The Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions

Background

The Association aims at promoting sector interests to external actors and at strengthening internal cooperation. The Association was set up by the universities and university colleges themselves, the initiative being taken by the rectors concerned. It was as a merger between two existing rectors’ conferences.

There are no official duties or responsibilities, since the Association is not regulated by law. The Association has no legal status, although in practice it is acknowledged as the representative of universities and university colleges as a sector.

Mission

The Association is governed by statutes adopted in 1995 with later amendments. The Association aims at promoting sector interests to external actors and at strengthening internal cooperation. SUHF provides an arena for exchange of views and cooperation among its member institutions and safeguard their interests.

Decisions

The decisions, on principle issues, are taken by the General Assembly comprising all member institutions. The Board, currently consisting of seven rectors and one university director, the Presidium, consisting of the chairman, two vice-chairmen and secretary general as well as a secretariat deals with operating activities.

Normally the Assembly meets twice a year and the Board eight times a year. The Presidium meets weekly.

No public authorities control or are members/observers of the Association, because it would be quite contrary to the ideas in which the Association was established. The Association have good working relationships with the government, the parliament, national agencies, research councils and other stakeholders.

The statutes stipulate that all decisions taken in the Assembly must be prepared by the Board. The questions discussed in and decided by the Board are prepared by the Presidium and by the staff.

Decisions concerning the member institutions are recommendations. The statutes contain rules for voting (each member having one, two, three or four votes depending on size). In a few exceptional cases the Assembly has taken a majority decision, using these rules. However, the Association in most cases attempts to take decisions by consensus or by an informal voting technique.

The website is the most important window to expose all activities connected to the Association.

Membership

Memberships are decided by the General Assembly. Eligable for membership are universities and university colleges that have the right to award degrees according to the Higher Education Ordinance as well as research activities, in a sufficient quantity. There are further conditions.

The statutes stipulate that at the Assembly meetings each member institution is represented by its rector and head of administration.

Activities

Many of the activities in the Association are run by different kinds of permanent or more temporary working groups dealing with various issues of importance to the HE-sector.

The Association is an arena for discussions and decisions in the field of higher education and research. SUHF publishes reports, recommendations, guidelines, and arrange several seminars and conferences yearly.

Several leadership programmes are run by SUHF.

Financing of the Association

The Association is financed by fees by the member institutions fees. The fees are based on the turn-over figures from each member institution. The leadership programmes are financed by separate fees.

International cooperation

The Association is a member of the Nordic University Association (NUS), the European University Association (EUA) and the International Association of Universities (IAU) and EOSC-A.