Scholars who analyse the policies that provide for the rights of international students have tended to focus on challenges posed by racism, discrimination and unjustified stereotyping. This discussion has focussed overwhelmingly on the higher education sector but recently has begun to be extended to vocational and training education (VET). We…

Plagiarism has been characterised as a "major problem" for universities. While tensions between students and universities are inevitable, the problem with the existing system of plagiarism management and prevention is that it operates to problematise the relationship between the university and the student, rather than address the core…

Particular concern about academic ethics in higher education and research institutions (HERIs) in Lithuania was addressed in 2009 by the national decision to establish an Office of Ombudsman for Academic Ethics and Procedures (Office). The decision was taken during the approval of the revised Law on Higher Education and Research by the Parliament…

This Policy Paper aims at analysing the most important aspects of Public Responsibility, Financing and Governance of Higher Educations while seeking to formulate a students perspective on the state of play within the European Higher Education Area (EHEA). In doing so it touches upon the very foundation of how and in which socio-political…

Purpose: As the predicted escalation in the litigation becomes a reality for universities in the UK, increasing importance is placed on the consideration given to the integrity of institutional protocols regulating decision making at all stages of student progression. The purpose of this paper is to outline the structures that are in place to…

Handling appeals against grades is time consuming and requires allocation of resources away from the pursuit of activities such as instruction, research, and supervision of postgraduate students. This study examines grievance policies, frequencies, and outcomes of appeals at the University of California (UCB) and the University of Oslo (UIO). We…

Complaints made to external agencies about Australian universities are rising in both number and complexity. Recent debate has therefore focused upon how to improve grievance handling in the Australian higher education sector. One suggested "solution" is the creation of a national Australian university ombudsman. The UK has recently…

Discusses the freedom of information legislation enacted in New Brunswick and Newfoundland, both of which incorporate the ombudsman concept. Highlights include legislative purpose; interpretation; scope of public access to information; government information systems; exemptions; information requests; and appeal mechanisms to the ombudsman or…

From a learner's standpoint, Scotland's education system often looks less like a neat set of pathways than a tangled jungle. Since devolution, Scottish policymakers and the education community have set out to create a coherent and transparent set of opportunities for adult learners, of a quality to match Scotland's oft-praised unified system of…

Purpose: This article reports findings from a nationwide study on factors associated with the perceived effectiveness of state Long Term Care Ombudsman Programs (LTCOPs). Design and Methods: Researchers conducted telephone interviews with ombudsmen from the 50 state programs as well as from Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. Data from the National…

One of the central aims of the police reform process in Northern Ireland has been to increase the legitimacy of the policing structures and police officers amongst those who are served and policed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). To meet this aim, structures have been created to ensure that the PSNI is accountable to all sections…

Human rights institutions for children play a crucial role in informing children, governments, and the public about children's rights, how those rights can be enforced, and why they are important. This digest discusses the development of human rights institutions for children and the impact of the Convention on the Rights of the Child; it details…

The main objective of the International Congress for Children was to underline the evolution in the concept of children, the idea that children are, above all, human beings and not just "human-beings-to-be." The 39 presentations are divided into 3 parts. The seven papers in the first part examine motives and strategies for children's…

The Ombudsman for Alberta investigated five allegations raised by the Lubicon Lake Indian Band: (1) that provincial officials had deliberately allowed fires in the Band's traditional area to rage unchecked; (2) that provincial and oil company workers had been instructed to bulldoze deliberately Indian traplines and to scare game out of the area by…

A discussion of ombudsmen in Australian universities looks at their role, relevant legislation, problems arising from the limited powers of the position, and the initiation and investigation of complaints. (MSE)