The Use of the Ombudsman's Services for Alleviating International Students' Difficulties

Authors

  • Ourania Katsara University of Patras, Greece

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v5i3.420

Keywords:

ombudsman, information communication technology (ICT), international students, support services, higher education

Abstract

This article offers some suggestions regarding the development of a support strategy by ombudsmen in order to alleviate international students' difficulties when studying in host universities. It is also shown how the Organisational Justice Theory can be used as a framework for understanding the role of ombudsman in higher education settings and how this theory underlines the importance of informational power as a remedy to alleviate the students' difficulties. The main implication drawn from the discussion is that cultural variables may suggest specific care on designing appropriate support strategies where the role of Information Communication Technology (ICT) could be explored. Finally, the article offers some suggestions and a service plan showing how power perceptions of the service provider can impact the students' reaction to the quality of the service.

Author Biography

  • Ourania Katsara, University of Patras, Greece

    OURANIA KATSARA is English for General and Specific Academic Purposes tutor in University of Patras, Greece. She is teaching specialized English for 11 years. She holds BA in English Language and English and European Literature, MA in Applied Linguistics from University of Essex and PhD from the University of Brighton, UK. Her research interests include intercultural communication, culturally responsive pedagogy, and international education policy and student mobility. 

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Published

2015-07-01

Issue

Section

Research Articles (English)

How to Cite

The Use of the Ombudsman’s Services for Alleviating International Students’ Difficulties. (2015). Journal of International Students, 5(3), 260-270. https://doi.org/10.32674/jis.v5i3.420