Blog from the Consistory Boarding School

A foggy and cool autumn morning. The leaves crunch crisply under leather boots. It's a perfect day for student influence.
And it's not every day that a simple medical student gets the privilege of representing all of us students in the university's management, what in true Uppsala spirit is called the Consistory. But oh well, it's my turn this time, and not only that, we're going to boarding school! Two days of intensive work outsourced to the surprisingly homely Noors Castle in Knivsta. The fog still obscures the view during the bus journey, as it does outside the window when we're there and having our morning coffee. Modest comments about the US election echo through the hallway, and all the way up to the meeting room.

Day 1
Looking around, it is clear that student influence has an almost unspoken high role at our university. Centered at the meeting table, you will of course find Vice-Chancellor Magnificus Anders Hagfeldt, flanked by Chair Anne Ramberg and University Director Caroline Sjöberg. After that, only a few stalwarts follow, such as our all-time Pro-Chancellor Coco Norén, until you reach us students. Downstream of us, in the context of young people, you will find continuing rows of stalwarts from academia and the business world.
The agenda for these two days is packed to say the least. Allow me to filter the agenda for you: expanded recruitment, teacher-led time, the Principal's memo and a not inconsiderable amount of formality of the highest order. After an introductory welcome by Anne Ramberg, with strong undertones of the US election results, it's off. Allez.

Broadened recruitment is, in short, creating conditions for those admitted to universities and colleges to reflect society at large. We are actually a fairly homogeneous group when you look at it, especially in certain areas. The HERO report presents and visualizes this. Gender, social status and sparsely populated areas, yes, everything seems to be unevenly distributed regarding who is actually admitted to the University. It is true that we choose education freely, but admission and conditions play a very big role. Not least information; dear primary school student, listen to us. You can! But maybe not on an independent course, because society has taken over there for a long time. If you can't afford to try out, you can become an engineer or a nurse, that is the order of our modern university. But have no doubt, the report is just the beginning, it is about Understanding – Explaining – Changing.

During lunch, you will be joined by the vice-chairman of SACO-S for Uppsala University. There will be a discussion about the seemingly low position of teachers in society, something SACO-S certainly dares to challenge.

Next, a lot of time is spent discussing teacher-led time. Did you know, dear readers, that some of the fellow students you encounter have as little as 2 hours a week of teacher-led time? At first glance, it may seem “chill,” but it is a real problem regarding the quality of education. Not only are there those who have it bad, Uppsala University is the worst of the universities in Sweden in several areas, and Sweden in their luck among the worst in Europe. The consistory wants to see this investigated. You know it's Uppsala when a senior member says "It's the students we're here for. If Lund can do it, why can't we?" and everyone in the room recoils. He who shall not be named. How does the consistory want to solve this problem then? My colleague Holger probably said it best: "You go to the doctor with a liver spot and the doctor says he doesn't know. That's not very reassuring." Coco is quick to counter, "Isn't that an Ernst metaphor?" and the medical man in me smiles. The chairman agrees, however, that the liver spot must be examined. The rector concludes with the words "I think there is a minimum level, we can't get away with that."

Cake is eaten. Coffee with it. Is there oat milk, it is asked modestly?
Vice-chairwoman of the board of directors Elisabeth Dahlin (Chairwoman of the Board of the Swedish Childhood Cancer Foundation) talks between sips about how she is one of the few from their Growing up in Haparanda, I even had thoughts that higher education was a possibility. The conditions are lacking, but not the people.

The vice-rectors join in, not least MedFarms' Mats Larhed, who brought his own bottle of Coke-zero (those who know know).

After discussing scientific impact, day one will soon come to an end. But not before both myself and Mats have time to comment on the use of KI as a role model. During dinner, our table neighbor Åsa Zetterberg (chairman of TechSverige) and I agree that Gothenburg Nation may well be one of the absolute best. We can also agree on drinks, a Dry Martini. As her old friend from her student days, Bishop Johan Dalman, had said: No cap.

Day 2
An early morning, an early breakfast, and more discussions about Donald Trump. Could this man be the new ice-breaker? Very possible if you are in a consistory boarding school.

If you are going to write memos, you should be taught by the Magnificus himself, because his memos are second to none. Lobbying in Brussels, requests for fencing students in Uppsala, and a first bachelor program in English. Congratulations if you like the Egyptology.
It continues with investments from the state in the STEM area (congratulations) and cuts at HumSam (regrets).

A breather? No, thank you. Another cup of coffee. I feel my hands shaking and my eyes staring, but I NEED coffee!

Newly appointed head librarian Johanna Hansson is our guest. There is a lot of talk about books and little about study places. The need is endless and money is finite. I realize that I have spent too little time at Carolinan to fully understand this.

It all ends with brief summaries of the Nobel laureates. If you're ready, here's an even shorter version. Micro-RNA, machine learning, computerized protein design, the role of institutions in the economy, poetry about women's oppression and human suffering. Go home and impress your parents now, you are an academic after all.

A bus ride home and tomorrow is just another day. Dare you breathe out?

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