New Book Offers Guidance for Higher Ed Ombuds

A new book, Ombuds Work in Higher Education, addresses all aspects of Ombuds work in higher education, from implementation to everyday Ombuds, with consideration of international differences of an Ombuds’ mandate and powers. The book was written by Lies Poesiat, the long-time Ombuds at Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam. This is the English version of a book she published last year in Dutch, Ombudswerk in het hoger onderwijs: een praktische wegwijzer.

Her book covers:

• How can ombudsmen carry out their work correctly and effectively?
• What kinds of complaints do they investigate?
• How do they deal with complainants and respondents?
• Should complaints of students and employees be handled differently?
• And how do ombudsmen maintain impartiality?

She says that the book is relevant not only to Ombuds, but is also an insightful read for administrators, policy staff and potential users of an Ombuds service.

In addition to her work as an Ombuds at VU and previously at the University of Amsterdam, Poesiat served on the steering committee of ENOHE for many years, co-founded and led the Dutch Association of Higher Education Ombudsmen (VOHO), and lectures nationally and internationally. Her book is now available for pre-order at a discount. (VU University Press.)

Related posts: European Network of Ombudsmen in Higher Education Seeks Feedback; ENOHE Posts Agenda for 2014 Conference; ENOHE Publishes 2013 Conference Report; VU Amsterdam Ombuds Posts Annual Report; New Book Examines Work of Dutch University Ombuds; Student Ombuds at VU Amsterdam Argues for Legislative Mandate.