed according to the appropriation directions for appropriation 2:53, Special expenditure for higher education institutions etc., within expenditure area 16.