Film and TV School of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague Confirms First Ombuds

Faculty at Filmová a televizní fakulta Akademie múzických umění v Praze have elected Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková as the school's first Ombudsperson. FAMU is one of three branches of the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague and is the fifth oldest film school in the world. Laurenčíková established the Ombuds position last year and was serving in an interim basis before her confirmation by the faculty. The FAMU Ombuds serves all members of the school community and practices according to a charter with explicit standards for independence, neutrality & impartiality, confidentiality, and informality.

Laurenčíková is a specialty teacher, the Head of the Czech Society for Inclusive Education, an expert in charge of the children’s mental health agenda at the Ministry of Health, and lectures at the Department of Special Education of Charles University’s Faculty of Education. She is the Chair of the Government Committee for Children’s Rights, a member of the Government Council for Human Rights, a member of the Committee for the Prevention of Domestic Violence and a member of Charles University’s Education 21 think tank. She has worked as a Deputy Minister of Education, a consultant to the Minister of Labour and Social Affairs, an employee at the Jedlička Institute and schools catering to children with health disabilities, and at Caritas Czech Republic. She also worked at the Ministry of Education as the Head of the Department for Equal Opportunities in Education. (FAMU Ombuds; Wikipedia.)