What does it really mean to live with a foundation where students help shape the decisions?
At SGS, several students are represented on the board – and one of them is Gabriella, Vice Chair of the Board, appointed by the Göteborgs Förenade Studentkårer (GFS). Her role is to ensure that the student perspective is always present when key decisions are made.
What does the SGS Board do?
The board is responsible for setting the overall direction of SGS and ensuring that the organisation develops in line with its long-term mission and statutes. This includes strategic decisions related to finances, property development and property management – always with the goal of offering safe, sustainable and well-managed student housing.
The student voice
Gabriella is appointed by Göteborgs Förenade Studentkårer, meaning she represents the students who live in – or are looking for housing with – SGS. As Vice Chair, she works closely with the Chair of the Board and SGS’s executive team. Ahead of each board meeting, she takes part in presidium meetings where agendas are shaped, priorities are set and upcoming matters are discussed. She also acts as Deputy Chair when the Chair is unavailable.
– Since SGS’s tenants are students, I have an extra responsibility to ensure that the student perspective is embedded in the board’s work, says Gabriella. To stay up to date on issues that matter to students, she maintains an ongoing dialogue with GFS.
Why is the rent adjusted annually even though SGS is a foundation with student housing?
Although SGS is a non-profit foundation with no profit distribution, the organisation is still affected by factors such as inflation and rising interest rates. To maintain the buildings, avoid deferred maintenance and continue offering student housing of a good standard, SGS needs a stable and sustainable financial balance. Rent adjustments are therefore an important tool to secure quality – both for today’s tenants and for future students.
More about Gabriella
Gabriella holds a degree in Environmental Social Science with a focus on Human Ecology (graduated in 2024) and currently works as a Project Manager and Consultant at A Beautiful Soup. In addition to her role on the SGS Board, she also serves as Partnership Manager for Gbg 7000+, a collaborative initiative in which participating organisations work together to enable the construction of at least 7,000 student housing units between 2016 and 2026.
Through student representatives like Gabriella, your perspective is heard and represented at the highest level of decision-making. Curious about who sits on the SGS board? Find out who helps make the decisions that affect your housing – and that of future students.
