Conflict Resolution Certificate

Third Party Neutral (TPN)

Download the application form (PDF).

^{Watch this video in which the Executive Director of CICR talks about the Third Party Neutral Program.}

UNB CEL in partnership with the Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution is offering the Conflict Resolution Certificate (TPN).

Conflict Resolution Training is unique in its inclusive approach to finding win-win solutions for everyone involved, and laying the groundwork for lasting, long-term solutions, whether for individuals, community groups, government, or industry.

Benefits

Conflict Resolution (TPN) Training gives participants skills to guide the process by which parties in conflict identify the underlying causes of conflict and begin to develop solutions. As part of the training, you will learn

• to remain objective and not take on the burden of conflict;
• to listen and not be judgemental or reactive;
• to be flexible and change their roles as the conflict resolution process evolves;
• to use conciliation, negotiation techniques, mediation, facilitation, dialogue and other  group processes to assist conflicting parties in finding mutually acceptable solutions to problems.

Conflict Resolution (TPN) Training is principle-driven, skills-based, experiential training that allows participants to develop good judgment and sense of timing needed to move the conflict resolution process along.

Who should attend?

• Employees with the federal, provincial, and municipal governments
• Provincial and private sector law societies and law firms
• Consultants whose careers involve mediation, facilitation and conflict management
• Anyone who wants to become better at managing conflict in their personal, social, volunteer and work environments

Course outline

Conflict Resolution (TPN) Training is offered in four modules. Each module is five days of active training. A certificate is awarded for each module completed. Participants who complete all four courses receive a 160-hour Conflict Resolution Certificate (TPN).

2013-2014 Conflict Resolution (TPN) Schedule

CTPN 1001 TPN 1 – Becoming a Third Party Neutral - January 21-23 and January 30-31, 2014*
CTPN 1002 TPN 2 – Developing Facilitation Skills for Groups in Conflict - March 17-19 and March 27-28, 2014*
CTPN 1003 TPN 3 – Developing Mediation Skills - April 28-30 and May 8-9, 2014*
CTPN 1004 TPN 4 – Principles, Practice and Reflections – June TBA*

Download the schedule.

*First 3 days of the modules are Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and the last two days are Thursday, Friday of the following week.

Registration on a modular basis is available on a per request basis. Alternate fees will apply.

Instructor

Patricia Brady, B.A. M.Ed, CCC, Certified Mediator (FMC)
Pat currently works as a Restorative Justice Mediator for victims of serious crime. She also manages her own company Minding-The-Gap Consultants Inc providing services to government and private agencies as a consultant and trainer for conflict management strategies. She provides workplace assessment, mediation, and facilitation in addition to leading restorative circles for healthier workplace communities.

CICR
Created in 1988 as a non-profit, charitable organization, the Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution (CICR) provides training and intervention programs in Canada and abroad. It has developed a unique program to help businesses, communities, and organizations uncover the sources of deep-rooted conflict and begin the process of reconciliation.

Learn more about the UNB College of Extended Learning Conflict Resolution Learning Centre

For more information

Tel.: 506 447-3340
Toll Free: 1 866 599-4646
Email

Module descriptions

TPN 1 (CTPN 1001) - Becoming a Third Party Neutral
This introductory course is the prerequisite to all of the other Conflict Resolution (TPN) modules. It introduces participants to the spectrum of conflict resolution choices; layers of conflict with an emphasis on deep-rooted or identity-based conflict; core attributes of community-based conflict resolution; nine core principles for being an effective TPN. Through role plays and conflict scenarios participants are introduced to values and beliefs and how they impact on conflict; an introduction to negotiation, conciliation and mediation processes and techniques, including guidelines for mediators, the mediation process and process checklists; and an introduction to facilitation which includes basic group dynamics, positive framing of issues and core skills of a facilitator. The course also includes skill practice around questioning techniques and the positive framing of conflictual issues.

TPN 2 (CTPN 1002) - Developing Facilitation Skills for Groups in Conflict
Building on TPN 1 as a prerequisite, this module provides intensive training on facilitating groups in conflict and preventing groups from escalating conflict into something non-productive. Key tasks of a facilitator and core skills are taught and practiced. They include such things as creating and effectively using a process agenda, creating and enforcing ground rules, techniques for including all participants, techniques for capturing the ideas of participants and skills for keeping to the process and within the allotted time and dealing with difficult behaviors. Processes are taught and practiced that help groups make decisions, reach consensus, explore controversial topics, and envision a more ideal community/workplace. Dialogue/circle processes are presented along with creativity as a tool to help groups find solutions to their conflicts. Participants also practice designing a facilitated intervention of a real conflict. (Prerequisite TPN 1)

TPN 3 (CTPN 1003) - Developing Mediation Skills*
Building on the mediation introduction in TPN 1, this course goes deeper into a community-based approach to mediation, guided by Canadian Institute for Conflict Resolution's core principles. The mediation process is explored at a greater level of detail, through key mediator skills such as conflict analysis, facilitating dialogue, reframing and questioning, maintaining fairness and equity, managing emotions, and stimulating creativity.  Participants build skills through a series of role plays, while addressing themes such as power imbalance and cultural differences. Practice is enriched by segments on collaboration and negotiation, conflict resolution approaches, process selection, and understanding motivation. Sample mediation agreements, ethical standards, and affiliations for mediators are also presented. (Prerequisite TPN 1)

*FMC Certification: Family Mediation Canada (FMC) has added "TPN 3 (CTPN 1003) - Developing Mediation Skills" to their educational course listing. This is recognized within the basic training requirements for FMC Certification and applicants will be accredited for this module.

TPN 4 (CTPN 1004) - Principles, Practice and Reflections
This is the final course in the pursuit of a 160 hour certificate. The course provides a review of the key principles, processes and techniques acquired in the first 3 modules. It also goes deeper into multi-party conflicts and negotiations, co-mediation, conflict styles, human identity needs, and process designs for conflict interventions. Outside experts are also drawn in to share their field experiences working as a third party neutral. (Prerequisite TPN 1, TPN 2, and TPN 3)

Graduates of the 160 hour Conflict Resolution Certificate (TPN) have applied their skills in many different ways. Some graduates have gone on to careers in mediation, facilitation and conflict management, either as part of their own consulting practice or working for others. This includes many graduates who have taken positions as internal mediators and conflict management specialists in their own workplace, especially in the federal civil service, and others who are working for international aid agencies. For others, the goal has been to use this training as a life-skill that helps them to be better conflict resolvers in their family, social, volunteer and work lives.

What they are saying about us

"After being asked to facilitate a two-day forum of about 20-25 participants I wondered if I could really do this as my first contracted facilitation work. Just how was I going to get through this important lengthy meeting and effectively lead the group? What if they didn't come up with any answers, or if they didn't talk? Putting my faith in the principles and processes that I learned through TPN training, in this case the explicit process for issue exploration, I planned a road map that gave me great confidence to proceed - an actual structure for the discussion. That confidence was transferred to the participants as the meeting progressed and they saw that with me facilitating how the discussion would unfold by guiding them through steps of a process, they could focus on the content and what they wanted to achieve. What a rewarding sense of accomplishment we shared as a result."

Jeanne Moore
CURA Project Coordinator
Forestry and Environmental Management, UNB

"TPN has equipped me with the skills required to effectively manage conflict while remaining neutral.  The program gave me the tools and taught me the principles needed to resolve conflict, on a personal or professional level."

Mireille Allain
Civilian Member Career Manager - Atlantic Region
Royal Canadian Mounted Police

"As the first group of TPN students at UNB-CEL, we have found the TPN training to be extremely useful and informative. The bond and experience that we have developed will guide us through our future in the field of conflict resolution. The instruction and guidance that we have experienced has been outstanding and immeasurable."

TPN Students 2011

"The TPN training has been an outstanding experiential learning opportunity.  It has been both relevant and common sense based.  I would recommend this training to anyone that is interested in resolving conflict."

Malcolm Angus

"Working with such a diverse group of individuals has helped me to gain more self-awareness concerning identity needs of individuals.  TPN training has given me practical experience through role-playing and peer-reviewed feedback to positively influence groups with the mediation/facilitation process."

Leah Prosser, Horizon Health Network