Prof. UJ, Dr hab. Beata Kowalska

Professor Kowalska works at the Institute of Sociology of the Jagiellonian University. She combines her research work with experience in participating in gender equality programmes, both domestic and international. The Jagiellonian University representative at the IsSPIREurope initiative (Horizon 2020) and the Scholars at Risk Network, working towards ensuring academic freedom and protection of repressed members of the academic community.

The Pro Arte Docendi laureate, awarded to exceptional academic teachers working at the Jagiellonian University. Notable bursaries and internships include Cambridge University, the Institute for Human Sciences in Vienna, American Centre for Oriental Research in Amman, New School for Social Research in New York, Rutgers University, Buffalo University.

The Academic Ombudsperson Office is a safe space available to all members of the Jagiellonian University community.

You can notify the Academic Ombudsperson of any matter pertaining to your educational or professional activity at the University. Such matters might include, among other things, the feeling of unjust or inappropriate treatment or contentious situations which impinge on your life, work, or education at the Jagiellonian University. You can also notify the Academic Ombudsperson through the Student Government, the Jagiellonian University PhD Students’ Association, or unions operating at the university.

In her actions, the Ombudsperson is governed by the principles of independence, impartiality, and confidentiality, and seeks to reach an amicable solution to the conflicts inside the university community.

We provide a friendly, informal, and confidential place to talk about the fears, conflicts, or difficult situations which you might experience or be a witness of at the University, to collectively think about your options and take appropriate preventive or explanatory actions. Contacting the Academic Ombudsperson or talking to her does not mean the initiation of any formal procedure or notifying other university institutions.

The Academic Ombudsperson might provide support in difficult situations by:

• providing a safe and informal space to talk about the problems arising during your educational or professional activity at the University
• giving information pertaining to the laws being in force at the Jagiellonian University
• investigating and giving information concerning the available methods and procedures of reporting various problems
• directing you to the institution or other university body responsible for solving the problem or case you are reporting
• relaying feedback about the occurrence of a systemic problem, while maintaining complete confidentiality
• using conciliatory methods to resolve the conflict or mitigate the tension

With her complete involvement, the Ombudsperson will try to provide support and look for the solution of the problem, but due to the nature of the office the Ombudsperson:

• will not engage in determining the facts of the matter
• will not commence the formal procedure of asserting your rights for you
• will not favour one conflicted side over the other but try to find a fair solution to the problem

The Academic Ombudsperson Office of the Jagiellonian University is available to all members of the Jagiellonian University community: students, PhD students, teaching and administrative staff.

Independence

The actions of the Academic Ombudsperson are independent of other academic structures. We operate in the Rector’s Division and are subordinate to the university authorities in matters of the budget and administration.

Confidentiality

The communication with the Academic Ombudsperson Office is confidential (both ways). The Academic Ombudsperson Office does not keep records of any specific personal information which would enable the identification of the visiting party. Such information and details of the case are not made available to anyone without the consent of the notifier.

Each year, we must fulfil the reporting obligation, which only includes consolidated data presenting the status of violations of academic values and rights. Its objectives are to summarise the actions taken by the Ombudsperson and the Office as well as to identify the problematic areas to provide possible recommendations pertaining to systemic changes.

The exceptions to the confidentiality rule are the possibility of direct threat or serious harm (danger to life, for instance) and an informed consent of the notifier to initiate an informal procedure by the Academic Ombudsperson Office.

Impartiality and neutrality

The Academic Ombudsperson will not favour one conflicted side over the other. She is an advocate of a fair process of resolving conflicts. We analyse the standpoints of all conflicted parties involved in the matter in order to provide support in reaching an acceptable agreement. Contacting the Ombudsperson is volitional and does not mean the initiation of any official academic procedures.

Following the resolution of the Senate of the Jagiellonian University, each year, we are obliged to prepare a report pertaining to the actions taken by the Academic Ombudsperson. However, the report will not include any confidential information but will present consolidated data describing the status of violated academic rights and values each year.