PROFIL PRACOWNIKA: Krzysztof Kędziora

At the beginning of 2025 I have been appointed as the Academic Ombudsman. This is a new institution at the University of Lodz, although it has been operating in the academic world for some time.

The Academic Ombudsman can be approached by any member of the academic community (students, research and teaching staff, administrative and technical staff) in a situation where something is inappropriate, inadequate or violates their rights or dignity. The Office of the Academic Ombudsman is a place where you can discuss your situation, present the problem you are facing, report illegal or unethical behaviour, point out malfunctioning institutions or institutional solutions at the University of Łódź, while maintaining confidentiality. The ombudsman, acting informally, assists all those who turn to him by informing them about the procedures in force at the University of Lodz, discussing the possibility of solving the problem or facilitating mediation. In the case of problems of a systemic or institutional nature, the Academic Ombudsman informs the University authorities and suggests possible solutions. The range of problems and cases that can be referred to the Ombudsman is not predetermined by their nature and may include unfair grading, conflicts between students and staff, bullying, harassment, including sexual harassment. Many cases are not obvious in nature and the Office of the Academic Ombudsman is the place to discuss and understand them.

The Ombudsman's work is based on four principles:

Confidentiality - the identity of those who approach the Academic Ombudsman and the communications between them are kept confidential. They may only be disclosed with the consent of the person concerned or in situations provided for by law.

Independence - The Academic Ombudsman is independent in his or her actions. As stated in the Regulation on the Appointment of the Academic Ombudsman at the University of Lodz: "The Academic Ombudsman shall neither accept nor seek instructions from anyone in the performance of his/her duties".

Impartiality - The Academic Ombudsperson shall be impartial and shall not be involved in situations that may create a conflict of interest.

Informality - The role of the Academic Ombudsperson is to resolve conflicts amicably and before formal procedures become necessary, to assist all individuals in asserting their rights and to protect those who report wrongdoing.

The office of the Academic Ombudsman is located in the building of the Support and Accessibility Centre, 152 Pomorska St. Office hours are Tuesdays, 11.30-13.00. Personal contact is also possible at other times by appointment. E-mail contact: rpa@uni.lodz.pl or krzysztof.kedziora@uni.lodz.pl.

• My areas of expertise are ethics and political philosophy (the problem of justice, the problem of justification, the ethics of discourse), and Polish philosophy, especially Stanisław Brzozowski. Recently, I have been working on philosophical issues of refugee rights.
  
• I am a member of the editorial board of Folia Philosophica. Ethica-Aesthetica-Practica and the internet philosophical journal Hybris.
  
• I co-organise the Normativity and Praxis conference series.
  
• I teach Introduction to Ethics and Ethics 2.0 and many other courses.