Blog from the Consistory Boarding School

My name is Elsa, and I’m a student representative on the University Board, Uppsala University’s governing body. On April 22–23, the University Board held a retreat at Noor Castle, and I’d like to give you a sense of what we actually did there and, above all, why being a student representative is both important and fun. 

The retreat started early on Tuesday morning. The bus left at 9:00 a.m. sharp. It was very clear that no one would be waited for, so we had to be on time. Well, the principal showed up at 9:00:15, and then we left. Once we arrived at Noor’s castle, breakfast was served in the form of small yogurt cups and pre-made sandwiches, which felt very luxurious and was a great start to the overnight stay. Of course, there was coffee too! 

Once everyone had arrived and we’d gone through a round of introductions (we’d been joined by new faculty representatives and associate deans, among others), it was time for the president’s address. President Anders Hagfeldt provided a broad overview of what’s happening at the university right now, and it quickly became clear that many of the issues being discussed at the highest levels of the organization are actually connected to students’ daily lives.

Much of the discussion centered on Uppsala University’s international role. UU has a strong standing in the EU, and partnerships such as Enlight and Erasmus+ are working very well, both for students and for the university as a whole. At the same time, we find ourselves in an era where the government talks a lot about so-called “responsible internationalization.” It sounds abstract, but in practice it means that universities are expected to carefully consider who they collaborate with, for example when it comes to countries where there are political tensions or conflicts of interest. Here, Vice-Chancellor Anders—and thus the university’s stance—is clear: academia must remain open. The ability to ask questions, discuss, and disseminate knowledge is central, even when it is uncomfortable or politically complicated.

From international collaborations, the discussion shifted to something far more central and highly relevant: finances and facilities. The university’s finances are strained (the rest of you student representatives know this and have heard it a thousand times…), and a recurring problem is vacant space. Currently, UU has 8–9 percent vacant space, even though the target is around 5 percent. Each percentage point costs approximately 10 million kronor, which, as everyone understands, quickly adds up to large sums. The problem is that the facilities are scattered like holes in Swiss cheese, making it difficult to close them down without affecting the entire operation. That is why a thorough review is now underway, where study spaces, libraries, and exam rooms will also be discussed—issues that are highly relevant to us students. Of course, AI was also mentioned; no meeting at UU is complete without AI talk. The university is currently investigating how AI can best be implemented in education in a way that benefits both teachers and students. 

Amid all this, we also had a chance to look ahead. In 2027, Uppsala University will celebrate its 550th anniversary, and planning for the celebration is in full swing (yay, party!!). The goal is to make it a celebration for the entire city, including in collaboration with the City of Uppsala. Vice-Chancellor Anders mentioned, among other things, that the anniversary will even be celebrated in the city’s preschools. It seems recruitment for higher education starts early.

During the day, the topic of strategic talent acquisition was also discussed, which led to an important—and for some, rather uncomfortable—question: why don’t women rise to the same heights in academia? At the doctoral level, the gender distribution is relatively even, but when it comes to promotion to associate professor and professor, the university loses women along the way. The University Council discussed possible causes, but there is no simple answer. However, it is clear that the issue is being taken seriously, and many (really cool) women on the University Council attest that this happens everywhere and that UU should be at the forefront of solving this. After that, it was (finally) time for lunch. At my table, the conversation turned to how difficult it can be for students to find jobs after graduation. A topic that, purely hypothetically, might be close to my own experiences.

During the afternoon, discussions continued on topics including research ethics and the role and responsibilities of the University Board. To what extent should the state govern universities, and to what extent should governance be left to the academic community? We received a presentation on state vs. collegial governance from Sten Heckscher (Google Sten if you’re not familiar with him—his CV is impressive) and Kerstin Sahlin (also very impressive and, among other things, former Vice-Chancellor at UU). The state funds a large portion of the university’s operations and is democratically elected, but at the same time, the university’s legitimacy is built on academic freedom and a collegial culture. The role of the University Board often falls right in the middle of that tension. It shouldn’t just be a body that rubber-stamps decisions, but neither should it micromanage operations. I thought that was a very interesting point, but I understand if it’s not to everyone’s taste, so let’s move on. 

Then came the moment when I actually made what was perhaps my most significant contribution during the entire retreat. The University Council decides on the fees paid to the board of Uppsala Academic Administration, which also includes a student representative. The proposal was to increase all fees except for the meeting fee, which the student receives. That’s when I raised my hand and asked why. After a brief discussion, Chair Ann Ramberg noted that it didn’t seem reasonable and proposed that the fee be raised by 500 kronor. So, to the next student representative in that role: here you go—those kronor are from me.

The day concluded with dinner and networking. One of the great advantages of serving on the University Council is precisely these informal conversations with the members. We sometimes have different views on the university, and I feel that we can broaden each other’s perspectives. During dinner, Chair Ann Ramberg also gave a very thoughtful, though somber, speech about current world events. It framed the day, showing that while we can discuss facilities here and governance there, there’s a whole world out there of which the university is a part, and we all need to do what we can to help one another. Okay, that got a little too deep. Bottom line: fantastic speech, the dinner was delicious, and a great full day of interesting discussions and presentations. 

Day two began early with breakfast at 7:00 a.m., followed by the formal meeting. The Vice-Chancellor’s memo contained a mix of information and well-deserved praise, including record-high application numbers to the university. At the same time, much of the discussion once again centered on educational issues and finances. Uppsala University educates more students toward a degree than the government funds, which puts significant financial pressure on operations. In the long run, this risks leading to less teacher-led time, fewer lab sessions, and the disappearance of standalone courses, which directly affects students negatively. UU is currently reviewing admissions and trying to match admitted students with the cost of educating them, but this is not a change that can (or should) be made overnight. 

After two intense days, it became clear why it’s important for students to be represented on the University Board. You might not always be the one who speaks the most, but sometimes all it takes is one question at the right moment—and just like that, we’ve raised the stipend for a student representative. The student voice is taken seriously, and even though it’s a mix of formal positions and informal dinner conversations, it’s important that we’re there to stand up for the students. 

And yes. It also makes for a really delicious snack.