Student influence

When working with student influence the student union monitors, evaluates and participates in decisions on the quality and content of education. An important part of student influence is to ensure that your voice is heard and taken seriously by the university. This means that UTN works continuously to influence the Faculty of Science and Technology (Teknat) to ensure that your study environment and educational conditions are as good as possible!

Opinion program

The student union's work with student influence is based on an opinion program that contains positions on various higher education policy issues. The opinion program is adopted by the union council (FUM) and forms the basis for the work carried out by the union's student representatives when they have meetings with the university. Read the student union's opinion program here.

Student representatives

Student representatives are appointed by the student union to be the voice of the students at various meetings with the university. Their role is important to ensure that students' perspectives and needs are taken into account in all areas of the university's activities. You can read more about the student representatives here.

Case work

If you are a student or PhD student experiencing issues with your education or study environment, you can get help from the student union's student liaison officers. You can read more about casework here.

Student influence at different levels

The student union's work with student influence is divided into three levels.

Local level refers to councils, committees and working groups that operate at the department level or in connection to specific educational programs, such as department boards and program councils. Decisions concerning individual programs and departments are often taken at this level, and these student representatives are usually appointed by UTN’s sections.

Faculty central level refers to councils, committees and working groups that handle issues that affect multiple educational programs within the faculty, e.g. the Educational Board of Engineering (TUN) and the Educational Board of Science (NUN). These often deal with broader educational issues, student services at the faculty, pedagogical development programs, and campus-related matters. The union's student liaison officers are the main student representatives at this level, but they also appoint a number of student representatives via open application rounds that usually take place in May. Apply here!

University Central Level refers to councils, committees and working groups that handle issues affecting all students at the entire university, including those who do not study at the Faculty of Science and Technology. Examples include disciplinary matters, exam halls, and IT systems such as Studium. In these matters Uppsala's various student unions cooperate to jointly protect the interests of all students. From UTN's side both the president and the student liaison officers are involved at this level, but the Uppsala unions' collaboration organization, UUFS, also appoints a number of student representatives via open application rounds that usually take place in April. Apply here!

Student liaison officers of the student union

Student liaison officers are students who have taken a leave of absence to work full-time with student influence. At UTN there are four student liaison officers, all with different responsibilities. The president of the student union also participates in the work with student influence at the university central level, mainly working towards the university management.

Student Liaison Officer - Head of Academic Affairs

These student liaison officers are focused on student influence concerning the quality of education. They deal with issues related to teaching, such as questions about examinations and timeframes for marking exams. In addition, the liaison officers also carry out casework, which you can read more about further up the page.

• Head of academic affairs - Engineering (Utb-t): Has special responsibility for issues related to engineering education such as the engineering programs and related master’s programs.
• Head of academic affairs - Science (Utb-n): Has special responsibility for issues related to bachelor and master’s programs in the natural sciences.
• Head of academic affairs - PhD studies and collaboration (Utb-f): Has special responsibility for issues related to PhD studies, as well as collaboration with other student unions.

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Student Liaison Officer - Head of Student Welfare Affairs

This student liaison officer is focused on the well-being of students during and after their studies. They work with issues related to campus facilities, work environment, equal treatment and other psychosocial aspects of student life. They also conduct casework related to these matters.

• Head of student welfare affairs (Soc): focuses on the well-being and fair treatment of students during their studies.

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Contact information

If you have any questions, suggestions or would like to get involved in student influence, please contact the student liaison officers of the Student Union. They can also be reached at [email protected].