The MA in Mediation and Conflict Intervention at the Edward M Kennedy Institute, Maynooth University provides a learning experience for those who wish to integrate and deepen their mediation and conflict intervention knowledge and skills. The programme provides access to teaching, research and practitioner skills in the areas of Organisational and Workplace Mediation, Family Mediation, Commercial Mediation, Restorative Practice and Peace Process Studies. Students complete six modules amounting to 90 credits and this includes two research modules one (MC690) being a dissertation.
(MH51M - 2 years Part-time
Students complete nine modules of 10 credits each over a two-year duration.)
This highly experiential programme provides ongoing opportunities to learn reflectively through exercises and in practice through feedback and coaching. Formal presentations provide background theory in the specialist areas. Students gain a strong theoretical foundation coupled with skills and practice development leading to a solid grounding in the best practice of constructive conflict intervention processes. Students on the one-year full time Masters programme develop a research proposal and carry out original research. They take two Research Modules delivering 40 credits and in addition choose five of the modules scheduled in the programme that year.
The MA in Mediation and Conflict Intervention is designed for people who are intently interested in further developing their skills and knowledge in the field of mediation and conflict intervention. Participants will usually have been working directly or indirectly with people in conflict as a professional or as someone required to handle conflict situations in their work or personal lives. Participating in this programme will further develop theoretical knowledge and applied skills in conducting qualitative, quantitative and participatory research and develop participants' abilities to formulate research problems and proposals and to conduct research. It is designed to be an intense learning experience where small class sizes encourage strong skills development and engagement in a continuous and collaborative learning environment.
The course is accredited by the Mediators' Institute of Ireland (MII) and students who are not already certified mediators with the MII must undergo and pass the first module (MC615) via assignment and competency assessment. This will enable students to register and advertise with the MII as a Certified Member with eligibility to practice. Completion of the MA in Mediation and Conflict Intervention will also fulfil specific criteria for accreditation as a Practitioner Member of the MII. This advanced level may be applied for when the student has successfully completed the MA in Mediation and Conflict Intervention, has completed cases to the MII standard and passed the assessment interview (see the Mediators Institute of Ireland website: www.themii.ie).
Comment
Course Delivery
The programme has a significant experiential element, providing ongoing opportunities to learn reflectively through exercises and in practice through individualized feedback and coaching. Formal presentations provide background theory on the specialist content areas.
Practitioners in the field deliver the training in the specialist areas. The module on Restorative Practice is delivered by the University of Ulster who have long experience of teaching this practice.