Resolution on Student Participation in Higher Education Institution Mergers
The European Students´ Union (ESU) and The National Union of Icelandic Students (LÍS) call for meaningful participation of students regarding the process of merging higher education institutions in Iceland. In recent years, the processes of the merging of higher education institutions have been prominent and will likely be a continuing trend. Therefore, it is crucial to establish clear standards when it comes to democratic involvement of student participation and involvement in all stages of decision-making processes.
When higher education institutions merge, the process goes beyond administrative-level restructuring. It directly affects other aspects, such as the quality of teaching, learning environments, service provided to students and the overall academic culture. Universities as learning communities are important, and so is the involvement and input of the students in them.
Students are the central stakeholders of education whose rights, experiences, needs and perspectives must be meaningfully taken into account in all phases of institutional transformation. The meaningful involvement of student representatives is essential for various reasons, such as identifying gaps and considering different views of students and their experiences, which are crucial when decisions are made about them.
In line with the objectives and commitments of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), students must be recognised as full and equal partners in higher education governance. The EHEA framework explicitly commits member states and institutions to ensuring that students participate actively in the design, implementation and evaluation of higher education policies and institutional decision-making. This includes structural student participation, co-creation of educational processes, and shared responsibility for the development of higher education systems.
ESU and LÍS emphasise that students must be included as equal partners in these processes from the very beginning. Student participation is not merely a question of formality or consultation after decisions have already been made, but should include students as essential partners, alongside other stakeholders.
ESU and LÍS call upon governmental bodies, institutional leaders and higher education governing boards to adopt and enforce standards ensuring that student representation is not merely consultative but participatory in merger processes. This includes student engagement equal to academic, technical and administrative staff from the initial planning of mergers through to implementation, evaluation and adjustment phases. Meaningful student participation is not just a procedural step, but a democratic and academic necessity if mergers are to ensure that decisions reflect the needs and experiences of those most directly affected.