The Use of the Ombudsman's Services for Alleviating International Students' Difficulties

Abstract

This article offers some suggestions regarding the development of a support strategy by ombudsmen in order to alleviate international students' difficulties when studying in host universities. It is also shown how the Organisational Justice Theory can be used as a framework for understanding the role of ombudsman in higher education settings and how this theory underlines the importance of informational power as a remedy to alleviate the students' difficulties. The main implication drawn from the discussion is that cultural variables may suggest specific care on designing appropriate support strategies where the role of Information Communication Technology (ICT) could be explored. Finally, the article offers some suggestions and a service plan showing how power perceptions of the service provider can impact the students' reaction to the quality of the service.

An investigation of preceptors' perceptions of behavioral elements of “professionalism” among genetic counseling students

“…There is very little research on recourse available to students who receive a perceived unfair clinical evaluation, particularly in “professionalism”. However, Katsara (2015) provides many examples of the use of a university ombudsman as an impartial mediator between international students and university superiors in other types of academic‐related disputes, which could also be beneficial in “professionalism”‐based genetic counseling student disputes.…”

“…However, Katsara (2015) provides many examples of the use of a university ombudsman as an impartial mediator between international students and university superiors in other types of academic-related disputes, which could also be beneficial in "professionalism"-based genetic counseling student disputes.…”