ENOHE presents:
the 22nd Annual Conference

at University for Continuing Education Krems, Austria
2-4 June 2027

Where Does the Ombuds Stand?
Position, Independence and Governance in Higher Education

The place of the ombuds within the complex structures of higher education institutions raises fundamental questions about independence, impartiality and institutional governance. Where does the ombuds office stand in relation to institutional leadership and management, staff and students? How is independence established and maintained, and how does institutional positioning shape the ability of the ombuds office to act impartially and effectively?

Across higher education systems, different models of ombuds coexist, with different mandates, constituencies and organisational positions. Ombuds may also operate alongside other actors involved in conflict management and institutional development, including human resources, equal opportunities and diversity offices, staff and student representatives, and university leadership. These relationships raise important questions about responsibilities, boundaries and cooperation, as well as about the distinctive contribution of the ombuds within the institution.

At the centre of the theme is a broader question: What role and place does the ombuds have in university governance? Situating the ombuds within the broader context of higher education governance, leadership and organisational development, highlights a role that extends beyond resolving individual conflicts. The role also encompasses institutional learning, feedback and reflection on organisational structures and practices.

ENOHE’s 2027 annual conference will include plenary and working sessions on these topics.  A complementary social programme will also be available.



Call for papers

You submit your proposal here: https://enohe.net/session-proposals-enohe-conference-2027/

Deadline and timeline:
The deadline for receipt of proposals is Friday 15 January 2027.

You will be advised no later than 31 January of the decision on your proposal.

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Conference working sessions are 40 minutes in length, including time for presentation and discussion.

We invite contributions from speakers who will facilitate a participative workshop or deliver a short and focused talk followed by time for questions and discussion. For those delivering a talk, we suggest a maximum of 20 minutes (suggested maximum of 20 slides), to allow time for discussion after the presentation.

Where possible, the organizers will timetable sessions to allow participants to follow a particular theme through the conference if they wish, so please ensure that you will be able to attend the full conference as you will be allocated to a session slot nearer the time. If two or more proposals cover similar or complementary topics, the organisers may ask the proposers to work together to develop a joint presentation.

We also encourage presenters to consider supplementing their presentations with a poster which can remain on display throughout the conference, for the benefit of those who were unable to attend the session itself.

Session proposal format:
Your proposal must include:

  • Session title*: this should succinctly reflect your proposed topic
  • Abstract*: a succinct description of the session to allow delegates to assess whether it will meet their needs (maximum 100 words)
  • Presenter(s): name* of lead speaker (and co-speakers if appropriate), your e-mail address, mobile phone number, name of institution, country, a short description* (maximum 50 words) of your function within your institution
  • Category*: for example, historical review, case study (practice-oriented or policy-oriented), discussion, workshop, poster
  • Topic: Describe briefly how your proposed topic fits into the overall theme of the conference
  • Proposal format: Details of the points you propose to cover, the methods you propose to use in e.g. a discussion group or workshop, etc. (maximum 200 words)

*Information in bold and marked * will be published in the conference program if your proposal is accepted.

Deadline and Submission Form

The deadline for receipt of proposals is Friday 15 January 2027.

You submit your proposal here: https://enohe.net/session-proposals-enohe-conference-2027/

You will be advised no later than 31 January of the decision on your proposal.

For further information: Please email conference2027@enohe.net.

Registration

Conference registration will open no later than mid-March 2027.

The conference fee (which includes refreshment breaks and lunches on the three days, the conference dinner and all other social activities) has not yet been finalised but will be in line with previous ENOHE conferences and will be a maximum of €500 for members, €550 for non-members.

Grants for Ombuds who are new in the field

ENOHE offers support for up to five ombuds in higher education (HE) to attend the ENOHE
Conference. Through this grant initiative, launched in 2025, ENOHE aims to provide access
for ombuds in HE from the Global South who are new to the field to participate in the
conference.

This grant will cover the ENOHE conference registration fee, plus a €500 stipend towards
travel and accommodation expenses.

Eligibility Criteria & Application Procedure

Applicants must:

  • be ENOHE members.
  • have less than three years of ombuds practice at the time they apply.
  • be located in a country of the Global South.
  • submit a brief letter of motivation (not more than one side of A4/letter paper) explaining why they want to participate in the ENOHE Conference.
  • supply a letter of reference* (letters of reference from ENOHE Board Members are excluded).

*If this letter of reference is not from the institution of the applicant, they must additionally
supply a letter of reference from their institution. The reference should confirm that the
applicant has the institution’s permission to attend the conference, and should comment on
the applicant’s suitability for the development opportunity provided by the conference.

After reviewing applications, the Board will select grant recipients from all eligible
applicants.

Application deadline
The deadline for applications has not yet been set.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome within a month of the application deadline.

There is no legal entitlement to receive a grant.

It will be the responsibility of successful applicants to obtain any necessary visas to allow
them to attend, and to make appropriate travel and accommodation reservations.

Post-conference report required before release of grant
Recipients of ENOHE grants will be expected to write a short report after attending the
conference, setting out what they have gained from the conference and how it has assisted
their professional development. The report must be submitted within a month after the end
of the conference.

Programme

You will find link to the full programme here, when it has been announced.

Accommodation Options in Krems

We will list suggestions for accommodation here as soon as possible.

Public Transport Connections

We will list public transport connections here as soon as possible.

Krems recommendations

We will list recommendations about Krems here as soon as possible.

Practical Tips

We will list practical tips about your stay in Krems here as soon as possible.

Questions

If you have any questions about the conference, do not hesitate to contact us at conference2027@enohe.net.

Conference scam alert

ENOHE, conference host or any conference associate is not involved in providing any accommodation or in providing any travel arrangements.