The administrative branch
Presidium
The Presidium consists of five members: the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, and UF Uppsala’s Representative to SAIA.
This committee fosters collaboration among these administrative roles, which often have independent responsibilities. The Presidium serves as both a support system for their work and a social committee, creating a more cohesive and enjoyable working environment.
The committee
2024 - 2025
Join the presidium
The operational year at UF Uppsala begins on July 1st.
Each spring (April–May), applications for positions open through our website and social media channels. If your profile matches a role you’ve applied for, you’ll be invited for an interview. The Election Committee will then review candidates and nominate individuals for each position.
The final decision is made at the Spring Annual Meeting, where UF Uppsala members vote to elect the new board. Most roles include a seat on the board, giving you voting rights and a key role in shaping the association. Board members are expected to attend monthly meetings throughout the year.
Profile for the President
As the President, you hold the overall responsibility for UF Uppsala. Your core tasks include leading and planning the board’s work and meetings, calling board, annual, and election meetings, and, together with the treasurer, managing the association’s finances. You will also oversee the application process for grants to fund the organization’s activities.
The President serves as the association’s representative to other organizations and should have strong language skills and excellent communication abilities. This also means that you need to be well-organized, detail-oriented, and willing to familiarize yourself with the association’s statutes and policies. Additionally, you will be responsible for developing the organization by initiating and facilitating new projects. Basic knowledge of economics and law, or previous experience in businesses or organizations, is an asset.
As President, you will have considerable freedom to set the agenda for the year’s work in the best interest of the association. It is also crucial to think long-term, as significant changes often take several years to implement.
Finally, you are responsible for ensuring a positive atmosphere and effective working methods within the organization. This means having a leadership style that promotes sustainable engagement and makes the best use of the ideas and resources within the association. You should, for example, coach the board members in their respective groups, which requires attentiveness and a strong understanding of how the organization functions.
Overall, the role of President is incredibly rewarding, as you have the opportunity to shape the position beyond its core responsibilities. You will grow as a leader and gain valuable experience in organizational management, delegation, and financial oversight. Moreover, it is an enjoyable and enriching experience, as you will work closely with and get to know the entire board.
If you have any questions about the position and what it entails, feel free to email the current President at president@ufuppsala.se.
Profile for the Vice-President
As the Vice President of UF Uppsala, your role can be described as the “spider in the web” of the organization. While the President often serves as the external face of the association, the Vice President focuses on internal operations. You act as the link between different parts of the organization, ensuring smooth operations and continuous development. It is important that you can handle independent administrative tasks while also enjoying social interaction in both large and small settings. A good sense of people and their well-being is essential for this role.
Your main responsibilities, in addition to board duties, can be divided into three key areas. The first involves applying for grants to secure the association’s financial future, a task primarily carried out in collaboration with the President and Treasurer. The second key responsibility is being part of the executive board, where you work from a broad perspective on the organization’s short- and long-term development. The third involves having extra responsibility for the organization’s officers—welcoming them and serving as their contact person throughout the year. You also play an important role in ensuring that officers, board members, and active members feel comfortable and included, for example, by organizing and encouraging social events throughout the year.
The Vice President must also be able to step in for the President when necessary. Therefore, the skills and knowledge outlined for the President’s role are also valuable for the Vice President. The position offers many opportunities to contribute to the organization’s growth, and each Vice President can shape their work according to their ambitions and vision.
If you are excited about helping to drive the organization forward, maintaining a broad perspective, and coordinating different groups, then the role of Vice President is perfect for you. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to the current Vice President at vice@ufuppsala.se.
Profile for the Treasurer
As the Treasurer, you hold the ultimate responsibility for the financial management and accounting of the organization. Your work includes preparing the annual budget, handling ongoing payments and bookkeeping, and compiling the financial statement at the end of the fiscal year.
Additionally, together with the President and Vice President, you share the responsibility of applying for grants, which constitute UF Uppsala’s main source of income. You also report to authorities and the Swedish Association of Foreign Affairs on how previous grants have been used. As part of the executive board, you play a central role in the organization and gain deep insight into all its activities.
The position is flexible—you can organize your work as you see fit, but it does require a significant time commitment. Serving as Treasurer for UF Uppsala is an incredibly valuable experience, providing a unique opportunity to develop your knowledge of organizational management and financial administration while being part of one of Uppsala’s best associations!
As a person, you should be organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable collaborating with others, as the role involves continuous communication with other board members regarding their respective projects and operations. Previous experience in financial work is an advantage but not a requirement. The most important thing is that you have an interest in and willingness to learn more about finance and organizational development while helping to drive the association forward!
If you have any questions about the position, feel free to email the current Treasurer at treasurer@ufuppsala.se.
Profile for the Secretary
As the Secretary of UF Uppsala, you handle the organization’s primary administration and are responsible for overall communication with members. Your main tasks include managing the membership register, writing a weekly newsletter, handling membership inquiries, planning and sending out meeting notices and member updates, and taking minutes at board meetings. You also oversee the general upkeep of the office and take primary responsibility for the association’s archives.
As Secretary, it is beneficial if you are well-organized, have basic IT skills, enjoy administrative tasks, and are proficient in written communication in both Swedish and English. The role requires strong time-management skills, as much of the work is independent.
A typical week as Secretary involves updating the membership register and statistics, as well as preparing the upcoming week’s newsletter. Some periods will be busier, requiring you to transcribe meeting minutes or send out official notices and member updates. You will also work on ongoing projects, such as archiving or other initiatives you find valuable for the organization’s development. As a member of the executive board, you will gain valuable insight into the association’s various activities.
Being Secretary is a significant responsibility, but it is also highly rewarding and stimulating. You serve as a crucial link between the members and the board. The workload is flexible and varies in intensity, and you will consistently communicate with all board members. To succeed in this role, you need to be skilled at multitasking to effectively manage the many—but relatively small—tasks required.
If you have any questions about the position, feel free to reach out to the current Secretary at secretary@ufuppsala.se.
UF Uppsala Representative to SAIA
As the Representative to SAIA, you represent UF Uppsala within our umbrella organization, the Swedish Association of International Affairs (SAIA). This means advocating for UF Uppsala’s interests and perspectives in matters handled by the UFS board, collaborating with other member associations to develop the federation, and participating in its working groups.
The UFS Representative serves on both the UF Uppsala and UFS boards and acts as the primary communication link between the two. At the national association level, you will also take part in a working committee of your choice, providing a great opportunity to contribute to SAIA’s development in an area that interests you. The primary working language in SAIA is English.
You are expected to actively participate in SAIA board meetings, which are typically held online once a month. The role is highly flexible, allowing you to manage your time independently. As a member of UF Uppsala’s Presidium team, you will also contribute to the organization’s internal management.
As UFS Uppsala’s Representative, you should be structured, determined, and solution-oriented. Strong communication skills—both verbal and written—are essential. Previous involvement in a UF association is an asset, as it provides valuable insight into how the association operates, but it is not a requirement.
If you have any questions about the position, feel free to contact the current UFS Representative at ufs@ufuppsala.se.