This is HHGS
WHO ARE WE?
HHGS is the student union at the School of Business, Economics and Law. We live by the creed that together we shape our future. Being a student union means that what we do is regulated by Swedish law, namely monitoring the education at the school for all its students – members as well as non-members. However, monitoring the education is just one of very many things that the union does. HHGS is the mother-organisation of more than 30 associations, all of which organise several events during the year, ranging from inspirational lunch lectures to a full-blown musical. Furthermore, HHGS has four career-fairs during the year and owns 100% of seven companies that give meaningful work-experience to hundreds of members every year.
Handelshögskolan was established
In 1923 the “Handelshögskolan” was established. The first year the group only consisted of 9 students. The classes that they offered were economics, business, economic geography, jurisprudence, as well as language classes in English, German, French and Russian. In 1925 the students suggested that a Student Union should be formed, and in the same year the school also moved from “Göteborgs Högskola” to “old Handels” at Läroverksgatan 1.
HHGS had its first meeting
1926 is a big year in the history of HHGS. On September 21th the first meeting was held, and there was many more to come. The goal was in the beginning to promote good friendship and to seek for solutions for the questions that interested the members. For a long time, HHGS promoted their education and worked with the question about the title of the degree. Slowly the organisation started to grow, committees were created, and the main areas was educational coverage, union evenings and trips to different places.
HHGS developed
In 1940 a song writing competition was held, which resulted in the launch of the first FIROM-book, the official song book for Handels students. In 1948 a collaboration with other student unions was formed, called AISEC. This resulted in CSN, student housing, health service, internships etc. The union continued to develop, and on October 24th 1952 Handels got new facilities at Vasagatan 3, and finally HHGS got their own part in the building!
The End?
1971 was a bad year for HHGS. All education at Handels became a part of the University of Gothenburg, which resulted in HHGS losing their status as a union. HHGS dissolved and became an association called Götekon within FFS, the Student Union of Philosophy. Before HHGS dissolved, the students were smart and placed all assets in a fund for Götekon and its members, which made it possible for Götekon to stay strong and grow as an association.
Finally!
In the 80’s Götekon grew fast! The career fair GADDEN, Götes Luftspray and Handelsspexet started, and the association had many members and a lot of activity. Also, the school grew fast, maybe sometimes a little too fast. In the mid 80’s there were so many students that it affected the quality of the education. In 1986, finally, Handelshögskolan became its own faculty again.
The beginning of success!
February 1st 1990 a decision was made in FFS council, HHGS should become independent and its own student union again! Of course, this was a big step for Götekon, and it could keep growing and become an even stronger organisation. By this time the associations were many, and there was a lot of activity within the union. In 1992 Handelshögskolan started to offer a bachelor’s degree in law, and the number of students at Handels increased. In 1995 the school had grown a lot, and the new facilities at Vasagatan 1 was opened, with a big, beautiful library and the big lecture hall; Malmstenssalen.
Sources:
Friheten och upproriskhetens bakterier, Studentrörelse vid Göteborgs universitet under 60 år. Edited 2014 by Göteborgs Universitets Studentkårer (GUS).
Firom. Edited 2005 by Marskalkämbetet.
Historia, collected june 2018 from www.handels.gu.se, last updated 2011-06-22.
Handelshögskolan was established
In 1923 the “Handelshögskolan” was established. The first year the group only consisted of 9 students. The classes that they offered were economics, business, economic geography, jurisprudence, as well as language classes in English, German, French and Russian. In 1925 the students suggested that a Student Union should be formed, and in the same year the school also moved from “Göteborgs Högskola” to “old Handels” at Läroverksgatan 1.
HHGS had its first meeting
1926 is a big year in the history of HHGS. On September 21th the first meeting was held, and there was many more to come. The goal was in the beginning to promote good friendship and to seek for solutions for the questions that interested the members. For a long time, HHGS promoted their education and worked with the question about the title of the degree. Slowly the organisation started to grow, committees were created, and the main areas was educational coverage, union evenings and trips to different places.
HHGS developed
In 1940 a song writing competition was held, which resulted in the launch of the first FIROM-book, the official song book for Handels students. In 1948 a collaboration with other student unions was formed, called AISEC. This resulted in CSN, student housing, health service, internships etc. The union continued to develop, and on October 24th 1952 Handels got new facilities at Vasagatan 3, and finally HHGS got their own part in the building!
The End?
1971 was a bad year for HHGS. All education at Handels became a part of the University of Gothenburg, which resulted in HHGS losing their status as a union. HHGS dissolved and became an association called Götekon within FFS, the Student Union of Philosophy. Before HHGS dissolved, the students were smart and placed all assets in a fund for Götekon and its members, which made it possible for Götekon to stay strong and grow as an association.
Finally!
In the 80’s Götekon grew fast! The career fair GADDEN, Götes Luftspray and Handelsspexet started, and the association had many members and a lot of activity. Also, the school grew fast, maybe sometimes a little too fast. In the mid 80’s there were so many students that it affected the quality of the education. In 1986, finally, Handelshögskolan became its own faculty again.
The beginning of success!
February 1st 1990 a decision was made in FFS council, HHGS should become independent and its own student union again! Of course, this was a big step for Götekon, and it could keep growing and become an even stronger organisation. By this time the associations were many, and there was a lot of activity within the union. In 1992 Handelshögskolan started to offer a bachelor’s degree in law, and the number of students at Handels increased. In 1995 the school had grown a lot, and the new facilities at Vasagatan 1 was opened, with a big, beautiful library and the big lecture hall; Malmstenssalen.
Sources:
Friheten och upproriskhetens bakterier, Studentrörelse vid Göteborgs universitet under 60 år. Edited 2014 by Göteborgs Universitets Studentkårer (GUS).
Firom. Edited 2005 by Marskalkämbetet.
Historia, collected june 2018 from www.handels.gu.se, last updated 2011-06-22.
THE BOARD
The board of HHGS exists to make life easier for its members and associations. We handle the daily administration of the associations’ economy and all the situations that arise with their operations. Furthermore we act as a link between the members and the different projects, associations, and companies as well as external partners.
96
YEARS
22
ASSOCIATIONS
7
UNION COMPANIES
4
CAREER FAIRS
Our reason for being
In 2018 HHGS formed a Value Proposition together with Oddwork. The proposition is based in workshops together with 25 active members within HHGS, and the result can be read below. The next step on this journey is to create concrete activities that matches our values.
Equal Treatment
With the aim of the Swedish Government’s goal of an equal society, the Universities in Sweden have a very important role to play in integrating gender equality into ordinary decision-making processes in the academic world. This is the cornerstone in HHGS regulatory documents regarding equality and work in the area.
Sustainability
HHGS is committed to creating a more sustainable union, and in turn contributing to a more sustainable society.