The Ombuds Blog: ACCUO Chronicles Three Decades of Ombuds in Higher Education

June 08, 2013

ACCUO Chronicles Three Decades of Ombuds in Higher Education

The Association of Canadian College and University Ombudspersons has published a timeline of its "activities, encounters and some landmarks in the development of ombuds in higher education in Canada and many parts of the world" over the past 30 years. The document, which begins in the 1960's, marks the establishment of Canadian higher education Ombuds offices, ACCUO landmarks and other Ombuds landmark events.

The information was compiled for ACCUO by Martine Conway, Ombudsperson at the University of Victoria, with the help of ACCUO archivist Anita Pouliot, past and present ACCUO members and partners, and international contacts. It is a work in progress and Conway is accepting suggestions. (ACCUO History: English, French.)

Related posts: Association of Canadian College and University Ombudspersons Publishes Standards of Practice; ACCUO Sets 2013 Midyear Meeting; FCO and ACCUO Post Agenda for 2013 Conference in Halifax.

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Organizational Ombuds

Organizational Ombuds serve as a confidential, independent, neutral and informal dispute resolution resource for a specific entity. They are accessible to a defined population and can advocate for fairness. These unique characteristics distinguish Organizational Ombuds from Classical Ombuds, mediators, arbitrators, and other alternative dispute resolution professionals. The term "Ombuds" is shorthand for "Ombudsman," "Ombudsperson" and "Ombuds Officer," which also are used widely.

Some other variants include:

Austria -- Ombudsstelle

Brazil -- Ouvidor

Croatia -- pravobranitelji

France -- médiateur/defénseur

Germany -- Ombudspersonen

Italy -- difensore

Netherlands -- ombudspersoon

Norway -- ombudet

Poland -- Rzecznik

Portugal -- provedor

Russia -- омбудсмен

Spain -- ombudsman organizacional

Sweden -- studentombud

Switzerland -- ombudsmann

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June 08, 2013

ACCUO Chronicles Three Decades of Ombuds in Higher Education

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