As a student, you have the right to influence your education, your university, and even the work of the Student Union. You can have a say at several levels—from your own course to the university administration and all the way up to the Student Union.
The Student Union is represented on all committees, groups, and bodies at Malmö University. The student perspective is incredibly important to the university and serves as a tool for improving the quality of education.
In your course or program
The most important aspect of student influence is what happens directly within your program.
Every course and program should have course and program representatives. As a representative, you speak on behalf of your fellow students to instructors and course coordinators, and participate in meetings where the program is discussed and developed.
This is the level where you’ll notice the most direct difference in your daily life as a student.
If you’re interested in influencing your education, you can contact your student representative, who can tell you more and help you get started.
At your faculty
Each faculty has student representation on several key bodies.
The student representative handles student matters and serves on the faculty board, the academic committee, and the management team. These bodies make decisions that affect the content, organization, and resources of the programs.
The faculty board is one of the most important bodies for student influence. It includes student representatives with voting rights, which means that students have a real say in decisions that may, for example, concern new programs or the discontinuation of existing ones.
The representatives are appointed through the Student Union’s Student Influence FORUM, which is held at the beginning of the fall semester.
Educational Committees
Issues regarding course content, structure, and quality are often addressed by educational and undergraduate education committees.
Student representatives are typically involved in this work, which allows students to influence how programs are actually designed in practice.
Student Influence FORUM – Your Voice in University Decision-Making
Student Influence FORUM is a key component of student representation at Malmö University.
Here, students gather to elect representatives to the university’s various councils and committees. These representatives then have the opportunity to influence major decisions regarding education, organization, and the university’s development.
It is also an opportunity for you as a student to get involved, meet other engaged students, and gain experiences that are valuable both during and after your studies.
Student Influence in the Student Union
Student influence isn’t just about the university—it also applies to the Student Union.
The Union’s highest decision-making body is the Student Council (FUM). FUM consists of students elected in the Student Union Election and is responsible for all major decisions within the Union, such as activities, the budget, and the overall direction.
In total, the General Assembly consists of 29 members. 19 of these are elected directly in the Student Union elections in the spring. The FUM also includes an additional 10 members who are appointed at the beginning of the fall semester through five meetings called FORUM, bringing the total number of members in the General Assembly to 29.
FUM meets approximately five to six times a year and makes all overarching decisions for the Student Union during the fiscal year.
Serving on the Council gives you the opportunity to directly influence what the Union works on and which issues are prioritized.
Full-Time Assignments at the Student Union
There is also the opportunity to get involved full-time with the Student Union.
The positions of President and Vice President are full-time, paid roles in which you will work on the Union’s activities for one year. To be eligible for election, you must first run in the Student Union election and be elected to the Student Council.
A full-time assignment is demanding, but also very rewarding. You’ll gain experience in leadership, organization, meeting procedures, and student politics, while working closely with students and the university.
Over the course of the year, you’ll build both experience and a network that often remain valuable long after your studies are complete.
Why is student involvement important?
Student involvement is fundamentally about ensuring that the educational program works for students.
By getting involved, you can:
- influence your own education
- improve educational programs for other students
- gain insight into how the university operates
- gain experience and build your resume for your future career