Do you want to create a better environment for being an international student in Oslo?

Are you an international student, or a student close to international student affairs? Are you politically engaged, and want to bring along that engagement during your time in Oslo? Are you interested in student issues, and want to contribute to the welfare of international students in the Oslo area?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the newly formed International Committee of the Welfare Council will be working to improve the Student Welfare Council’s engagement with, and advocacy of, international student concerns, as well as promoting the welfare of international students in the Oslo area.

Some issues the committee might choose to work on are for instance, 1. Looking into how the Student Welfare Council is organized for international students in its processes and work, 2. The offer of student housing available to international students, 3. The access to SiO-services for international students, 4. International students’ encounter with Norwegian bureaucratic processes and the help they receive in navigating this, and 5. International student’s access to social arenas to interact with Norwegians outside the campuses.

The Student Welfare Council («Velferdstinget i Oslo og Akershus») is a student interest organization representing the over 70 000 students in Oslo and Akershus studying at 29 academic institutions. We work to give a voice to the students in the Oslo area, advocating their interests towards institutions like SiO, Oslo municipality and other relevant parties.

We have increasingly seen the need for more involvement in these processes from international students, and hope that the newly created committee can help in strengthening the international students community here in Oslo and the experience each individual international student has while they’re living and studying in the city.

The deadline to apply for having your candidacy considered by the Election Committee is the 10th of August. It is still possible to candidate at any point until the election is held on the 4th of September, but you are strongly recommended to apply within the first deadline. You apply by filling out this form.