About DISK
DISK is the student union for students at DSV in Kista. We are here to enrich the student experience for everyone at DSV through both academic and social activities.
Student Support
One of DISK’s most important responsibilities is to act as an intermediary between students and the department. This is why we provide academic representation, general tutoring through DISK Workshop and a student safety representative.
Our academic representatives help ensure that DSV’s programmes maintain a high standard. The academic representatives can answer general questions related to your studies and communicate students’ opinions or concerns to teachers and other staff at DSV. In this way, academic representation functions much like a trade union for DSV students.
Our student safety representative supports students in a similar way to the academic representatives, but focuses on matters such as the study environment on DSV’s premises or situations where you feel that you have been treated unfairly by another student, a teacher or another member of staff at DSV.
DISK Workshop takes place every Thursday from 10:00 to 16:00 in Foo Bar—and no, it is not just a pub!—except on public holidays. There, you can receive general tutoring in all DSV courses from more experienced students who have previously worked on the same assignments as you. When the teachers are not enough, there is always DISK Workshop!
What Does DISK Stand For?
The acronym DISK originally stood for “Student Union Association of the Department of Computer and Systems Sciences” when the organisation was founded on 1 February 1990 as an association affiliated with Stockholm University Student Union. The main reasons for changing the name were that the department’s name was inaccurate and that the long and complicated name was frequently mispronounced or misspelled.
The History of DISK
1990
DISK is formally founded on 1 February as the Department of Computer Science Students’ Union Association.
The Early Years
Sections, student representation and student social activities begin to take shape.
1996
Systemvetardagen is held for the first time.
2008
DISK leaves SUS and becomes an independent student union.
2014
DSV moves to the NOD building in Kista, and the student union moves with it.
The Full Story
The history of DISK began towards the end of the 1980s, when it was decided that the Department of Computer and Systems Sciences, DSV, would be located in the Electrum building in Kista. Following discussions with Stockholm University Student Union, SUS, it was decided that a new student union association should be created. This would give students a stronger foundation for working with the department and enable them to receive better support from SUS.
At an inaugural annual meeting on 1 February, the Student Union Association of the Department of Computer and Systems Sciences, D.I.S.K., was founded, with Eva Öhlen, formerly Rosenberg, as its first chairperson. During its first year, the association consisted of the Academic Council, the Social Committee, the Sports Section, the Student Welfare Section and the Cultural Section, as well as a safety representative. The association had approximately 100 members during its first year but still organised a wide range of student social activities. Over the years, several sections have been created and later deactivated.
As many sections of the Student Union at the Royal Institute of Technology, THS, are also represented in Kista, DISK has collaborated and exchanged ideas with them on a variety of matters over the years. Among other things, parties have been organised jointly, cooperation has taken place on career-related matters, and conferences have been arranged between the respective boards.
Many celebrations have taken place over the years. Among other events, DISK has organised three major formal balls, including a tenth-anniversary celebration at Stockholm City Hall.
DISK’s own career fair, Systemvetardagen, was held for the first time in 1996, one year after the Business Relations Section was founded. Systemvetardagen has grown over the years and is now a highly appreciated career fair, with approximately 50 companies participating each year.
Popular former traditions that unfortunately no longer continue include DISK’s own magazine, Systemvetarbladet, and Bellman Day. Systemvetarbladet was a printed magazine published for several years. Bellman Day was an occasion when DISK members gathered in Hagaparken, outside the Copper Tents, for a picnic and to sing songs by Bellman and other songwriters.
In 2008, DISK left SUS and became an independent student union, thanks to the considerable efforts of several highly committed members. SUS appealed DISK’s application to become an independent student union, but after a carefully prepared renewed application, DISK was granted independent student union status.
Over the years, the department has moved several times. In Kista, it was located in both Electrum and Forum before moving to the Kista NOD building in 2014.
Thousands of students have been affected by DISK’s activities, and many hundreds of active members have been part of an amazing community that has created lifelong friendships and even families. People have grown as individuals and, as part of a greater whole, have helped provide their fellow students with a better and happier student experience. During its relatively short history, DISK has undergone remarkable development, both as an organisation and as part of society. The IT boom, particularly the development of the internet, has taken the organisation on an incredible journey. We now stand on the threshold of something new, filled with excitement and confidence in the future.