The Edwards Mediation Academy (EMA) Mediation Training Partner Program provides a platform for trainers, organizations, governments, and other institutions outside of the U.S. to deliver high-quality international conflict resolution training combined with localized knowledge and expertise. Centered around EMA’s online mediation and dispute resolution courses, people worldwide who might not otherwise have access to high-caliber training can learn from the most experienced mediators and mediation experts. Through our collaborative mediation and mediation lawyer training programs, EMA and our partners are helping build dispute resolution capacity and sustainable training centers in countries around the globe.
In addition to training partners who serve as facilitators, EMA also designs and delivers customized group trainings for organizations and companies both in the United States and internationally that want to train their own teams. These programs are ideal for organizations seeking to strengthen internal conflict resolution capacity, align skills across departments, or embed mediation principles into day-to-day professional practice.
EMA’s mediation courses emphasize the fundamental principles of mediation, the mediation process, negotiation skills, and the nuanced communication skills and conflict resolution techniques gained from years of mediating some of the most complex disputes imaginable. Designed to be interactive and engaging, our courses are developed with the help of professionals who understand how adults learn best. Our instructors are the pioneers in developing the fields of mediation and dispute resolution in the US.
Teaching the mediation process cannot be successful in a cultural vacuum. Training must be tailored through a cultural lens to be effective and sustainable, and it cannot be a one-time event.
Therefore, when we work internationally, we work through local training partners who are part of the local community. Through our mediation training partner programs, students can access exceptional international dispute resolution training that is localized and adapted to the local conflict resolution environment to ensure they are well-versed in methodologies and practices that will work in their community.
While localization is essential in international settings, the same principle applies within organizations and professional groups. Effective mediation training must be reinforced through discussion, reflection, and application within the specific context in which participants operate, whether that context is a court system, corporation, nonprofit, healthcare organization, or educational institution.
EMA’s training partner programs combine our online Mediation Skills Course curriculum or The Mediation Lawyer Course with live facilitation sessions from local facilitators trained and endorsed by Bruce Edwards, a co-founder of EMA. By integrating online and in-person training, students can learn culturally relevant and viable lessons from professionals experienced in making the moment-to-moment decisions required in the mediation room without the time and cost of travel.
For organizational group trainings, EMA adapts this same blended learning model, combining online coursework with facilitated group sessions, so participants can explore how mediation principles apply directly to their organizational roles, internal dynamics, and professional responsibilities.
Students in our partner training programs gain valuable knowledge and practical experience and develop relationships with others in their mediation community. The interactive training focuses on nuanced conflict resolution skills, enabling participants to effectively manage and resolve conflicts in professional, workplace, and personal settings, enhancing their mediation expertise. A lifetime EMA membership is included. Upon completion of the course, students are granted a certificate.
Any organization that wants to develop or enhance its existing dispute resolution training program with lessons and real-world experience from the industry’s most experienced global experts is eligible to become an Edwards Mediation Academy training partner.
Partner organizations can be from legal, government, non-profit, educational, medical, or business fields and operate locally or internationally. Each program is uniquely tailored to the specific audience and level of mediation competency within the community and legal jurisdiction. They focus on the applicable conflict resolution skills in different international settings, understanding diverse negotiation styles and mediation practices tailored to specific cultural and situational factors.
Our training partners are well-known and respected leaders in the community in which they work. After an initial assessment and respective training by EMA, they receive support in developing a structured course for their specific audience. In addition to the EMA online training modules, the training partner facilitates Q&A sessions and discussions with various community experts and/or EMA professionals after each module.
Participation in EMA’s training programs is not limited to trainers or government bodies. Many of our partners are organizations seeking to train their own teams through structured group learning that reinforces skills, builds shared language around conflict, and supports meaningful, long-term application.
In addition to our formal Mediation Training Partner Program, Edwards Mediation Academy works directly with organizations to design and deliver group mediation training programs for employees, members, or professionals.
These group trainings are available to U.S.-based organizations as well as companies and institutions operating internationally, and are customized to reinforce course learning while supporting its practical application in real-world settings.
Context matters.
For EMA, “context” includes the geographical, organizational, and professional environment in which participants will apply mediation skills. Group trainings are intentionally designed to address the specific challenges, cultural dynamics, and decision-making realities participants face in their daily work.
Partnering with Edwards Mediation Academy can bring numerous benefits to your organization. Through our collaboration, partners can offer exceptional international mediation and mediation lawyer training, grow their reach, and develop sustainable training programs that build local dispute resolution capacity. Course revenue is shared with our partners to help build and expand training capacity.
Training Partner Program Examples:
Rwanda Program example:
India Program Example:
Brazil Program Example:
In addition to these programs, we have many others underway around the globe.
As a serving Judge and a mediation enthusiast, I often wondered how I would ever get a chance to take a well-balanced and fully-fledged course that could equip me with the necessary mediation skills to use in my day-to-day work without leaving my office. I had tried several options, but they could not quench the thirst of my expectation, not until luck struck and I was introduced to Edwards Mediation Academy and their Mediation Skills Course. I got the best of the best without leaving the comfort of my office and as a result my working and my thinking in the arena of mediation will never be the same. I am so indebted to Bruce and Susan for coming up with such a tremendous course. It will be my springboard to greater heights.
The program has been truly transformative for me. It provided profound healing from the challenges I faced early in my career while navigating court processes. It shifted my perspective, guiding me to see disputes as a natural part of human interaction. With a newfound understanding of emotions, I now feel empowered to handle difficult situations with ease. While I work as a corporate lawyer, I am drawn to engage in mediation advocacy, aspiring to contribute as a peace facilitator in the long term. The program sparked my interest in exploring innovative ways to promote peace within society. On a deeper level, it has strengthened my spiritual journey, deepening my commitment to living in alignment with my values. I am grateful to have found a community of like-minded individuals who offer invaluable support along this path.
At Edwards Mediation Academy, we think strong collaborations lead to more potent mediators. Our partnership opportunities are for organizations, institutions, and professionals who seek to broaden access to quality training. Now you can partner with us to allow your members, employees, or students to earn an online mediation certificate known for its challenge, inclusivity, and real-world usefulness.
Whether you are a training institution, professional association, or an organization seeking group mediation training for your employees or members, EMA works collaboratively with you to design a program that aligns with your goals and operational realities.
By offering an online mediation certification through Edwards Mediation Academy, you provide your community with a practical, transformative pathway to professional growth.
What your organization receives in a partnership with Edwards Mediation Academy:
These are advantages that don’t just invest in education; they become strategic advantages for your organization.
Conflict is a fact of life in any organization, institution, or community. When you provide guided training, people are empowered to turn conflict into opportunities for collaboration and growth. Edwards Mediation Academy offers professionals the resources, education, and encouragement to establish mediation as a core dimension of their careers and personal development.
Your organization’s drive to develop stronger conflict-resolution capacity starts here. Click the “Become a Partner” button to explore how Edwards Mediation Academy can support mediation training for organizations in the United States and around the world. Together, we can expand access to high-quality mediation education and ensure that learning translates into real-world impact where it matters most.
Why does EMA emphasize localized facilitation in its partner training programs?
Mediation does not operate in a vacuum. Legal frameworks, cultural norms, professional expectations, and communication styles vary significantly across regions and practice areas. EMA works with trusted local partners and facilitators to ensure that training is contextually relevant, culturally informed, and sustainable, while maintaining consistent international standards of excellence.
Is the Mediation Training Partner Program only for trainers or governments?
No. EMA also works directly with organizations to design group mediation trainings that reinforce learning and support practical application within each organization’s unique professional, cultural, and geographic context.
Can EMA provide mediation training for internal teams within an organization?
Edwards Mediation Academy designs and delivers mediation training for internal teams within organizations, including companies, courts, nonprofits, healthcare systems, educational institutions, and professional associations. These programs are structured to reinforce core mediation concepts while helping participants apply the skills directly to their day-to-day professional roles and organizational environments.
How are mediation trainings customized for different organizations or regions?
EMA customizes group trainings by integrating facilitated discussions, practical exercises, and reflective learning that address each group’s specific context. Context may include geographic location, legal or regulatory environment, organizational culture, industry norms, or professional responsibilities. This ensures participants are not only learning mediation theory, but also developing skills that are practical, relevant, and immediately usable in their own setting.
