How to Protect Students’ Rights and Strengthen the Role of Student Ombudspersons

At the initiative of ENU Ombudsperson Neli Shapekova, a regular meeting of the School of Student Ombudspersons was held at K. Kulazhanov Kazakh University of Technology and Business, focusing on the protection of students’ rights in educational institutions.

The invited speakers included Zhardem Kurmangaziyev, Executive Director of the Central Asian Association of Corporate Secretaries, Zhamaladen Ibragimov, Doctor of Law and Professor at the Department of Constitutional and Civil Law of ENU, Aliya Sagimbayeva, an expert in ethnoculture, Bekzhan Kalmenov, Head of the Youth Affairs Department of Astana, as well as Bakhtiyar Sultankulov, Student Ombudsperson of KazUTB. Student activists from universities across Astana also took part in the event.

During the meeting, key issues related to ensuring and protecting students’ rights were discussed. Particular attention was paid to the role of the student ombudsperson as an independent mediator between students and university administration, capable of responding promptly to appeals and safeguarding students’ legitimate interests.

The most common student concerns identified included violations of academic rights (grading, expulsion, retakes), dormitory accommodation issues, cases of discrimination and conflicts, and adherence to professional ethics by faculty and administrative staff.

The practical part of the session involved case studies aimed at developing skills in conflict analysis, decision-making, and effective stakeholder interaction. Participants were also provided with recommendations on properly filing complaints and maintaining documentation.

A separate segment focused on developing soft skills essential for ombudspersons, including communication, stress management, negotiation, and maintaining neutrality.

At the conclusion of the meeting, participants emphasized the importance of further developing the institution of student ombudspersons, improving students’ legal awareness, and strengthening feedback mechanisms in educational institutions.

The program concluded with a lecture by Aliya Sagimbayeva titled “Tektanu: The Path to Self-Discovery. Resources and Limitations of Being an Effective Professional,” followed by a practical session on creating a genogram as a tool for personal and career development.