The Ombuds Blog: Annual Report from Austrian Student Ombuds Reflects Significant COVID-Related Cases

January 26, 2021

Annual Report from Austrian Student Ombuds Reflects Significant COVID-Related Cases

The Austrian Student Ombudsman (Ombudsstelle für Studierende), Josef Leidenfrost, has just published his eighth annual report, which has been tendered to the Ministry for Education, Science and Research and Parliament. Leidenfrost says that he handled 805 cases in the 2019-20 academic year, a 68% increase from the prior year. Almost 30% of the cases were related to the Covid pandemic — most significantly online teaching and online testing, followed by issues of student housing and international mobility. The report also showed that the office was able to resolve or give the necessary information in 79% of the cases.

In addition to case statistics, the report also contains descriptions of selected cases and proposals for higher education decision makers. (Austrian Student Ombuds 2019-20 Annual Report, English Summary.)

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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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January 26, 2021

Annual Report from Austrian Student Ombuds Reflects Significant COVID-Related Cases

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