CIArb launches new ‘UniADR’ Programme to work with Educational Institutions

The emotional, financial and other consequences associated with disputes can be detrimental for many reasons. Disputes can lead to the breakdown of personal and professional relationships. The harm sustained by one or either side can have a knock-on effect on projects. The cost of repairing the damage caused by a dispute can lead to a plan being abandoned altogether. All of these and other outcomes can arise within any discipline. That is why dispute avoidance, management and resolution skills are important for all careers.

CIArb is the world’s leading alternative dispute resolution (ADR) professional body. It offers many services in dispute avoidance, management and resolution. One example is CIArb’s Professional Services department. It provides both individuals and organisations with the expert opportunities that they need with respect to ADR.

CIArb has been working closely with educational institutions and students in ADR. It has partnered with universities in developing accredited Masters’ programme and has recognised existing courses at educational institutions, so that successful completion of those programmes exempts students from having to undertake CIArb training in order to apply for CIArb membership. CIArb has also provided student membership and concessions to students for some of its membership courses.

CIArb is extremely proud to partner with educational institutions, and offers several opportunities to work closely together.

CIArb defines standards in ADR practice and those who attain these standards, either through experience or CIArb training, and become members, can use internationally recognised postnominals – Associate Member (ACIArb), Member (MCIArb) and Fellow (FCIArb).

These can, for example, be attained through the successful completion of one of CIArb’s 19 training programmes. These range from online and one-day Introduction courses in disciplines such as arbitration, mediation and construction adjudication through to longer Pathway programmes enabling people to attain practice-based skills. Those with experience can undertake one of CIArb’s assessment courses, the Accelerated Routes to Membership and Fellowship; and those who already have legal or arbitration experience can convert this to international commercial arbitration or international maritime arbitration proficiency.

CIArb can work with educational institutions in delivering these courses as either extra curricula, or credit-bearing courses. Educational institutions can embed these courses within their existing degree or other courses, or work with CIArb in developing new programmes, enabling successful students to apply for CIArb membership. Some of the benefits that CIArb’s Professional Services’ department provides to members include:

Professional Development Opportunities:

• Dedicated ADR interest groups, for example, Young Members Group (YMG)
• Networking events: member-only discounts for regional, national and international events
• EModule, audiobook and other training to support career growth and progression

Professional Benefits:

• Use of special postnominal letters for Associate, Member, Fellow and Chartered status
• Online journal (Arbitration journal), Magazine (Resolver) and industry reports
• Regional and global network of 41 branches and many chapters
• Policy, ADR, thought leadership consultations and news updates via our MyCIArb
• Practical ADR resources such as templates, forms, rules, recommended clauses, guidelines and ethics resources

CIArb also has many non-membership ADR training opportunities. For example, it has an audiobook in ADR, ‘Resolving Disputes Today’, which universities can purchase in order to provide their students with information on different ADR techniques such as arbitration and mediation. CIArb also has eModules that provide individuals with engaging information on dispute avoidance, management and resolution. CIArb has courses in expert witness training, arbitral sectaries training and fundamentals of negotiation that do not lead to membership. Any of these non-membership training courses can be added to CIArb’s membership courses.

For educational institutions that do not need CIArb’s training programmes because they have their own ADR courses, CIArb offers a ‘Recognised Course Provider’ (RCP) scheme by which those institutions with their own ADR programmes can apply to have their courses mapped against CIArb’s learning outcomes and assessments. Should the mapping be successful, CIArb can grant RCP status to those courses, so that students who successfully complete them can apply to join CIArb’s professional community as members. They can access the professional benefits mentioned above.

CIArb is pleased to be working with thousands of students through its 41 international branches around the world. Many of these students have joined CIArb’s free student membership scheme and have unrestricted access to many of the professional opportunities and benefits mentioned above. They can access concessions on Introductory training. CIArb is particularly proud of its international Young Members Group, which hosts several ADR events every year.

Disputes can have detrimental effects in any profession and CIArb is delighted to be able to offer these opportunities to universities and students through its ‘UniADR programme’.

Should you require any further information about UniADR, please visit CIArb’s partnership page or contact the Professional Services department at education@ciarb.org.