The International Mediation Institute (IMI) recently announced that it had published standards for a Specialization in Online Mediation. The ADRIC Task Force will take this new and internationally recognized certification standard into account as it conducts its work on similar certification for Canada.
Please visit the IMI announcement and supporting documents at: https://www.imimediation.org/orgs/cag-odr/
IMI is the only organisation in the world that transcends local jurisdictions to develop global, professional standards for mediators and advocates involved in collaborative dispute resolution and negotiation. IMI convenes stakeholders, promotes understanding of mediation, and disseminates skills. IMI is not a service provider.
These standards include:
Substantive Criteria for Online Mediators
Any program qualifying candidates for IMI Online Mediation Specialisation must meet the following minimum substantive criteria with respect to all applicants:
A. Experience of Online Mediation
The ODR-QAP must include a method for ensuring that applicants have demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Program’s Assessors experience of online mediation and have carried out in the previous 24/36 months a minimum of twenty full-scale online mediations. The QAP must include clearly identified criteria on this requirement.
Exemptions (minimum of five full-scale online mediations):
- IMI Certified Mediators
- Mediators having acted as sole mediator in at least 20 online mediations (or 200 hours if any of mediations lasted longer than one day) in countries where there is no Qualifying Assessment Program for IMI Certification.
B. Knowledge of Online Mediation
The ODR-QAP must include a method for determining that applicants have demonstrated an understanding of e-Mediation to maximize the efficiency of mediation. Using the online and ICT advanced environment, ODR-QAPs can use tests, essays, reports, theses and interviews to determine such knowledge. Applicants are expected to be tested on and exhibit a comprehensive understanding of online mediation theory and practice. An
ODR-QAP may use the Core Competency Knowledge Elements (set out in detail in Annex 1).
C. Practical online mediation skills
An ODR-QAP must include a method for the performance-based assessment to demonstrate a high degree of online mediation competency. The IMI ISC expects that the method used by online mediation QAPs should address all the Core Competency Practical Skills (sections and sub-sections detailed in Annex 2). The method should be sufficiently detailed to attest that an applicant demonstrated a high level of competency as an online mediator. However, it is not expected that all detailed Core Competency Practical Skills listed in Annex 2 will be assessed in the same depth, and ODR-QAPs will be free to assess other practical skills not listed in Annex 2.
