Both ombudsmen spoke about the scope of their work and the wide range of issues they address as part of their agenda. They deal with concerns raised by both students and university employees. In some cases, they are contacted by individuals who were affiliated with the university in the past. Nevertheless, members of the general public may also reach out to them.

In general, Eva Janovičová and Kateřina Šámalová work to ensure that the university environment is safe, just, and fair.

The discussion was opened by Stanislav Balík, the Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences at Masaryk University, who noted that despite all their best efforts, situations sometimes arise at universities that need to be addressed.

The experts from Masaryk and Charles Universities also noted that there is no set formal procedure for when individuals should contact them with specific concerns. Each case is highly individual, and the most appropriate course of action can vary significantly. However, they agreed that it is always better to reach out to the ombuds early—when a potential issue is just beginning to emerge—rather than waiting until it has escalated.

You can contact Masaryk University‘s Ombuds Eva Janovičová by email, by phone, or through the contact form available on the website.