ENOHE Releases Full Agenda for 2019 Conference in Spain

The European Network of Ombudsmen in Higher Education has posted the agenda for its fifteenth annual conference, "Defending and Protecting Rights within Higher Education: Stocktaking, Looking Ahead," hosted by the University of León June 26-28, 2019. 

Day 1: Wednesday, June 26, 2019

• Registration.
• Welcome to León – Rector of the Leon Unversity, Juan Francisco García Marín, and Procurador del Común (Ombuds of Castile and Leon), Tomás Quintana López [all welcome, including partners].
• Penary: Putting ourselves on the map – facilitated by Anabelén Casares Marcos. Adjunta Procurador del Común.
• Working sessions 
  • Working session A: Ombudswork unlimited? How to be influencers in Higher Education. Speakers: Anna-Katharina Rothwangl and Michael Gruber (Office of the Austrian Student Ombudsman, Vienna, Austria).
  • Working session B: Is small (really always) beautiful? On different ways of complaint handling in large and not quite so large institutions. Speakers: Wolfram Aigner (University of Linz, Austria), Anna Cybulko (University of Warsaw, Poland), Josef Leidenfrost (Office of the Austrian Student Ombudsman, Vienna, Austria), Felicity Mitchell (Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education, Reading, UK).
• Lunch and networking
• Working sessions 
  • Working session C: Network of Experts on Student Support in Europe – NESSIE: The Benefits of Interaction within the European Higher Education Area. Speaker: Hermann Holubetz (Office of the Austrian Student Ombudsman, Vienna, Austria). Improving the University’s Capacity for Conflict: The Overlooked Field of Action of the Ombuds. Speaker: Wolf Hertlein (TU Darmstadt, Germany).
  • Working session D: Structure of staff in the Spanish public universities: Professional career (access, promotion and mobility). Speakers: M. Sánchez-Pinilla, P. Mayor-Gutiérrez, E. Olías-Ruiz (University Carlos III, Madrid, Spain)
• Working sessions 
  • Working session E: Ombudsing in the digital age – How do we adapt to the digital generation. Are we prepared? Speaker: Sindre Dueland (Norway).
  • Working session F: The development of a basic course for Ombuds in the Netherlands Speakers: Paul Herfs (Utrecht University; the Netherlands), Stephen Querido (The Hague University of Applied Sciences; the Netherlands).
• Close
• Social events:

• Music and poetry event

• Visit to the Museum of “Panteón de los Reyes” (Real Colegiata de San Isidoro)

• “Ruta de vino y tapas” around the old town

Day 2: Thursday June 27, 2018

• Election process.
• Working sessions 
  • Working sessions G: Confronting Privilege to Achieve Equitable Fairness: An Intersectionality Approach to Ombudsing. Speaker: Natalie Sharpe (University of Alberta, Canada).
  • Working sessions H: Like walking on eggshells - Maximizing the student ombud’s impact on The University of Copenhagen. Speaker: Bo Gad Køhlert (University of Copenhagen, Denmark).
• Plenary: From the past to the future, through the present, with an Ombuds Spanish perspective.
• Working sessions 
• Working sessions I: Tips and Traps for New Ombuds – The Sherriff or The Lone Ranger? Speaker: Franco Parrella (University of South Australia).
• Working sessions J: When Ombuds offices close. Speaker: Jenna Brown (University of Denver, USA).
• Lunch and networking.
• Working sessions 
  • Working sessions K: Grievances Concerning Pure Academic Matters Part 2. Speaker: Daniel More (University of Tel Aviv, Israel).
  • Working sessions L: The Recent and Rapid Development of the Ombuds for Students in Norway – A Glance at the Past and some Reflections on what Lies Ahead. Speaker: Marianne Høva Rustberggard (University of Oslo, Norway).
• Working sessions 
  • Working sessions M: We want more complaints! Speaker: Jean Grier (University of Edinburgh, Scotland).
  • Working sessions N: The Innsbruck Descriptors 2015: A Reality Check 2019 with Insights from Spain and Canada. Speakers: Marta Alonso de la Varga (University of León, Spain), Nora Farrell (Ryerson University, Canada), Paulino César Pardo Prieto (University of León, Spain), Natalie Sharpe (President of the Canadian Ombuds Network).  
• Business meeting / General Assembly for ENOHE members.
• Social events:

• Spanish medieval music event.

• Reception and gala dinner, Hostal Real Colegiata de San Isidoro (partners welcome at cost, pre-booking essential via the conference booking form).

Day 3: Friday, June 28, 2018

• Working sessions 
  • Working session O: The principles of good complaints handling and sharing good/best practice. Speakers: Nicola Driver / Roesmary Agnew ( Scottish Public Services Ombudsman, Edinburgh, Scotland), Siobhan Hohls (Office of the Independent Adjudicator in England and Wales, Reading, UK).
  • Working session P: Los necesarios marcos legais para la defensoria en la enseñanza superior portugesa. Speaker: Irene Portela (IPCA, Portugal). Acción proactiva ombudsman de los estudiantes. Speaker: Pedro de Matos Gonçalves (Polytechnic of Leiria, Portugal).  
• Plenary session: International relation between Ombuds networks. Institutional representatives of ENOHE (European Network of Ombudsmen in Higher Education), RIdDU (Red Iberoamericana de Defensorías Universitarias), CEDU (Conferencia Estatal de Defensores Universitarios Españoles) and REDEPEES (Rede de Provedores do Estudante do Ensino Superior).
• Working sessions 
  • Working session Q: Engagement with service users. Speaker: Rob Behrens (Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman,UK).
  • Working session R: Students on the university front line: Why aren’t your institutions using graduate student staff to support early resolution efforts? Speakers: Heather McGhee Peggs (University of Toronto, Canada), Natalie Sharpe (University of Alberta, Canada).
• Lunch and networking.
• Working sessions 
• Working session S: Establishment of Ombuds Offices - an added value to student-oriented educational environment in Georgia. Speaker: Tam.ta Demetradze (ATSU, Georgia).
• Closing remarks, invitation for Athens 2020 – Josef Leidenfrost and Panagiotis Kavouras (Skype).
• Optional event, visit to Leon Cathedral (guests welcome at cost).

The conference fee is 300 € and includes lunches, coffee breaks, music and poetry events, ruta de tapas, pre-conference dinner and gala dinner. Registration is now open. (ENOHE 2019 Conf.)

Related posts: ENOHE Newsletter Marks Decennial; ENOHE and ACCUO Announce Agenda for 2018 Conference in Scotland; ENOHE Changes Name and Selects New Leader; ENOHE and ACCUO Publish Report from 2018 Conference; ENOHE Adds Training Day to 2019 Conference Agenda.