The Ombuds Blog: Momentum for Academic Ombuds in Polish Universities Worries Some Unions

September 20, 2019

Momentum for Academic Ombuds in Polish Universities Worries Some Unions

Several leading universities in Poland are considering the appointment of Academic Ombuds following the lead of U.S. universities. Currently only the University of Warsaw has an Ombuds, Anna Cybulko, but the University of Silesia expects to appoint its first Ombuds by the end of the year. Ombuds are also under review at Jagiellonian University, the University of Rzeszów, and the University of Bialystok. Polish union leaders, who have traditionally negotiated issues involving university employees, are growing concerned about the new Ombuds.

"The appointment of an ombudsman for academic rights and freedoms is getting into the shoes of trade unions," Janusz Rak, president of the Council of Higher Education and Science of the ZNP, told Dziennik Gazeta Prawna. Dr. Marek Kisilowski from the NSZZ National Solidarity Science Section was more explicit: "The appearance of an ombudsman for academic rights and values on some of them is a step towards the actual ousting of trade unions from universities." (Dziennik Gazeta Prawna.)

Related posts: ENOHE and ACCUO Announce Agenda for 2018 Conference in Scotland; ENOHE Releases Full Agenda for 2019 Conference in Spain.

1 comment:

Mark P.9/21/2019 8:12 AM
Maybe they can send some reps to California universities. Ombuds haven't undermined unions here
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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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