Academic Mediation Programs Move – an Impact Report

Abstract

This is a study of the impact of participating in an executive masters’ programs in mediation and conflict management. Former students from two programs - one at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, and the other at the European University Viadrina Frankfurt (Oder), Germany - filled in a questionnaire that combined a multiple choice-format (quantitative data) with free text answers (qualitative data). Our analysis of the quantitative data indicates that graduates consider the program content highly relevant both on the professional and personal levels. They describe numerous ways in which they have used their knowledge and skills in their everyday work-lives and multiple positive effects on their professional development. They feel more competent in handling their own conflicts and, in addition, detail a range of transfer activities beyond strict mediating such as using mediation skills in other types of activities, giving talks and publishing on mediation and conflict management, introducing and promoting mediation in a variety of settings and influencing decision-makers.