ENOHE EUROPEAN OMBUDSMAN INSTITUTE AUSTRIAN STUDENT OMBUDSMAN

ENOHE ANNUALCONFERENCE

INNSBRUCK, TYROL , AUSTRIA May 30, 2015

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE AT UNIVERSITIES OMBUDS

OFFICES IN MEXICO

Patricia BegnéMay, 2015

Mexico

University Ombuds Offices:

Independent organizations created by the University Boards.

University Ombuds Offices General Principles:

1. Confidentiality2. Impartiality3. Independence4. Autonomy

University Ombuds Offices Duties:

Preserving the University legal system

Protecting the rights of the University communities

Promoting a culture of respect for Human Rights and its non-binding recommendations

TOWARDS A MODEL OF UNIVERSITY OMBUDS OFFICE

Question:

What is our priority?

Answer: “Helping students

succeed”

Our priority are the students…

What is their agenda? (in the case of Mexico)

YOUTH AGENDA IN MEXICO

EMPLOYMENT:

HEALTH (Reproductive rights)

FREE OF VIOLENCE:

YOUTH AGENDA IN MEXICO+ No Discrimination+ Gender Equality+ No Violence+ Pressure groups within

Universities+ Alcohol and drugs+ Environment+ Access to new information

technologies+ Work opportunities

INSTITUTIONAL STRENGHTENING

Characteristics: Independence Flexible procedures, not formal (rigid) Respect for confidentiality Impartiality in its resolutions Transparency and accountability Based on respect for Human Rights Promoting a civil culture for Human

Rights.

Tolerance and

Respect

No Discriminatio

n

CONSTITUTIONAL

REFORM IN MEXICO ON JUNE

2011

HUMANS RIGHTS

HUMAN RIGHTS CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM

The Constitutional Reform for Human Rights of June 11, 2011, in Mexico strengthens the University

Ombuds Offices

INSTITUTIONAL STRENGHTENING

Our Current Mandate: Objective: Defense of the university community rights Solving problems: Complying with the

University rules; solving individual problems. Our goal: Identifying and solving problems within the University

TO DO LIST : (UNIVERSITY OF GUANAJUATO CASE)

To respond to the agenda of the students

Assist the students with their problems Discussion about the extension of the

duties Promotion of the University Ombuds

offices at a National level

UNIVERSITIES IN THE XXI CENTURY

University students have great expectations of their institutions

Universities must cope with actual challenges

Universities must offer an inclusive environment to meet the needs of our diverse academic communities

UNIVERSITIES IN THE XXI CENTURY

The global context will enable us to offer quality higher education,(ACCORDING TO THE REGIONAL NEEDS) to be

at the cutting edge of the various disciplines, and to

achieve excellence in research

THE WARSAW RESOLUTIONAs agreed upon at the 11th ENOHE Annual Conference in Warsaw, Poland

on May 17, 2014…………………..(in Spain from 1985 onwards, and, most recently in Norway since

2013), the following recommendations are issued as agreed upon at the 11th ENOHEAnnual Conference in Warsaw on May 17, 2014:

· National laws regulating universities and other higher education institutions

within the European Higher Education Area should stipulate the importance of

the creation of independent ombudsmen or ombudsman-type offices to

handle issues and concerns. They should have the necessary authority in their

fields and autonomy (i.e. their offices should be free from instructions and

orders from other organs or authorities within their institutions) - in order to

improve relations between the student body, academic and administrative

organs as well as their staff, officers and representatives, within and outside

the academic sphere.

THE WARSAW RESOLUTION

In addition, the institutionalized communication between the student body

and the aforementioned organs should be improved and facilitated by these

ombudsmen - in order to safeguard the rights of the students and all other

members of the university community when handling complaints and

problems which may arise from deficiencies in the daily work of universities

and other higher education institutions.

LOOKING TO THE FUTURE:

Is it possible to improve the quality of the higher education through the ombuds offices?

Yes it is possible…. 1.- Suggesting reforms and changes to

the legal framework and procedures to improve the regulations and their application by officers and representatives.

2.- Applying at the Ombuds offices the International Human Rights Law

3.- Supporting and spreading the work of the Ombuds office in the community

The ombuds offices gives shape to university rights

To provide quality education, the universities must absolutely have a legal framework to ensure that

rules and regulations are complied with.

The presence of the ombuds offices takes on particular importance.

Keeping in mind three fundamental focal points:

1. Defend and Protect Human Rights

2. Awareness and Education3. Improving institutional

and administration procedures and decisions.

CHALLENGE:

To stimulate the interest of our university

community in knowing, enhancing, and complying

with university rules.

International Cooperation: A factor for mutual growth and enrichment

Dialogue among university partners enriches academic relations. Exchanging ideas helps to strengthen our work.

Patricia BegnéUniversity of Guanajuato

Mexico.Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria. May

30, 2015