About Us

85 years has passed since the Association of Foreign Affairs, by students referred to as UPF, once started. Since then the association has greatly contributed to knowledge and awareness on issues of foreign affairs and through its operations created a platform for discussion and debate in a politically and religiously independent fashion. Although these by-laws have been updated to better lead and describe the work of the association today. To not lose track of the long history of UPF the following brief text is to be kept together with the by-laws, although the current board is always welcomed to update the text after a board decision.

1935 - A collection of 40 students and teachers from Lund University decided to create a forum to discuss the international events occurring around them “An association nonpolitically established to pursue educational and study activities in international affairs”. There was only one committee in the association, the lecture committee.

1940 - On April 20th the association decides to put all the activities on hold due to the “uncertain situation in the rest of Europe”

Second World War - As opposed(!) to the rest of Lund and its students life, the association took an active stand, together with Lundagård, against Germany and had a pro-British profile.

1942 - The PR committee was established and the first UPF posters were printed

1951 - The newly established travel committee went on their first journey, it went to Paris by train. - Utrikespolitiska Föreningen (UF) was merged with FN-föreningen Studentföreningen i Lund för Mellanfolkligt Samarbete (SLMS) that dated back to 1949. Which lead to a change in names to Organ för upplysning om utrikespolitik och FN, The United Nations Student Association. This also included a membership in Studentförbundet för Mellanfolkligt Samarbete (SFMS).

1953 - SFMS changed their name to Sveriges Studenters FN-förbund (SSFN) and became a part of the International Student Movement for the United Nations (ISMUN).

1963 - The first magazine was printed, under the name Utrikesnytt, 5 years later this would change to Utrikespolitisk Aspekt and become free for all members. Later on the name was changed again, this time to Utrikesperspektiv.

1967 - UF became UPF.

1972 - SSFN changed name to Utrikespolitiska föreningarnas FN- förbund (UFFN).

1981 – The first “Sexmästare” (Head of activity) was elected but it took until 1996 until the post was accompanied by a committee, the one that we today call the activity committee.1984 - UPF withdrawls from UFFN and instead had a trial period as a local association for Svenska Röda Korset.

1986 – The annual meeting decided not to continue the deal with Svenska Röda Korset and then became an independent student organisation.

1997 – The Radio Committee arises, back then the radio shows where broadcasted on Sundays.
- On April 20th UPF and the associations on foreign affairs in Gothenburg, Umeå, Uppsala and Växjö together created the association Sveriges Utrikespolitiska Föreningar. An association for cooperation amongst all associations on foreign affairs in Sweden.

2000 – Due to the huge amount of active members in the magazine committee the webzine committee was created to publish articles online under the same name as the magazine, Utrikesperspektiv. Later on the name would change to Tellus for a while, but then change back again.

2007 – Utrikespolitiska Förbundet Sverige (UFS) / Swedish Association of International Affairs (UFS) accepted new by-laws an active corporation association between the associations of foreign affairs in Sweden.

2010 – The association hosts a 75 years anniversary by hosting a ball.

2015 – The Association celebrates 80 years with a grand anniversary including a ball in the AF building and a lecture symposium.

2016 – When the board of 2016-2017 starts its year of operation and these by-laws are written the association also enters its first year with all activities in English, this due to the decisions to not have any Swedish articles in the magazine and to give the prep course, hosted by the career committee, in English.

2017 – The activity committee organizes and hosts the first UPF annual ball at Grand Hotel. During this year, Utrikesperspektiv changed name to The Perspective.

2020 – The Association turns 85 years. Planned on celebrating with the annual ball.
- The pandemic COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) hit Lund. All of UPFs events were cancelled until further notice. In conjunction with this, UPF held its first digital board meeting, and continued having digital board meetings from March and onwards. UPF also held its first digital Annual Election Meeting in May.