The democratically chosen student representatives are threatened by so called “representatives” from policy organizations, this harms the fight that the students have been fighting for so long, writes Elisabeth Gehrke.
In Sweden it is easy to take for granted the amount of influence students have over our education. In fact most students are probably not aware that they have the right to be represented in all governing and preparatory bodies of their higher education institutions. Not only does this protect students, but it has also become a driver of quality education. Student unions are probably the cheapest and most effective way to foster prosperous higher education institutions.
In the institutions there is often resistance to student participation in the beginning. Academics often ask if students can handle the kind of responsibility that this kind of partnership expects. Although in reality this has rarely been a problem. You would be hard pressed to find an academic leader with for instance students in their board that would say that the students do not take on the responsibility that is required of them. In fact in a group they tend to boast about “their” students.
However it is extremely important that student organizations are open to all students, democratic in their structure and in their principles, run by students, independent and accountable to the students they represent. We cannot accept non-representative student organizations to become the alibi of academia or political institutions who want to appear to care about students. In several countries and even on a European level, organizations with questionable legitimacy gain ground by offering policy-makers ways out, taking their responsibility by promoting policy that is not truly in the interests of students. Policy that is often is not evidense-based as well as being over ridiculously oversimplified.
I am extremely proud to be a member of a student movement that stands up for students and dares to pick even the most uncomfortable fights while still being constructive partners. Just as we have to demand participation we also have to protect our role in society. Because if we fail to do so we will be endangering the entire higher education area and the well-being of our students.
