The Ombuds Blog: Palacký University Olomouc Appoints First Ombuds

March 30, 2026

Palacký University Olomouc Appoints First Ombuds

On February 1, 2026, Univerzita Palackého v Olomouci, the second oldest university in the Czech Republic, named Jaroslav Šotola as its inaugural University Ombudsman. In this new role, Sotola serves faculty from eight schools, staff, and 23,000 students, with concerns including bullying, discrimination, abuse of power, sexual harassment, and other conflicts. As the Ombuds, he provides confidential consultations and informal resolution support but does not adjudicate academic or employment matters.

Šotola has been affiliated with the university’s Faculty of Arts since 2009, working in the Department of Sociology, Andragogy, and Cultural Anthropology. His work has focused on minority integration and power dynamics in academic settings. He previously served as a faculty Ombudsman for students and has completed training in transformative mediation. Šotola has collaborated with the organization People in Need, co-founded the School Ombuds Platform, and is active in the European Network of Ombuds in Higher Education. He graduated from Palacký University Olomouc and Charles University in Prague. (Palacky University Ombuds.)

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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:

Brazil -- Ouvidor

Croatia -- pravobranitelji

France -- médiateur/defénseur

Germany/Austria -- Ombudspersonen and Ombudsleute

Italy -- difensore

Netherlands -- ombudspersoon

Norway -- ombudet

Poland -- Rzecznik

Portugal -- provedor

Russia -- омбудсмен

Spain -- ombudsman organizacional

Sweden -- studentombud

Switzerland -- ombudsmann

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March 30, 2026

Palacký University Olomouc Appoints First Ombuds

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