| Why? |
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The University set up the institution of the Ombudsman with the intention of finding new ways to settle conflicts efficiently within the University itself, by means of versatile, flexible and free procedures.
The position of Ombudsman is defined as having the following features:
- Authority rather than power
- Justice rather than law
- Humanism rather than bureaucracy
| Since this figure was set up |
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The figure of the Ombudsman has existed at the URV since 1994. The first person to occupy the post was the lawyer and economist Matias Vives i March, who completed his mandate in November 1999; the second, the lawyer Isabel Baixeras, completed her term in November 2004.
Today, the figure and function of the Ombudsman are fully consolidated at the University.
| Who is the current Ombudsman? |
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Francisco Zapater Esteban was appointed as ombudsman at the session of the University Court of 26th November 2004. Born at Xelva in the Valencia region in 1946, he has lived in Tarragona since 1979, is married and has two children, aged 20 and 16.
He holds a law degree from the University of Valencia, has been a practising lawyer specialising in the fields of criminal and matrimonial law for 26 years and has his office in our city. He lectures in criminal trial law at the Tarragona college of lawyers’ school of legal practice, and was a member of the governing board of this college for eight years. He is a member of the Catalan association of democratic jurists and is a regular contributor to the local newspaper El Diari de Tarragona and to the journal Fòrum Jurídic with articles of opinion concerning social, political, legal and local matters.
He is a clerk of court (on leave of absence) and in the 1970’s worked at the courts of Valencia, Vilanova i la Geltrú and Tarragona. For five years he taught law at the school of social work in Tarragona.
| Functions |
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The statutes of the Rovira i Virgili University assign to the ombudsman the function of upholding the rights of members of the university community before the governing, representative or administrative bodies of the University.
The Ombudsman acts on his/her own initiative or upon request by someone else in warning of the effective infringement of a right.
His/her actions are not subject to the instructions of any academic authority or governing body.
| Area of action |
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The area of action of the ombudsman of the Rovira i Virgili University is the University itself.
In cases where the action called for goes beyond this area, s/he may advise the interested party concerning a request for action by other bodies which exist to uphold citizens’ rights.
| Scope of action |
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The ombudsman accepts applications or complaints warning that an infringement of rights may have occurred within the University. Anonymous complaints cannot be accepted, nor can those which are unfounded or which involve no claim. The ombudsman may not intervene in matters subject to a court of law or in conflicts which are awaiting judicial resolution.
Once the complaint or application for mediation has been accepted, the ombudsman takes steps to attempt to reach compromise solutions to the conflicts put to him/her.
When mediation or compromise are not possible, the ombudsman’s action before the University’s governing, representative or administrative bodies takes the form of recommendations.
| System of appointment and supervision |
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The ombudsman is appointed by the University Court by a majority of three fifths of those present, from amongst people of recognised standing who do not belong to the university community. Appointment is upon the initiative of the rector, who appoints and dismisses the ombudsman on the basis of a prior report by the University Council. Their mandate is for five years, and they may not serve consecutive terms.
The Ombudsman
The Ombudsman
Francisco Zapater
Carrer de l'Escorxador, s/n, 43003 Tarragona
Tel. +34 977 559 761 - Fax: +34 977 559 511
Monday and Wednesday, from 9am to 2pm and from 4 to 7pm, on other days from 8am to 2pm at 977 559 761