Mediator Trainer Course

The Mediator Trainer course is intended for experienced mediators who are ready to pass on their knowledge to others. A good practitioner does not automatically become a good teacher: being able to conduct a procedure and being able to teach it to a group of adults are different competences. The programme helps you master the methodology of teaching mediation, learn to design training sessions, run workshops and assess participants' skills objectively.

Who the course is for

The course is aimed at mediators with their own practice who:

• plan to run mediation courses and workshops for newcomers to the profession;
• are involved in training staff within a mediator organisation or professional community;
• run training seminars for lawyers, teachers, HR professionals and managers;
• want to act as mentors and supervisors for colleagues;
• are engaged in outreach and in promoting a culture of amicable dispute resolution.

To take part, you need a confident command of the mediation procedure and practical experience of conducting it. It is your own cases that become the material from which a future trainer builds teaching examples.

Training objectives and outcomes

On completing the course, you will be able to:

• formulate measurable learning objectives and design a training programme for a specific audience;
• choose methods suited to practising mediator skills, not just to conveying information;
• develop training cases and role-play scenarios with well-thought-out roles and instructions;
• manage group dynamics, deal with difficult participants and maintain a safe learning environment;
• give constructive feedback and assess skills against clear criteria;
• analyse your own sessions and improve them.

Course syllabus

1. How adults learn. The motivation of adult learners, drawing on experience, the learning cycle of action and reflection. Why mediation cannot be learned from lectures alone.
2. Designing a curriculum. Analysing the needs of the audience, setting objectives, structuring a course and an individual session, balancing theory and practice, allocating time.
3. Methodology of teaching mediation. Demonstrating techniques, step-by-step skills practice, case analysis, role-plays, procedure simulations. Matching the method to the learning task.
4. Developing training materials. How to write a case, roles for the parties and instructions for observers. Preparing handouts and presentations.
5. Preparing and running a workshop. Opening a session, setting ground rules for the group, transitions between blocks, wrapping up. Managing time and unforeseen situations.
6. Managing a group. Group dynamics, engaging passive participants, dealing with dominant and sceptical learners, conflicts within a training group.
7. Feedback and skills assessment. Feedback models, criteria for assessing a mediator, observing a training procedure, organising the final assessment.
8. Mentoring and supervision. Supporting new mediators after training, the format of supervision meetings, the trainer's professional ethics.

Teaching methods

The course is structured so that participants learn and, at the same time, observe how they are being taught. Each method used is then examined from the trainer's perspective. The programme includes:

• mini-lectures on the methodology and psychology of adult learning;
• analysis of teaching techniques: what the facilitator did, why, and with what result;
• role-plays in which participants take turns acting as the trainer while the others act as the training group;
• development of cases and role-play scenarios in small groups;
• supervision of training segments with detailed feedback from the facilitator and colleagues.

Practical component

The key element of the practical work is running training segments independently. Each participant prepares and delivers a short session for the group on one of the topics of mediation: for example, practising active listening or the stage of identifying interests. The group and the facilitator then review the session: how clearly the objectives were set, whether participants were engaged, and how the practice and feedback were organised.

Participants also develop their own training case with roles and instructions, which is then tested on the group. By the end of the course, you will therefore have a first set of materials for future workshops.

Assessment and certificate of completion

The final assessment is based on delivering a training session and presenting the materials you have developed. Participants who successfully complete the programme receive a document confirming completion of the training. Please check the assessment procedure and the type of document with the course organiser.

Applying your knowledge after the course

Graduates can take part in training mediators within mediator organisations, run workshops and seminars, and act as mentors for new colleagues. Add details of the training you have completed to your profile in the registry of mediators on the portal — this will help colleagues and organisations learn about your teaching experience. Please bear in mind that the right to teach on training programmes for professional mediators is governed by the requirements of the law and of the training provider, so check the conditions for taking part in such programmes separately.

Frequently asked questions

What experience do I need to join the course?

You need mediation training and your own practice of conducting procedures. Please check the specific experience requirements with the course organiser.

Do I need teaching experience?

No. The course is precisely what helps you master the methodology of teaching. If you already have experience of teaching others, the course will help you adapt it to the specifics of mediation.

Will I receive a ready-made programme for my own workshops?

You will learn to develop programmes independently and will create your own training materials during the course. Ready-made proprietary programmes of other trainers are not handed over.

How long is the course and how much does it cost?

Please check the duration and fees in the schedule and with the course organiser.

Can I start training professional mediators immediately after the course?

The course provides methodological training. Whether you can run training programmes for professional mediators depends on the requirements of the law and of the organisation providing the training.

How to enrol

To apply, fill in the form on this page or get in touch through the contacts section of the portal. Briefly describe your experience as a mediator and, if you have any, your experience of teaching others. You will be informed about the next intake, the format and the terms of participation.