The faculty of law of Utrecht University and the faculties of law and psychology of the University of Leuven will jointly organize an international conference on 2 February 2012 on the position of Mediation in academic education, particularly in the curricula of law school programs.
The implementation of the Mediation Directive of the European Union is dealt with all over Europe. In the Netherlands establishing mediation as an integral part of the legal system is an important topic of the ‘innovation agenda’ of the Minister of Justice, and a major information campaign to promote the use of mediation will be launched. Furthermore a member of parliament (Art van der Steur – VVD) launched an initiative to develop mediation legislation.
In anticipation of the EU Directive, mediation received in 2005 already a structured position as part of the legal system in Belgium and a federal commission has been created which has the task to support the development of mediation and to guarantee the quality of mediators.
In Italy the use of mediation is mandatory since March 2011 and in many cases parties have to try mediation first before they have access to the courts.

Considering these developments the question springs to mind what their implications are for the education of especially future jurists and managers in the private sector and governmental organizations as well as their significance for establishing mediation as an academic discipline.

This conference is jointly organized by the Universities of Utrecht (Interdisciplinary Minor in Mediation) and Leuven (Leuven Center for Collaborative Management). Both universities have initiated mediation and negotiation as part of their academic education.

Besides speakers from Belgium and the Netherlands there will be speakers from other countries all over the world who will share their own view on the subject of mediation and negotiation as part of academic education. The final panel discussion will focus on the question how mediation and negotiation education can become a full academic discipline. 

The conference is partially in English, partially in Dutch. Simultaneous translations from Dutch to English will be provided.

Speakers

• Prof. dr. M. Euwema (Leuven University), chair
• mr. I. W. Opstelten, Minister of Security and Justice (The Netherlands) (invited)
• Vincent Lesseliers,  Chair of the Federal Mediation Committee (Belgium)
• Dr. Tsisana Shamlikashvili (President of the Center for Mediation and Law, and President of the Russian National Organization of Mediators)
  Mediation as a part of higher education in Russia
• Prof. dr. Peter Robinson (Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution, Pepperdine University Malibu)
  The status of mediation and negotiation at law schools in the USA
• Fred Schonewille (Utrecht University)
  The interfacultory approach of mediation education at Utrecht University
• Prof. dr. John Wade (Bond University Queensland)
  Mediation and Negotiation Education in Australia--Diversity and Competition
• Prof. dr. Alain Verbeke (Leuven University)
  Growing differentiation in mediation education in Belgium           
• Prof. dr. Renate Derndorfer (EBS Universität für Wirtschaft und Recht, Wiesbaden)
  Starting a master Mediation and Negotiation
• Prof. C. Giovanucci Orlandi (University of Bologna)
  Mandatory mediation and it’s consequences for legal education
• Prof. dr. B. Jordaan (University of Stellenbosch)
  Mediation education in a multicultural society

Location: Raadzaal Pietershof, Utrecht

Programm: 13.30 - 18.15

Chair: prof. dr. M. Euwema (Leuven University)

Registration Price: € 150,- (VAT exempt)

Continuing education: 4 points were applied for with the NMI.

Register