Our Vision
"A centre of excellence in dispute resolution."
Inspired by the demographic changes, the new generation of highly motivated and innovatory business and professional people gaining recognition and a reputation for setting new benchmarks of growth and expansion, I believed that it was timely, productive and appropriate for this era to make a mark in relation to providing ways and means of sustaining business and working relationships rather than losing them and managing conflict in the context of the new statutory frameworks and partnership agreements that saw us into the new millennium.
I drew up an outline blue print for a means of establishing standards of best practice in the area of conflict and dispute resolution processes and of inspiring people to devote time and attention to scrutinising and perfecting these new concepts and adapting what was of relevance in the light of differing work contexts and needs. With a focus on training and skills development, I believed strongly that it was imperative to sow the seeds of a multi disciplinary academic centre for study, research, development and training in Ireland so that we could realise our potential to become a point of reference for excellence in this field.
It was with this in mind that I approached Trinity College who responded with full support and endorsement. Although there was a lack of immediate funds to get premises, the support and enthusiasm of the Irish School of Ecumenics with its many years in pioneering Peace Studies and Reconciliation Studies was a valuable partner with which to proceed undaunted and thus was laid the foundation stone in the shape of the full Post Graduate Taught Diploma in Conflict and Dispute Resolution Studies which began in 2001. The ISE @TCD.ie website gives some insight into the courses of study and research at ISE both in Dublin and Belfast and the members of the faculty. It also provides a scan of range of people for whom the CONFLICT AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION STUDIES PROGRAMME has been relevant so far.
People from the Civil and Public Service, the Garda Siochana, the Labour Relations Commission, the Refugee Appeals Commission, School Principals, Lawyers, Business people, CEO's of Representative and Professional Bodies, Human Resource Managers, Industrial Relations Managers, Health Service Providers, FAS, Health Service Professionals, people working in NGO's, Broadcasting Commission, Partnership programmes, Equality Officers, Diplomatic Corps, people from Canada, the U.S, Japan, and Spain involved in many areas of work have all recognised the need to study and acquire skills in non adversarial dispute resolution processes which will avoid, limit and manage conflict and offer mediation as a means of parties finding an accommodation which they construct out of a dispute rather than litigate.
Contact Mediation Forum Ireland
