New changes in the student influence structure at SUS

During spring, Stockholm University Student Union (SUS) has developed clearer frameworks to strengthen its support for student coucils and create better conditions for engagement

The work has been carried out in dialogue with council Representatives to ensure that the changes meet actual needs.

Background and purpose

Student influence, participation, and community are central to a well-functioning student experience. SUS’s mission is to support these efforts by overseeing and contributing to educational development and the study environment.

The purpose of the changes is to:

  • Strengthen support for councils and student representatives

  • Clarify roles and responsibilities

  • Create better conditions for dialogue, collaboration, and influence

What do the changes entail?

  • Role descriptions and guidelines for student and PhD councils, faculty councils, and central councils have been updated and clarified, based on the work already being carried out today.

    This is intended to make the roles:

    • easier to understand

    • easier to carry out

    • more sustainable over time

  • New updates have been made for:

    • reports

    • meeting minutes

    The aim is to reduce overly information-heavy formats in order to create more space for:

    • discussion

    • dialogue

    • influence

  • A new forum is being established to strengthen collaboration and discussions between different parts of the student influence structure

    The forum:

    • will be launched in autumn 2026

    • brings together chairs and vice chairs from the Central Student Council, the Central PhD Council, and faculty councils

    • is led by SUS’s political secretary

    • also includes SUS ombud and SUS presidium

  • For the Central Student Council, the changes also mean that:

    • the chair is elected at the annual meeting

    • the role is no longer automatically held by SUS presidium

    These changes are intended to strengthen the democratic process.

Find the updated documents and instructions here

Communication channels

The channels of communication are clarified but largely remain the same:

SUS ombud will continue to serve as the primary point of contact for matters concerning assignments, student influence, and advocacy work.

SUS’s political secretary is responsible for the new advocacy forum.

The SUS service desk will handle administrative matters such as:

  • printing materials such as posters

  • borrowing games

  • room bookings

  • remuneration

  • disbursement of project funding

  • operational grants

Contact SUS service desk at info@sus.se.  

Timeline and questions

The implementation of these changes will begin at the start of the autumn semester on August 31th.

If you have any questions, you are warmly welcome to contact the SUS presidium at presidiet@sus.se.