Faculty Booklet - The University of the West Indies, St. Augustine ...

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P O S T G R A D U A T E R E G U L A T I O N S & S Y L L A B U S E S 2 0 1 2 - 2 0 1 3
THE FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
Assessment: 100% examinable by coursework
The Practicum:
The purpose of the practicum is to give the participants
an opportunity to learn through experience, to apply their
knowledge and skills of mediation in live sessions with clients.
This will be done under the supervision of practicing mediators,
and assessed according to standards agreed between the
University and the placement agency.
Number of hours required for Practicum: 80 hours
M.SC. MEDIATION STUDIES
OVErVIEW
The Master of Science Degree in Mediation Studies is taught
through the Department of Behavioural Sciences, St. Augustine
Campus, UWI. The programme builds on the existing rigorous
Post-Graduate Diploma in Mediation Studies and in the longer
term, is an important basis for M.Phil and Doctoral scholarship
in Mediation and the development of research projects focusing
on social issues in the country.
Mediation is a process where trained neutral persons in a
confidential setting, facilitate the negotiations of parties in
dispute to help them arrive at their own resolutions to the dispute.
There has been increasing awareness by the public and among
professionals of the need for mediation services and the rising
costs of litigation, the length of time taken to deal with cases, as
well as the perceived failure or damaging effects of litigation and
arbitration, are some the factors that has prompted an increasing
interest in mediation.
rATIONALE
The proposed Master of Science Degree in Mediation aims to
enhance the rigorous standards, training and certification in
mediation offered by the Post-Graduate Diploma in Mediation
Studies. It provides opportunities for advanced study and
mediation practice. Graduates will be equipped to contribute
to the development of mediation as a profession within the
Caribbean, and the development of social policy as a means
of influencing public policy within the context of a changing
world. The programme provides graduates with the skills
and knowledge for competent and effective employment
as mediation professionals within the judicial system and
community and organisational settings. It also contributes to
increasing the research profile within mediation by developing
research knowledge and skills and in promoting the value of
research as a foundation for practice and policy.
The programme consists of 10 courses. Eight of the existing
courses are currently covered in the Post-Graduate Diploma in
Mediation Studies. The existing courses are as follows:
SEMESTEr 1Year 1
Course Course
Code Title
SOWK 6104 Communication, Culture and Conflict
SOCI 6005 (SY61C) Caribbean Social Issues
SOWK 6016 ADR Systems and Processes
SOWK6009 (SW68I) Family Systems and Dynamics in
Mediation
SEMESTEr 2 Year 1
SOWK 6011 (SW68H) Restorative Justice
SOWK 6013 (SW68K) Civil Procedure for Mediators**
SOWK 6014 (SW68L) Specialised Areas of Mediation **
SOWK 6017 Conflict Resolution, Theories and
Approaches
(** Intensive courses)
SEMESTEr 1Year2
Course Course
Code Title
PSYC 6402 (PS64B) The Psychology of Community Conflict
SOWK 6000 (SW69A) Research Design and Methodologies
SOWK 6100 Master’s Thesis is also required.
AIMS AND OBjECTIVES
The aims of the Master in Mediation Studies are:
1. To educate professionals in the theory and practice of
mediation
2. To equip programme participants with the requisite skills
base for effective practice in Community Mediation Centers,
(Regional entities, the corporate, governmental, NGO and
civil society) and other conflict resolution and negotiation
positions and agencies in the region.
3. To encourage and promote a culture of peaceful, and
non-violent approaches to disputes. (Local, regional,
organisational and community based conflict).
4. To develop expertise and capacity (and growth) in the
mediation field
5. To facilitate the growth of the knowledge base required
for ongoing training and supervision in Mediation at the
University of the West Indies, and in agencies in Trinidad
and Tobago (and the Caribbean).
6. To utilise a range of qualitative and quantitative research
methods within mediation settings
7. To be able to undertake advanced policy analysis (on conflict
prevention and/ or conflict management) and evaluate the
impact of social policies on client groups (through conflict
analysis methodology).
Specifically, the objectives are that on completion of the
programme students would be able to:
• describe and analyse conflict theory and conflict resolution
strategies
• demonstrate the requisite skills to assess disputes,perform
pre-mediation tasks , analyse and evaluate potential for
conflict resolution
• demonstrate the practice skills of the generic mediation
process in simulated and live opportunities.
• apply the process in community,family,victim/offender and
organisational disputes (though hands-on opportunities in
the practicum).
• demonstrate the ability and skills to develop and promote
mediation and restorative justice processes
• demonstrate the capacity to evaluate mediation, including
demonstration by students of key skill sets and management
of the entire process