On April 3-7, 2017, a study meeting for the “Advocacy Establishment for Students through Ombudsman Position (AESOP)” Erasmus + project was held at Warsaw University in Warsaw, Poland.

The purpose of the meeting was to familiarize the participants with the work of the office of the Ombudsman at the University of Warsaw. Rima Mammadova, the project manager for the University and Coordinator of the Center for Students with Disabilities; and Lamia Namazova, Head of Admission Office, represented Khazar University at the meetings.

The meeting started with welcome speeches of Anna Cybulko, The Ombudsman of Warsaw University; Professor Jolanta Choińska-Mika, Vice-Rector for Student Affairs and Quality of Teaching; and Professor Jan Malicki, Center for East European Studies. Professor Ewa Gmurzyńska, Head of the Center of Dispute and Conflict Resolution spoke about systematic approach to academic conflict resolution in the perspective of Warsaw University. Professor Daug Yarn from Georgia State University (USA) also spoke about systematic approach to academic conflict resolution, but in the perspective of the universities in the USA. During the meeting, all regional partners made presentations about their universities. Rima Mammadova made a widely informed presentation about Khazar University, its importance for the education cycle in Azerbaijan Republic, student lifestyle and ways of improving the level of education for students (local and international) which was followed with the Questions & Answers session afterwards. The meeting ended with a guide tour of the University of Warsaw.

On the second day of the meeting, staff of Ombudsman Office, Anna Cybulko and Łukasz Modzelewski made presentations on how to organize an Ombudsman office and what are the roles and duties of Ombudsperson. Following their presentations, representatives of Students’ Unions spoke their roles on providing students’ rights and their collaboration with Ombudsman Office.

The third day of the meeting dedicated to the cooperation of Ombudsman Office with other University authorities, administrations and units. Representatives of the Students’ Office and representative of the Rector’s Anti-Discrimination Commission spoke about their activities,mission and goals and as well as their relationship with Ombudsman Office. Bartłomiej Chludziński, Ombudsman of Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, made a presentation on Ombudsman Office at Nicolaus Copernicus University. He spoke about the history of the Office, its activities and the roles of Ombudsperson. Agnieszka Siedlecka from the Center of Dispute and Conflict Resolution of Warsaw University spoke their activities and explained the roles and duties of mediators.

During the meeting, two Job Shadowings (workshops) were organized: Ombudsman Office leaded by Łukasz Modzelewski and the Center of Dispute and Conflict Resolution leaded by Katarzyna Drzazgowska. Representatives from Khazar University attended both offices and got acquainted with the activities of the Office on the place.

Rima Mammadova also met with Ms Sylwia Salamon, IRO head and Erasmus Institutional Coordinator and Ms Katarzyna Kozdra, responsible for the cooperation with Azerbaijan. She provided information about international projects of Khazar University, possible future co-operation on projects within the Erasmus+ program and presented promotional materials of Khazar University to them.