Dutch Union Examines Growth in University Ombuds

An article published this week by the Algemene Onderwijsbond, the Netherlands’ largest education-sector union, reviews the implementation of mandatory university Ombuds offices four years after their inclusion in the 2021 collective labor agreement. While every university is now required to provide staff access to an Ombuds, the article reports uneven implementation, including departures and dismissals of Ombuds at some institutions. Interviews with practitioners and union representatives highlight wide variation in mandate, scope, staffing levels, and institutional support, particularly regarding whether Ombuds are empowered to conduct independent investigations and influence structural change. 

Lies Poesiat, former Ombudsman at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and Carolijn Winnubst, Ombuds at Amsterdam UMC and chair of Landelijke Vereniging van Ombudspersonen in het Onderwijs (Lvoo, the National Association of Ombuds for Education in the Netherlands), emphasize expectation management and independence as central challenges. Both note persistent confusion about the Ombuds role, limits of authority, and the tension between individual case handling and systemic impact. Despite obstacles, they describe the Ombuds function as effective in preventing conflict escalation and addressing organizational blind spots, while calling for clearer mandates, adequate resourcing, and stronger integration into university governance structures. (AOb Article.)

Related posts: New Labor Agreement Will Create Staff Ombuds Positions at Leading Dutch Universities; New Book Offers Guidance for Higher Ed Ombuds; Retirement Marks Transition in Student Ombuds at VU Amsterdam; Amsterdam UMC Selects Next Ombuds.