General mediation course

The General Mediation Course is a foundation programme for those who want to learn the mediator's profession from scratch and gain a structured understanding of how dispute resolution works when a neutral intermediary is involved. The course provides a theoretical grounding, introduces the legal framework for mediation in Kazakhstan and, most importantly, builds your first practical skills in facilitating negotiations between the parties to a conflict.

The Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan "On Mediation" provides that a person who has completed a training programme for professional mediators may become a professional mediator. The General Course is designed precisely for this kind of training and is structured so that, once you have completed it, you understand not only "what to do" but also "why it is done that way".

Who the course is for

The programme is intended for participants who have no experience of conducting mediation yet or are familiar with it only in general terms. The course will be useful for:

lawyers and advocates who want to offer clients out-of-court settlement and expand their practice;
psychologists and conflict specialists who wish to apply their knowledge within a structured procedure that produces a legally significant outcome;
teachers and social workers who deal with conflicts at school, in families and in the community every day;
managers and HR professionals for whom it is important to prevent and resolve employment disputes within the organisation;
anyone considering mediation as a new profession or an additional specialisation.

No special background is required to enrol on the course. However, if you plan to work as a professional mediator in the future, familiarise yourself in advance with the requirements the law sets for such specialists so that you can plan your professional path.

Learning objectives and outcomes

By the end of the course you will be able to:

explain to the parties what mediation is, its principles and how it differs from court proceedings, arbitration and ordinary negotiations;
assess whether a particular dispute is suitable for mediation and identify circumstances in which the procedure cannot take place;
conduct the procedure step by step, from the first contact with the parties to the signing of the final settlement agreement;
apply the techniques of active listening, paraphrasing, summarising and asking open questions;
work with participants' emotions and resistance while maintaining neutrality and impartiality;
draft a mediation agreement and a settlement agreement, understanding the requirements for their content.

Course programme

Introduction to mediation. The concepts of conflict and dispute, ways of resolving them, and the place of mediation among alternative methods of dispute resolution. The role of the mediator and the limits of the mediator's responsibility.
Principles of mediation and the legal framework in Kazakhstan. Voluntariness, equality of the parties, independence and impartiality of the mediator, confidentiality. Key provisions of the law on mediation, professional and community mediators, areas in which the procedure applies.
Stages of the mediation procedure. Preparatory work, the mediator's opening statement, presentation of the parties' positions, identification of interests, generating options, developing a solution and reality-testing it.
Communication techniques. Active listening, "I-statements", normalisation, reframing, working with questions. How to help the parties move from mutual accusations to discussing the future.
Positions and interests. Why people insist on their demands and what lies behind them. Methods for uncovering hidden needs and creating options that benefit both parties.
Working with emotions and resistance. Signs of escalation, techniques for reducing tension, separate meetings (caucuses), ethical conduct of the mediator in difficult situations.
Mediation documents. The mediation agreement, the final settlement agreement, recording what has been agreed, requirements for clear and enforceable wording.
Ethics and professional standards. Conflicts of interest, confidentiality, declining to conduct the procedure, working with the parties' lawyers.

Teaching methods

The course follows a "theory — demonstration — practice — feedback" model. Each module combines several forms of work:

interactive lectures with discussion of participants' questions;
case studies from a range of areas: family, employment, neighbour and contractual disputes;
role plays and business simulations in which you take turns acting as the mediator, a party and an observer;
simulation of a complete mediation procedure from opening the session to signing the agreement;
feedback and supervision from the trainer and the group after each exercise.

Practical component

A significant share of the sessions is devoted to practice. Participants work in small groups, rehearse individual techniques and then conduct training mediations based on prepared scenarios. Observers note effective techniques and mistakes, after which the whole group discusses what helped the parties make progress and what, on the contrary, escalated the conflict. This format lets you see yourself from the outside and develop your own professional style while still on the course.

Particular attention is paid to drafting documents: you will prepare a draft mediation agreement and a final settlement agreement for a training case and receive comments on the wording.

Assessment and certificate of completion

The final assessment usually includes a test of theoretical knowledge and a demonstration of practical skills in a training procedure. 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.

Putting your knowledge into practice after the course

Once you have completed the training, you can start your professional practice. The portal provides for mediator registration: you fill in your profile, specify the types of mediation, languages, cities where you work and details of the training you have completed, and are then included in the registry, where clients can find you. You can also join a mediator organisation to receive methodological support, take part in the professional community and continue to develop — for example, by taking the Special Mediation Course or sector-specific programmes.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need a law degree to take the course?

No. The course is open to specialists from a variety of professions. The legal aspects of mediation are covered within the programme to the extent necessary for a mediator's work.

Is the General Course enough to start practising?

The course provides foundation training under the programme for professional mediators. You need to check for yourself whether you meet the other requirements the law sets for professional mediators. To work with confidence, it is advisable to keep practising and to continue your professional development.

How long does the training last and how much does it cost?

Please check the duration and fees in the schedule and with the course organiser. They are published once the next intake has been approved.

Will real cases be used on the course?

Practice is based on training cases modelled on typical situations. The parties' real cases are not discussed in class, in order to maintain confidentiality.

What should I do after completing the course?

Register on the portal as a mediator, fill in your profile and add details of your training. We also recommend joining a mediator organisation and continuing your professional development.

How to enrol

To enrol on the General Mediation Course, fill in the application form on this page or contact us through the contacts section of the portal. Once your application has been received, you will be informed of the next intake dates, the format of the sessions and the terms of participation.