3 summer requirements

Today, the Almedalen Week begins in Visby, where the country's leaders gather to discuss the challenges of our time. Uppsala Student Union will be there to highlight the student perspective and speak for students. The summer is coming, and with it will come changed conditions for the country's students. In connection with this, we are therefore launching three demands for measures to improve the situation for us students.

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Abolition of the tax-free allowance during the summer months

The amount students can earn while studying without affecting their financial aid, also known as the tax-free allowance, has been the subject of debate in recent years. During the pandemic years, the tax-free allowance was temporarily abolished, only to be reintroduced in full force with the return to a society without pandemic restrictions. 

We students have long pointed out the need for a more flexible allowance, which allows for work during the periods when you are not studying. In other words, an allowance that is calculated only on the basis of the weeks you actually study. 

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As a student union, we sympathize with the purpose of a free allowance, and we believe that it strengthens the view of full-time studies as a full-time occupation. At the same time, the free allowance means that the study grant only goes to the students who are in real need of it, which enables a secure livelihood for more students. What we do see, however, is that students looking for work over the summer are disadvantaged by the rigidity of the current free allowance system. Instead of the free allowance being calculated on the weeks when you actually study, today's free allowance is calculated half-yearly, which means that it is calculated on the period January 1 to June 30, and July 1 to December 31. This is while we have a strong semester system, where the majority of students study semester courses, spread over the fall and spring semesters.

During the summer, most students need to either study summer courses or work to support themselves. However, under the current system, only summer studies are rewarded, while summer jobs are only profitable to a certain extent. Students must be careful not to work too much in the summer, as this risks resulting in repayment claims to CSN, or that students do not meet the income requirements for study grants. 

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What Uppsala Student Union wants is that the study grant system is redesigned so that the free allowance is only based on the weeks a student is studying. We want to see a modern study grant that enables students to work during the periods when they are not studying, but which also guarantees support for those students who need study grants. Students need a reformed student grant, which is why we want to see the free allowance abolished during the summer months. 

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Time to recover
As students, we are used to starting the next course before the last one has even been graded. We move seamlessly from one course to the next, and don't have time to absorb new knowledge until it's time to learn something new. This is not something that we are expected to have an opinion on, but should just be seen as part of the system that we have chosen to be part of. We are used to irregular lectures and seminars, and a life where every day starts with checking the schedule for changes. Similarly, we are used to the fact that it is not possible to plan for anything further ahead, as every waking minute risks being filled with a scheduled event. This is especially true for students in medicine or teacher training programs, as in addition to regular teaching, they are also expected to be available for periods of clinical training.

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Over the past year, the number of weekend exams has increased dramatically. The reason for this is that the university's examination facilities are inadequate, as a large proportion of home exams have been converted into hall exams. Over the past year, students have been told, at short notice, that their courses will be examined on public holidays. Several students have even written their exams on public holidays. During the year, this has been criticized, not least by Uppsala Student Union. We see it as an unsustainable solution, and believe that planning must be improved so that students do not have to deal with the consequences of the university's poor planning.

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We believe that students, like any other group, need routine and structure. We need regularity to be able to plan our lives, and recreation to keep us going. We are just as much affected by the stresses and strains of everyday life as any other group in society, and therefore have the same need for rest as others. This, however, is met with resistance, and rallying insinuations that we do not deserve recovery. 

We disagree, arguing instead that we very much deserve rest and recovery. One of the most important prerequisites for higher education is the opportunity for recreation, and this is a key factor for success and achievement. 

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Students need time to recover, both during the semester and between semesters. Scheduling must take into account students' need for rest and recovery. At the same time, holidays need to be respected, and therefore major weekends and public holidays should also be taken into account. 

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Uppsala Student Union calls for time to recover to be guaranteed for students, arguing that this is a prerequisite for pursuing higher-level studies.

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A stronger link to the labor market

Although it may not always feel like it during their studies, the majority of students will one day graduate and take their first steps into the world of work. Uppsala

student union therefore wants to see an education that gives students the conditions to get a meaningful job after their studies, with the opportunity to realize the knowledge and skills they have gained from their time at the university. Uppsala Student Union therefore sees the labor market connection as a natural part of the education at the university.

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Increased opportunities for practical training during education are needed to increase the link to the labor market. Today, practical elements such as internships are a natural part of education for many licensed professions. These elements are completely lacking in more theoretical programs, especially in the social sciences and humanities. Uppsala Student Union therefore wants the university to establish an independent internship semester, which can be applied for by everyone. We also want all students to be offered the opportunity for internships within their education - regardless of whether they are studying within programs or taking independent courses. 

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Uppsala Student Union also sees an increased need for the university to strengthen its work with alumni activities, both at faculty and departmental level. Alumni play an important role as both potential leaders and role models, and good cooperation with them can be a fantastic opportunity for current and future generations of students.