Welcome to the Ombudsman’s page! This space aims to facilitate the communication process between the Students and the Ombudsman. Because all opinions are important to us, don’t hesitate to contact us!
The Student Ombudsman’s mission is to defend and promote the rights and duties of the students of Universidade Portucalense in all situations of their university life. The Student Ombudsman is independent and autonomous, both in relation to the University’s bodies and services and to external public and private entities.
- To assess the Requests, Complaints, Grievances and Suggestions presented by students.
- Mediate conflicts of interest presented and/or detected.
- Indicate and suggest solutions to solve these problems.
- Issue recommendations.
- On its own initiative.
- By request of students individually or collectively.
- By request of the Student Associations.
- By request from any of the other organs and services of the University.
- Issuing opinions.
- On its own initiative.
- By request of students individually or collectively.
- By request of the Student Associations.
- By request from any of the other organs and services of the University.
- The Ombudsman cannot decide on guilt or responsibility, cannot take part in formal litigation proceedings, nor can he be a witness for the student or the University.
The Ombudsman and those who collaborate with him/her are, under the terms of the law, subject to the duty of confidentiality and secrecy regarding the information in the files in respect of the privacy of the intervening parties. The identification of the student(s) may only be revealed if it is indispensable and with their express authorisation. The duty of confidentiality shall not apply whenever
If, in the course of any proceedings, sufficient evidence of the commission of disciplinary offences arises, the Student Ombudsman has a duty to inform the competent body(ies)
If the facts found indicate that criminal offences have been committed, the Student Ombudsman is obliged to inform the Public Prosecutor’s Office.
All organs and services of the University have the duty to cooperate with the Ombudsman, namely to provide all the clarifications and information requested by the Ombudsman within the scope of his functions. Student associations, as well as the student or students interested in the process under analysis, are also subjected to the duty of cooperation. Unjustified failure to comply with the duty of cooperation constitutes an act of disobedience subject to disciplinary proceedings.
Students may, individually or collectively, present to the Ombudsman: Requests, Complaints, Grievances and Suggestions related to the action or omission of the University bodies and services.
Complaints or claims are subject to a preliminary assessment in order to evaluate their admissibility.
Once the Requests, Complaints, Grievances and/or Suggestions have been admitted, the Ombudsman shall take the necessary and adequate measures to solve them. In duly justified cases of urgency, the Ombudsman may set a written deadline for the satisfaction of the requests.
In all circumstances the involved parties must be informed in a reasoned manner.
The Ombudsman may also propose, on his own initiative, changes related to the action or omission of the University’s bodies and services, in order to improve the level of satisfaction, rights and legitimate interests of the University’s students.
Ombudsman
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The Student Ombudsman is the faculty member especially in charge of ensuring the connection between students, at individual or collective level, and the academic bodies, by receiving, analysing, forwarding, giving an opinion on and answering student claims, complaints or petitions, as well as advising or elaborating proposals addressed to the academic bodies and to the institution.
