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A safe academic environment open to discussion — that is one of the main goals of student ombudspersonship at the Faculty of Education of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. But how does such a student ombudsperson work in practice? And who can turn to them, and when? We asked the new student ombudswoman of the Faculty of Education, Anna Řehořová, and her deputy, Šárka Dvořáčková.

What does the work of a student ombudswoman or ombudsman involve?

Anna Řehořová: An ombudsperson is entrusted with helping anyone who turns to them. They serve as a point of contact for handling complaints or difficult situations that an individual cannot handle on their own. These are often cases where a student fears that direct contact with a teacher or superior could jeopardize their position and, therefore, prefers to remain anonymous. However, it is important to note that the ombudsperson is not a punitive authority but rather a bridge between different parts of the institution. We greatly value this role. Alongside the university-wide ombudsman, Petr Šimon, this position exists at only three faculties within the UWB — the Faculty of Arts, the Faculty of Applied Sciences, and ours. In fact, our faculty was the first to establish the role of a student ombudsperson.

How can students contact you?

Students can reach us via email at s-ombudsman@fpe.zcu.cz, either individually or as a group. The range of issues we deal with is very broad — from simple questions to problems involving unfair treatment by teachers or fellow students, or anything else that troubles them in the academic environment.

What happens when someone contacts you? How do you proceed?

Šárka Dvořáčková: It depends on the nature of the issue. Sometimes an answer to a question is enough; other times, we address the situation, for example, with the department where the problem arose. If the matter is more complex or more comfortable for the student, we arrange an in-person meeting. In more serious cases, we also cooperate with the university ombudsman. Everything is handled discreetly — if someone does not wish to provide their name, we will not share it with anyone. The goal is not to cause trouble, but to find a solution and, if necessary, to monitor how the situation develops.

Would you like to send a message to students who are unsure whether to contact you?

Anna Řehořová: You cannot make things worse by visiting an ombudsperson. Often, even just a conversation can help. We always agree with students in advance on how to handle the situation. The purpose of our role is to ensure that no one has to face difficult situations alone. Even a seemingly small problem deserves to be heard.