Elections of the new Chair and Vice-Chair for the Doctoral Council, new board members, central bodies at the university and the actions for the upcoming fiscal year were all decided upon during the general assembly on May 22!

The assembly elected Mounia El hajjari Borg (to the right) as the new Chair and Sanna Volny (to the left) as the new vice chair of the Doctoral Council. Together with the newly elected board members they will monitor and impact issues affecting doctoral students at Södertörn University.

I value an open-door approach and collaborative work, and I believe it is essential that doctoral students feel heard, informed, and actively included in discussions that shape their education and working conditions.
– Mounia El hajjari Borg

Planned activities for the upcoming year are, among others, to encourage increased doctoral student representation, inform doctoral students about their rights and obligations and host social gatherings for doctoral students.

What I am most looking forward to in this role is continuing and strengthening the ongoing discussions around the inclusion of the doctoral community within Södertörn University. I also look forward to strengthening the sense of community among doctoral students across departments and creating more spaces for connection, support, and dialogue. 
 – Mounia El hajjari Borg

During the previous fiscal year, the former board, with Azul Romo Flores as chair and Alice Bergholtz as vice-chair, worked with SöderS to ensure that doctoral student representatives were appointed properly and compensated for their work. Among other things, information sessions for representatives were implemented as a new routine, and the Impact Forum was established as a network for all doctoral student representatives. The board has also worked to promote greater inclusion within all university’ councils. Their great commitment and work gives the new board a solid and strong foundation to continue addressing and impact issues related to doctoral students.

SöderS welcome the new board members and look forward to continuing working together for an inclusive and strong doctoral student influence and to promote a good and inclusive work environment for doctoral students.