On 19 January 2022 the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (AMU) organized a whole-day colloquium on “Safe and fair university environment and the Ombudsperson’s role in facilitating it in Prague”.
Upon the invitation of the organisers, Josef Leidenfrost, president of ENOHE, was one of the international speakers.
The conference was designed and set up by the Ombudswoman of the Film and TV School (FAMU), Klára Šimáčková Laurenčíková.
The main purposes of the colloquium were to open a debate on this topic and encourage the further development of the Ombuds role in the Czech academia. Among the international speakers was also Hjördis Czesnik (German Research Ombuds).
Josef Leidenfrost opened his presentation by a quote of Jaroslav Šotola, Ombuds at the Faculty of Arts, Palacký University, Olomouc:
Téma práv studentů je mi blízké.
(The topic of students´ rights is close to my heart.)
In his presentation Josef Leidenfrost highlighted the necessity of the exchange of experiences among Ombuds Offices throughout Europe. The colloquium was a first step towards the development and tightening of relations between colleagues within the Czech Republic and with the ENOHE network.
Josef Leidenfrost’s appeal was warmly received as an important impulse for a planned formation of a local network of university Ombuds in the Czech Republic. Also the possibility of hosting a future ENOHE annual conference in Prague was discussed.
