Ordinance on Students' Unions (2009:769)
This version contains amendments up to and including the Act on Amendment of the Ordinance on Students' Unions SFS 2016:748.
Department/Agency: Ministry of Education and Research, Sweden
Issued 17 June 2009.
This translation is for information purposes only and has no legal force. In the event of discrepancies, the Swedish-language version takes precedence.
Contents
Area of application
Section 1
This ordinance contains provisions on students’ unions at public sector higher education institutions.
Section 2
In this ordinance, higher education institution means both universities and university colleges.
Decision on status as a students’ union
Section 3
An association of students that wishes to receive the status of a students' union must apply to the higher education institution. The association must append its rules and any other documents it wishes to cite in its case.
Section 4
Under Chapter 4, Section 8 of the Higher Education Act (1992:1434), a decision shall be valid for three years unless otherwise stipulated in Section 5. The decision must state the organisational or geographical area or the organisational parts of the higher education institution for which the association will receive the status of students’ union.
Section 5
The higher education institution must tie a decision under Chapter 4, Section 8 of the Higher Education Act (1992:1434) to conditions that the association fulfils the requirements laid down in Chapter 4, Sections 9-14 of the Act. The decision may be rescinded if the students’ union no longer meets this condition or if the students’ union applies for this in writing.
The students’ union must be given the opportunity to make a statement before a decision on rescindment is made.
Section 6
The higher education institution may issue regulations on how a students’ union at the higher education institution accounts for its activities and number of members.
Members of the board of governors who are appointed by the students and student representatives
Section 7
A students’ union at a higher education institution may appoint the members of the board that the students are entitled to appoint under Chapter 2, Section 4 of the Higher Education Act (1992:1434). A students’ union at a higher education institution may also appoint and dismiss the representatives referred to in Chapter 2, Section 7 of the Higher Education Act.
If there are multiple students’ unions at a higher education institution, the task of appointing members of the board of governors, under the first sentence of the first paragraph above, may be conducted in the manner agreed by the students’ unions. When students are entitled to representation on a body at the higher education institution that covers areas of activity for multiple students’ unions or which is otherwise, in decision-making or investigation, relevant to multiple students’ unions, the tasks referenced in the second sentence of the first paragraph above may be conducted in the manner agreed by the students’ unions.
If the students’ unions are unable to agree the higher education institution may decide, after giving the students’ unions a hearing, how the members of the governing board or student representatives must be appointed. Ordinance (2016:748).
Section 8
A student representative must also represent students who are not members of a union. Ordinance (2010:1776).
Section 9
If there is no students’ union for an area of activity at the higher education institution, the higher education institution must organise direct or indirect elections among the students in that area for members of the governing board or student representatives.
The higher education institution may issue regulations on how such elections must be organised. Ordinance (2016:748).
The higher education institution may issue regulations on how such elections must be organised. Ordinance (2016:748).
Appeals
Section 10
A decision made by a higher education institution to give an association the status of a students’ union or to withdraw such status from a students’ union may be appealed to the Higher Education Appeals Board.
Decisions made by the Higher Education Appeals Board may not be appealed.
Transitional provisions
2012:585
The ordinance enters into force on 15 October 2012 and is first applicable when the members of a board of governors of a higher education institution are to be appointed for the period after 1 May 2013.