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]] A students' union, '''student government''', or '''student council''' is a . Similar organizations by the same names also exist in many High School s, but are generally less expansive in scope, much less political, and more concerned with social functions. Many students' unions are run ''by'' students ''for'' students, independent of the university. The purpose of the organisation is to represent students' views within the university and sometimes on local and national issues. It is also responsible for providing a variety of services to students. Students can get involved in its management, through numerous and varied committees, councils and general meetings, or become one of its elected officers. Many students' unions are highly politicised bodies, and often serve as a training ground for aspiring Politician s. Campaign ing and debate is often very vigorous, with the youthful enthusiasm of the various partisans, a student media that is itself often partisan, inexperienced, and under no financial pressure to slant coverage to please a broad readership, and a general lack of serious consequences for decision all encouraging political Gamesmanship . Some unions, however, are largely nonpolitical, and instead focus on providing on-campus recreation and retail facilities for students. These groups also often officially recognise and Allocate a yearly Budget to other organisations on campus. In some countries, postgraduate students are within the general students' unions, whereas in other countries they have their own National Postgraduate Representative Body AUSTRALIA ''(Main article: Student Unionism In Australia )'' In Australia , all Universities have one or more student organisations. Whilst membership is typically voluntary, fees are not; the current Federal Government plans to implement Voluntary Student Unionism some time in 2006 . Australian student unions typically provide such services as eateries, small retail outlets (e.g., newsagencies), student media (e.g., campus newspapers), advocacy, and support for a variety of social, arts, political, recreational, special interest and sporting clubs and societies. Most also operate specialised support services for female, LGBT , international and Indigenous students. The National Union Of Students Of Australia represents most student unions at a national level. CANADA In Canada , membership in a college or university students' union is mandatory. Included in Canadian students' Tuition Fees is anywhere from an additional $50-$300 fee to pay for the services of the union. The money raised from dues often supports a staff and office that helps students maintain a strong union over a period of time. Student elections usually happen around March as the student bodies elect officials who sometimes work through the summer, and then throughout the next year. Student voter turnout for student elections varies widely depending on the area of the country, and the size of the institution. These non-profit student unions usually provide numerous services not only to their own students, but to the educational institution and community at large. Running things like newspapers, radio stations, various consumer businesses, clubs, societies and cultural groups, concerts, bars, various entertainment, athletic programs, financial support, scholarships, medical and dental plans are quite common throughout Canadian schools. Student unions are also well known for their political involvement. Most student governments are charged by their student body to protect their best interests at the university, municipal, provincial and federal government levels. Most unions in Canada are also members of one of two rival national lobby organizations: the Canadian Federation Of Students and the Canadian Alliance Of Student Associations . The goals of these two organizations are, broadly speaking, representing students to the politicians that make decisions about education in Canada. These two national organizations, despite sharing similar goals, take different approaches to achieving them. One exception is the Province of Québec, which has its own federations, the largest youth group in Québec, called Quebec Federation of University Students ( Fédération étudiante Universitaire Du Québec or FEUQ). Cégep students are represented by the Fédération étudiante Collégiale Du Québec or FECQ, while the Association Pour Une Solidarité Syndicale étudiante or ASSÉ groups students from both levels of education, but is a minority. FINLAND In Finland the Higher Education system comprises two parallel sectors: universities and universities of applied sciences (polytechnics). Universities are characterised by scientific research and the highest education based thereon. Universties of applied sciences are oriented towards working life and base their operations on the high vocational skill requirements set by it. Every university has a student union (In Finnish , ''ylioppilaskunta''). Membership is mandatory by law for all students studying for master's or bachelor's degree. The student unions are based on a parliamentary model, the general assembly (about 50 members) elected every second year using an open list -election. The student union is autonomous, its internal life organized by its by-laws. The student unions are considered a part of Finnish administration, however, and their decisions can be appealed against to the Ministry of Education, although this is extremely rare. In such case, the claimant must prove that the decision has violated the law or by-laws. The student unions are responsible for all representation of the students and elect the student members of different administrative organs. They are responsible for the health care of the students and usually coordinate and finance the activities of smaller, more specialized student organizations. For the financing of their activities, the student unions exact a membership fee and engage in different businesses. Differences in the scale of such businesses are mirrored in the fees exacted by the student unions. Generally, the older universities have wealthier student unions. For example, at Helsinki University Of Technology , the student union owns and governs the dormitory village on the campus. The student unions are members of the Finnish Association of Student Unions which represents the students on the national level. Part of the student unions are politically active, while in others, Nations and subject-based groups are dominant in the general assembly. The question whether the student unions should take stances in the political life is open and each student generation finds its own answer. Every university of applied sciences also has a student union (In Finnish , ''opiskelijakunta'') and its status is guaranteed by law. The student unions are much younger in this sector because the dual model system that makes the higher education in Finland came in 1996. The membership in ''opiskelijakunta'' differs from ''ylioppilaskunta''. This is because the membership is not mandatory and every student can decide if he or she wants to join the student union. The student union is autonomous, its internal life organized by its by-laws which are confirmed by the rector. The student unions are based on a parliamentary model, the general assembly elected every year. The student union represents all students and is responsible in electing the student members of different administrative organs. The student union finances its operations mainly with membership fees, financial support from the university and small business operations. The student unions are members of the organization The National Union of Finnish Polytechnic Students which represents the student on the national level. The institutions of the Secondary Education (secondary high schools, ''lukio'', and vocational schools) in Finland have student councils. They incorporate all the students of the institution but as they do not have a right to exact a membership fee, their status is quite low. Such organizations should be heard in all matters pertaining to the education in the institution, but this is often not done. The Finnish Reserve Officer School has a student council, which is interesting as a curiosity, being a democratically governed, autonomous organization of conscripts within a military structure. It has relatively high budget, in the range of 200.000 euros, financed by an association founded for this specific purpose. See Also: Student nation IRELAND Most of Ireland 's Universities And Colleges have students' unions which were established to represent the students in the context of internal college issues and on wider student related issues and also a means of solidarity with other movements globally. An on going campaign of virtually every students' union in Ireland is to prevent the reintroduction of tuition fees which were abolished in 1995. Most of the students' unions are affiliated with the Union of Students in Ireland . The students' unions are operated in accordance with the rules set down in their constitution which invariable enumerates a strong democratic and inclusive procedure for the governance on the union. Since 1998 there has been sustained developmnet of student councils is Irish post primary schools and aprox 56% of Irish Post Primary schools have local student councils. In 2001 the Union of Secondary Students was founded as the National Umbrella body to organise and coordinate the national campaign efforts of the student councils. The Union of Secondary Students has a membership of 13% of post primary students in the republic of Ireland although this figure is forever increasing. |
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