WEST UKRAINIAN NATIONAL UNIVERSITY

 On April 6, representatives of eleven universities - members of the consortium of the international project MEDIATS - talked about the development of mediation in the world.

The aim of the project is to study the best practices of mediation in the EU, develop and implement master's programmes in mediation, teach trainers and provide quality training of mediators, conduct joint educational and research activities.

The meeting was attended by project manager Jan van Zwietten - Rector of the Netherlands Business Academy (Netherlands), project coordinators from KROK University (Ukraine), West Ukrainian National University (Ukraine), Catholic University of San Antonio (Spain), Turib University (Latvia) , Yuri Fedkovych National University of Chernivtsi (Ukraine), Karazin Kharkiv National University (Ukraine), Ilya State University (Georgia), Batumi Shota Rustaveli State University (Georgia), Khazar University (Azerbaijan), Ganja State University (Azerbaijan).

Oksana Koval, Director of the Education and Research Institute of Communications of WUNU, is the coordinator from West Ukrainian National University.

The event began with a minute of silence to honor the bright and hallowed memory, civic courage and devotion, strength of spirit, resilience and heroic deeds of soldiers killed in combat missions to protect the state sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, as well as civilians killed in armed aggression of the russian federation against Ukraine.

In their speeches, all attendees expressed their sincere condolences and shared words of support addressed to the Ukrainian people, agreed to continue to help Ukrainians not in words but in deeds, and discussed further steps of cooperation and development of the international community MEDIATS.

In particular, Jan van Zwietten suggested holding a final online exam for Ternopil residents - participants in the international certificate internship "Mediation. Basic course ".

Oksana Koval and Katie Devadze presented the programme of the Third International School of World Educational Practices "New Way", which will be dedicated to the topic of mediation and the art of negotiation. Oksana Koval also announced the International Scientific and Practical Conference "Communication as a Factor of Transparent Social Interaction: Psychological, Historical, Juridical, Economic and Political Dimensions", which the organizers plan to hold on April 28 at West Ukrainian National University.

Halyna Bohachenko, who moderated the event, invited participants to contribute to the newsletter and submit materials that relate not only to the topic of mediation, but also to involving universities in humanitarian aid to Ukraine.

It is worth noting that the consortium aims not only to solve work issues, but also to ensure friendly cooperation and provde assistance to each other in difficult situations. Therefore, with the initiative and support of Jan van Zwietten, Oksana Oliynyk, a graduate of the master's programme in mediation at CROC University, coordinates the work of the Ukrainian School for Ukrainian Refugees in Dordrecht. Mr. Zwietten also takes care of and assists the international department of CROC University. Ms. Marion Coopers, a lecturer at the Netherlands Business Academy, organized a medical counseling group for Ukrainians.

Yanina Nedashkivska shared her volunteer experience in Spain, namely about the "Platform for Peace", created at the Catholic University UCAM. In addition to the priority assistance to Ukraine, according to Ms. Yanina, the issue of development of mediation and the culture of negotiations is more relevant today than ever for our country and the world. To this end, in parallel with her professional and charitable activities, Ms. Janina continues her research development at UCAM under the guidance of a leading mediator in the Netherlands, Mediats project leader Professor Jan Van Zwietten and mediator, UCAM law professor Maria Mendoza Roxola. She strongly urges all colleagues not to remain neutral, but to be strong and proactive for peace and the future.

Maria Mendoz stressed that the development of mediation, the mediation society and the introduction of a master's programme for professional mediators are the main focuses of attention today. The UCAM Platform for Peace was created not only to provide urgent assistance, but also to ensure the strategic goal of peaceful resolution of conflicts at all levels of social interaction. Currently, Professor Maria Mendoz and Yanina Nedashkivska are working together on partner international programmes to improve and globalize mediation practices.

In general, the participants developed proposals for the development of mediation, presented the mediation activities that will take place in their universities and outlined possible options for involving representatives from Ukraine in today's realities.

Such meetings for Ukrainians in such a difficult time for the country are a breath of fresh air, they fill us with a sense of support and provide with new resources. Our strength of spirit ensures an irresistible desire to live and work in spite of everything.

Let's stick together!
Let's win together!