Operations

Operational focus 2022-2024

SULF’s operational focus describes the priority areas for the period until the next Congress and is decided by Congress, which is SULF’s supreme democratic body.

It takes as its point of departure the SULF Vision 2030 document and the goals set by the Association. The operational focus describes those parts of the vision that will be prioritised during the period until the next Congress in order to make it easier for SULF to make tangible progress towards the overall goals.

SULF’s priority areas during this period are:

Academic freedom and democracy
The conditions of science
Employment conditions and salary

Of course, many other issues will require our attention during the period until the next Congress, but by maintaining a clear focus we will be more efficient and effective when we develop strategies, conduct analysis, work to influence opinion and more.

The Association Board further consolidates the operational focus and compiles it into an annual operational plan.

Annual Reports:

SULF as an advocate and opinion builder

SULF conducts extensive advocacy operations. These include contacts with Government, MPs, university and college managements, media and people at universities and colleges. SULF is also involved in the political week at Almedalen and organizes seminars and debates on higher education issues.

What does SULF think? You will find more information, publications and reports here.

International

Cooperation with unions in other countries is crucial to ensure academic freedom, good working conditions and the professional autonomy of university teachers and researchers worldwide. SULF collaborates with a number of other unions in different parts of the world in order to both influence developments in the higher education sector in Sweden and to fulfil the objectives of SULF international activities.

With the aim of influencing the development of higher education and research at global level, and in order to access relevant knowledge, SULF is a member of Education International (EI). This is an umbrella organisation for unions in the areas of education and research, from preschool to university levels. EI has 401 member organizations in 171 countries and is organised by continent. Together EI represents 30 million members. A congress is held every four years.

The European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) represents the European level of EI. ETUCE is also the European unions’ specialist federation for training. ETUCE represents 11 million members in Europe. Work with higher education and research is coordinated by a committee, the Higher Education and Research Standing Committee (HERSC). HERSC meets regularly twice a year. In recent years, issues related to the Bologna process and also the economic crisis have received increasing attention. EI cooperates via ETUCE on higher education and research with the EU, the Council of Europe, OECD, UNESCO and ILO. SULF is represented in HERSC and the working groups involved in the dialogue with the Bologna Follow Up Group (BFUG) and the EU.

Networking on the Nordic level is particularly important in order to influence policy and decision-makers in Sweden. For several years, the Nordic university teacher unions have met at an annual conference, the Nordic Meeting. Here, experiences are exchanged and issues discussed: practical issues such as working conditions and salary levels, political issues dealing with education and research, and professional issues such as collegiality and governance. These meetings also form a platform for networking and bilateral relationships between the Nordic university teacher and researcher associations.

SULF’s Nordic sister organizations:

DM in Danmark
Forskerforbundet in Norway
Háskóli Íslands in Iceland

Finnish university teachers´ unions:
Professorsförbundet
Forskarförbundet
Universitetslektorernas Förbund

Other organizations (guest membership agreements)
Canadian Association of University Teachers (CAUT)
Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) in Ireland
University and College Union (UCU) i Storbritannien

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