Volunteers Needed to Help with a Community Created Coursera Course about Ombuds
Are you interested in helping to create Coursera course about the ombuds* profession, created in partnership with the University of Colorado Boulder. Produced by Liz Hill and Ken Skodacek, this free, on-demand course aims to promote global awareness and deepen understanding of the diverse roles ombuds play.
What’s in the Course?
Module 1: Introduction, history, and foundational elements.
Module 2: Public sector ombuds programs (e.g., classical, primarily external facing).
Module 3: Organizational ombuds (e.g., primarily internal facing, embedded or externally positioned/outsourced),
Module 4: Advocate ombuds, such as long-term care ombudsmen.
Module 5: Ombuds programs outside the U.S.
Module 6: Skills, careers, resources, and next steps.
How Can You Help?
- Volunteer your expertise! The producers are looking for participants to contribute to the course by sharing insights, experiences and resources. All experience levels welcome!
- Spread the word! Share this opportunity with your networks in the ombuds community.
If you or someone you know would like to participate, please fill out this short (about 10 minutes) Google form to indicate your interest and availability. The producers are asking those interested to please complete the form within 2 weeks.
What Happens Next? Once they have received your responses, they will follow up directly with the next steps directly over email. The goal is to have all participants' assets finalized by the end of March.
Why Get Involved? This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the important work of ombuds professionals to a global audience. Your contributions will help inspire and educate the "ombuds curious" around the world.
If you are interested, please reach out to Liz or Ken directly at:
[email protected]
[email protected]
*The term ombuds throughout this document to encompass all types of ombudsman roles, including organizational, classical, and advocate ombuds. The term "ombuds" is used inclusively to refer to professionals in these roles, regardless of title or setting