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URV

University Ombuds Office

The URV Ombuds Office is the body responsible for defending the rights of all members of the university community.

Why the Ombuds Office was created

The URV created the University Ombuds Office to find new and efficient ways of resolving conflicts at the University by adopting free, swift and flexible procedures.

The URV Ombuds Office is governed by the following principles:

  • Authority rather than power
  • Justice rather than law
  • Humanism rather than bureaucracy

Previous Ombuds

The URV Ombuds Office was created in 1994. The first URV Ombud was lawyer and economist Matias Vives March, who held the office until November 1999. The next Ombuds were lawyers Isabel Baixeras Delclòs, Francisco Zapater Esteban, Montserrat Boronat Piqué, Josep Canício Querol and Encarnació Ricart Martí,  who held the office until November 2004, November 2009, November 2014, November 2019 and November 2024, respectively.

Today, the office and functions of the Ombud are fully consolidated at the URV.

The current Ombud

Francesc Xavier Rius Ferrús, professor emeritus of the URV. Doctor in Chemical Sciences from the University of Barcelona.

During his active period at the URV he combined various teaching positions in the Faculty of Chemistry with postdoctoral visits at the University of Leeds in England and the Free University of Brussels. University professor; he was head of the research group in Chemistry, Qualimetry and Nanosensors.

He co-founded two technology-based companies that are still active.

He was dean of the Faculty of Chemistry for six years, a member of the URV's Management Committee and vice-rector for research from 1997 to 2002. He was also director of the URV's Doctoral School and responsible for quality in doctoral programmes throughout Spain for the Ministry of Education and Science. He also directed the Department of Analytical Chemistry and Organic Chemistry at the URV.

Outside academia, his social work includes his time as director of the charities Càritas Interparroquial de Tarragona and Càritas Diocesana de Tarragona. He is currently head of the NGO Òscar Romero Solidarity Committee and member of the permanent committee of the Tarragona Municipal Council for Cooperation and Sustainability.

Functions of the Ombuds Office

The URV's Statute entrusts the Ombuds Office to defend the rights of all members of the university community before the University's governing, representative and administrative bodies.

The Ombuds Office acts ex officio or at the request of a party, when it detects an effective violation of a right. Its actions are not subject to instructions from any academic authority or governing body.

Scope of action

The URV Ombuds Office's scope of action is the same as the University's. When the action required exceeds this scope, the Office may refer the interested party to other bodies responsible for defending citizens' rights.

Extent of action

The Ombuds Office responds to requests or complaints when it recognizes that a violation of rights may have occurred at the URV. It does not accept anonymous complaints nor does it accept those without basis or foundation. The Office cannot intervene in court matters or disputes pending judicial resolution

Once the Ombuds Office has agreed to process a complaint or request for mediation, it carries out actions to reach a compromise over the conflicts involved.

If it proves impossible to agree on mediation or settlement, the Ombuds Office intervenes before the University's governing, representative or administrative bodies by making recommendations

Designation and control

The University Ombud is a professional of recognized prestige who is not a member of the university community. He or she is chosen by the University Senate according to a three-fifths majority of those present at the session. On receiving a prior report from the URV Social Council, the selection process is begun by the rector, who is also responsible for appointing and discharging the selected candidate. The Ombud is appointed for a five-year term that may not be renewed consecutively.

Registering and complaint

Who can register a complaint?

Complaints to the URV Ombuds Office can be made by any member of the university community, i.e. teachers, students or administration and services staff.

How is a complaint made?

To register a complaint, an interested party must be willing to provide their personal and university information. The complaint must also be accompanied by copies of any relevant documents.

A model complaint form is available for interested parties.

For further information or guidance or to follow up any action undertaken, interested parties may contact the Ombuds Office in person, over the telephone, by written request registered at any university administrative office, by mail or by email.

Model complaint form

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