Mastering Mediation Education

Mediation education nowadays is implemented at all levels in society.From kindergarten and primary school education (‘peer mediation’),to university and post-graduate master programs. The length andintensity varies tremendously: from two days courses, to two yearsprograms. In this respect, mediation is comparable to sports or finearts: you can practice this intuitively, and with basic training at grassroots level, and you can develop this into professional level , andbecome a Master in Mediation.

This professionalization is an essential step for mediation as arespected part in the judicial process and the mediator as a respectedfull partner in the process of conflict management and disputeresolution. The mediator should be recognized as an expert, withspecific knowledge and skills to assist as a third party.
To achievethis, high quality education in mediation is essential. Otherwise,mediation will always be seen, particularly by other professions andprofessionals as a ‘soft skills’, and second order servicing.

• How should this professional education be developed?
• What roles do universities and should universities play in mediation education?
• What trends are there and what are the necessary steps to take, to further develop this young profession, into evidence based practices?

These questions formed the theme of an international symposiumin Utrecht, the Netherlands, in February 2012: Mastering MediationEducation, organized by the Universities of Utrecht and Leuven.