By joining the International Ombudsperson Association (IOA), the Office of the Student Ombudsperson of the Faculty of Law in Zagreb committed itself to respecting the highest standards of work, while respecting the rich tradition of the members of this prestigious world association.

Basic principles that govern our work are independence, impartiality and objectivity, confidentiality and transparency.

Independence

The Office of the Student Ombudsperson is completely independent by its structure, function and operation. Although the function of the student ombudsperson derives from the Students’ Union of the Faculty of Law in Zagreb, the ombudsperson is independent in his work and regularly submits a report on his work to the Students’ Union.

Impartiality and objectivity

The Office of the Student Ombudsperson shall remain neutral and objective in its work and shall not participate in any treatment that could lead to a conflict of interest.

Confidentiality

The Office of the Student Ombudsperson shall hold all communications with students seeking assistance or advice in the strictest confidence and shall not disclose any confidential communication without explicit permission to do so. Access to confidential communication is limited only to the student ombudsperson. The principle of confidentiality represents the basis for successful work of the ombudsperson in relation to students.

Transparency

The work of the student ombudsperson is fully transparent. The student ombudsperson submits quarterly reports to the Students’ Union in order to ensure supervision of the quality of work of the ombudsperson. The ombudsperson also submits an annual detailed report on the work of the Office of the Student Ombudsperson and the status of student rights at the Faculty of Law in Zagreb. The annual report is available on the ombudsperson’s website and is published in the journal “Pravnik”.

You can contact us at:

1. E-mail: pravobranitelj.pravo@gmail.com

• a regular, strictly trustworthy way of communicating with students, available for specific inquiries, as well as for any idea or invitation to cooperate with our Office regarding the promotion of student rights
• possibility to hold a meeting via GoogleMeet

2. Facebook (fb: https://www.facebook.com/pravobranitelj.pfzg/ )

• informal form of cooperation between ombudspersons and students that enables immediate resolution of problems without the need to leave the NUL or the warmth of their own home, especially popular during the examination deadlines

3. Through an Instagram page (ig: @pravobranitelj_pfzg)

• sending specific inquiries, announcements clarifying individual student rights…

4. Live (by appointment)

1. Who can contact the Student Ombudsperson?

All students of the Faculty of Law in Zagreb – students of integrated study of law, as well as students of social work, public administration and public finances – can contact the Ombudsperson of the Faculty of Law in Zagreb. If the institution of the Student Ombudsperson is not established at a particular faculty or if the inquiries relate to the realisation of student accommodation, meals or scholarships, there is an institute of the University Ombudsperson which can be contacted by e-mail (pravobranitelj.unizg@gmail.com)

2. Frequent misconceptions about the Student Ombudsperson

The Student Ombudsperson is not competent for the issues of administrative-technical nature or generic complaints of students (the question of increasing the number of examination periods, improvement of student standards, problems in contact with individual teachers or departments…). The Student Ombudsperson is not a student’s legal representative. The Ombudsperson advises and assists students in communication between the administration, individual departments and teachers, and students. For the questions of administrative-technical nature, an answer can be found in a group of questions and answers published on the official website of the faculty, or a solution can be found by contacting the Student Administration Office staff members of the Faculty of Law in Zagreb. The Students’ Union of the Faculty of Law is responsible for all generic questions, and it can be contacted at szpfzg@gmail.com.

3. Will my complaint be published somewhere?

All student complaints are completely anonymous. The Student Ombudsperson is a member of the International Ombudsperson Association and is therefore obliged to implement the high ethical and professional principles of the organisation. Also, the Student Ombudsperson is completely independent from the Students’ Union and the Faculty Management in his/her work. More information can be found in the special sub-menu “principles of work”.

• The Student Ombudsperson is a student of the Faculty of Law of the University of Zagreb appointed by the Students’ Union of the Faculty of Law in Zagreb.
• The Students’ Union shall call for the election of the Student Ombudsperson no later than 30 days before the end of the term of office of the current Student Ombudsperson. All interested students can apply to the public call if they have earned a minimum of 60 ECTS credits in the last two academic years (not including the current one).
• The Student Ombudsperson is selected on the basis of a public call to students published on the pages of the Students’ Union and the Student Ombudsperson.
• The Student Ombudsperson shall be elected by secret ballot.
• The term of office of the Student Ombudsperson lasts one year.
• The same person can be selected no more than twice.