Sindicatura de Greuges (Ombuds office)
The Sindicatura de Greuges (Ombuds office) is a figure appointed by the Board of Trustees of the Fundació per a la Universitat Oberta de Catalunya (FUOC). Their mission is to uphold the rights and responsibilities of all the members of the University. They act with full independence, autonomy, objectivity and impartiality from all of the University’s other bodies.
Who is the UOC's Sindicatura de Greuges?
The UOC's Sindicatura de Greuges is Teresa Sancho.
Teresa Sancho is Professor of Mathematical Education at the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya. She has been the director of the Bachelor's Degree in Applied Data Science (2018-2022), Vice President for Research and Innovation (2011-2013), Director of Research in the Office of the Vice President for Research and Innovation (2009-2011) and director of the Information and Knowledge Society doctoral programme (2004-2006) at the UOC.
She has a PhD in Electronic Engineering from Ramon Llull University and a licentiate degree in Mathematics from the University of Barcelona (1990).
What are the functions of the Sindicatura?
The functions of the Sindicatura de Greuges are:
- To defend the rights and liberties of the members of the UOC university community when infringed by any act or situation of discrimination, defencelessness or arbitrariness, and to ensure compliance with all of the University’s regulations.
- To protect and defend in those issues submitted to them or in which they decide to act. They also inform on the University’s operations in order to improve university quality throughout. To do so, they may attend meetings of the University’s governing bodies in an advisory capacity.
The Sindicatura's activities will always ensure the defence of university quality throughout, and the University's values in particular, including the need to provide a forum for exchange, creation of knowledge and people's education.
The Sindicatura de Greuges may draft reports on a specific topic, on their own initiative or at the request of the University's Governing Council or Board of Trustees.
The Sindicatura may, as part of their decisions and resolutions, make warnings, suggestions or recommendations to University authorities or staff as to their legal duties, but, under no circumstances, can they modify or annul records or resolutions.
How can I contact the Sindicatura de Greuges?
You can contact the Office of the Sindicatura de Greuges if you wish to:
- Lodge a complaint for infringement of your rights.
- Make those suggestions you deem fit to contribute to improving the University.
The Regulations for the Universitat Oberta de Catalunya Sindicatura de Greuges (the information is currently available in Catalan and Spanish, but will soon also be available in English) cover the procedures for and handling of the complaints received by this office. Before making an enquiry, complaint or appeal to the Sindicatura de Greuges (Ombuds office), please bear in mind the following:
- The person making the complaint must be a member of the UOC university community.
- Complaints, enquiries and suggestions must be presented by the interested party in writing, and include their name, surname, email address and link to the UOC.
- This document must be simple, direct and concise, and respectful in tone. Likewise, where applicable, it must detail the procedures undertaken with the university’s administration and be accompanied by any documentation that may make the case clearer.
- Anonymous complaints will not be accepted, nor will those with insufficient basis or merit, or all those that would prejudice the legitimate rights of a third party.
- The time between the event for which the complaint is made and its presentation in writing to the Sindicatura must not exceed three months.
- Complaints will not admitted that have not exhausted all the channels for their resolution provided by the UOC, such as the Help Service or the Complaint Response Service.
- Complaints will not be admitted when the same issue is pending legal resolution.
The confidentiality of the personal details and information received by the Sindicatura de Greuges from people requesting intervention, and all that obtained during their investigations, is guaranteed. These data will be handled in compliance with the data protection regulations in force.
Report of the 'Sindicatura de Greuges'
See the annual Report of the Sindicatura de Greuges.