In the past year, the University of Ostrava has concentrated on important steps to enhance social safety and transparency on its academic campus. It has demonstrated that it’s priority is creating a safe environment where all students, academic and non-academic staff can freely communicate and effectively address issues related to discrimination, harassment, unequal treatment, gender stereotypes, and prejudices.

The university has focused on a series of initiatives to support social safety. One of the key measures was the creation of the ombudsperson position, currently held by Nikola Kostlánová. Along with the ombudspersons from the Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty of Arts, as well as contact persons from individual faculties, departments, and the Rectorate, a team has been established to focus on both prevention and practical problem solutions.

“Our priority is to listen and effectively help to resolve unpleasant situations or conflicts throughout the university. Anyone can come without a fear and openly share their concerns or specific issues. Although we are still in the phase of ‘firefighting’ in the area of social safety, every resolved issue, implemented measure, or preventive activity brings us closer to the desired goal, which is creating a safe environment free of unwanted behaviors such as bullying, harassment, intimidation, unequal treatment, and the like,” says Nikola Kostlánová.

Our priority is to listen and effectively help to resolve unpleasant situations or conflicts throughout the university.

Key activities of the university include informative meetings and workshops aimed at educating university staff and students about their rights and effective methods of resolving conflicts and other issues related to social safety. “We want everyone to know where to seek help and how to proceed,” adds Jana Pająk, a contact person at the Rectorate.

In addition, the university has created a series of videos that highlight common problematic situations. These videos visualize the issues, name them, and, in collaboration with leading experts, offer practical advice on how to best address the situations. Two online courses focused on social safety are also available to staff and students.

Another important step was the creation of the document “Practical Guide to Social Safety at the University of Ostrava.” This guide sets out the expected standard of open and respectful behavior that every member of the university community should know and accept.

We want everyone to know where to seek help and how to proceed.

One of the successes of the past year was the improvement of the mediation process in conflict situations, which helped prevent long-term disagreements. This strengthened trust among students and staff, which is crucial for a healthy academic life.

The support and cooperation of the university’s leadership have been key to the success of these initiatives. Positive feedback confirms that the increased attention to social safety is the right step forward. The University of Ostrava is committed to long-term efforts aimed at creating a culture of respect, openness, and equality, which will continue to contribute to the growth and development of the entire university community. However, this first year is just the beginning of a long journey to improving social safety at the university.

To raise awareness of the social safety system at the University of Ostrava, we created a series of reels in 2024. These short videos not only present the system itself but also the roles of the ombudsperson and contact persons. The aim is to ensure easy access to information and support open communication within the university community.