In connection with the current Vice-Chancellor, Gustav Amberg, stepping down from his position on 30 June 2025, students were appointed to the consultative committee for the recruitment of a new Vice-Chancellor during the autumn of 2024. Among other things, Isabella Blomstrand, student and PhD student ombudsman at SöderS, and Rokyah Ghadanfari, member of SöderS’ nomination committee, has represented the student perspective in the consultation group. 

According to the Higher Education Ordinance, teachers, other staff at the higher education institution, and students must be consulted during the recruitment of a head of department or vice-chancellor. The consultation group conducts interviews with the final candidates and provides advisory opinions to the board's preparatory group, which, prior to this, has carried out a long interview process with several candidates. In this particular recruitment, the consultation group only got to meet one candidate.

”The idea behind having different groups is to represent the various functions that exist at the higher education institution, where all members get the chance to influence the interview questions to be asked of the candidate. My role in the hearing committee was to coordinate the student group on the hearing committee, whose mission is to highlight the student perspective in the hearing process.”

Isabella Blomstrand, student and doctoral student ombudsman at SöderS

How does a recruitment process work?

The appointment for a Vice-Chancellor is for six years and may be renewed a maximum of twice for three years at a time, which means that a Vice-Chancellor can serve for a maximum of 12 years at a higher education institution. The Vice-Chancellor of Södertörn University is appointed by a government decision following a proposal from the university board, and before the board submits its proposal, consultations must be held with teaching staff, other employees and students. The recruitment process consists of three main groups: the university board, assessment groups and the consultation group. 

”We are satisfied with the candidate we have met, and we believe that the candidate has the ability to strengthen and develop the higher education institution in cooperation with students and employees. We hope that the institution's new Vice-Chancellor, in accordance with the Higher Education Act, will promote sustainable development that ensures social welfare and justice for current and future generations on both a national and global level.”

Rokyah Ghadanfari, member of SöderS' nomination committee