The course combines theory and practice and students participate actively in class. The course is divided in two parts: One part is primarily theoretical (20 hours) and takes place in 3 hour classes. The other part is a practice part (14 hours) which takes place as a two day seminar.
The course will include topics such as understanding conflict, conflict escalation and different paradigms of conflict. With regard to the mediation process, the course will look at initial contact with the parties and the mediation meeting itself with the opening, storytelling, generation of ideas and negotiation of an agreement. This will also include questioning and listening skills. Different types of mediation will be identified and discussed. In addition, the course will compare mediation to other mechanisms of dispute resolution such as negotiation, arbitration and adjudication, and focus on the use of mediation at the workplace, in business and in international perspective, including the EU. The course will also address issues such as ethics, neutrality and the role of the attorney in mediation.
During the course, participants will work on their practical mediation skills though relevant and realistic role-plays. In the debriefing of role-plays issues such as the problem of the case, preparation, usefulness of various strategies and techniques, mediator’s use of techniques etc. will be addressed. During the work with the students’ own mediation skills, focus will be on understanding how background and personality influence style and strategy. Strengths and weakness can be addressed and worked with, and mediator qualifications will be identified and discussed.