Course Title: Conflict Resolution and Mediation

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Conflict Resolution and Mediation

Credit Points: 12.00

Terms

Course Code

Campus

Career

School

Learning Mode

Teaching Period(s)

ARCH1271

City Campus

Postgraduate

365H Global, Urban and Social Studies

Face-to-Face

Sem 2 2007,
Sem 2 2009,
Sem 2 2011,
Sem 2 2017

Course Coordinator: Dr Jennifer Martin

Course Coordinator Phone: +(61 3) 9925 3131

Course Coordinator Email: jenny.martin@rmit.edu.au


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

Mediation has gained increased importance in the past two decades due to congestion in the Courts and Tribunals, delays in litigation and rising legal costs. In Australia, since the mid-1990s, government policies at both the state and federal level have endorsed and actively encouraged the use of mediation and other conciliatory approaches in preference to litigation. This course will familiarise you with theories, concepts and skills for managing conflict and resolving disputes. Through reading, related group and individual exercises (including problem-solving tasks, case studies and simulations), and a series of linked assessment tasks, you will develop analytical and practical skills in facilitation, conciliation, negotiation, mediation and arbitration. Activities are structured to facilitate the integration of theory and practice skills. This involves practising skills in class and giving and receiving feedback from staff and fellow students.


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

At the completion of this course you should be able to:

  • have an advanced understanding of the knowledge,values and skills required for effective conflict management and resolution;
  • be able to identify appropriate and inappropriate approaches to dispute resolution;
  • differentiate between conciliation, arbitration, negotiation, mediation and other approaches to conflict management and resolution; identify issues of power related to gender, race, culture, ethnicity, ability, class, age and sexual preference;
  • demonstrate a critical understanding of current political, social and economic debates about the use of alternative dispute resolution, and develop an advanced awareness of the ethical issues and dilemmas in conflict resolution.



Overview of Learning Activities

This course is offered intensively. You will be engaged in learning that involves a range of activities including discussions in class, role-plays, experiential exercises and independent personal reading/research. In class you will be able to debate issues, and develop skills which will assist you in preparing for assessment tasks.


Overview of Learning Resources

You will be able to use a prescribed text.


Overview of Assessment

You will be able to prepare assessment tasks with a total word length or equivalent of 5,000 words.