Universities & Colleges


“Conflict is the gadfly of thought. It stirs us to observation and memory. It instigates to invention. It shocks us out of sheep-like passivity, and sets us at noting and contriving… conflict is a sine qua non of reflection and ingenuity.”

[John Dewey]

Conflict is inevitable, and in higher education, where diversity of opinion and reasoned discourse are encouraged, conflict [University of Vienna Library, Photo by: Robyn Jacobson]has an essential role in enhancing creativity, stimulating debate and generating new ideas and innovations. However, conflict must be managed to ensure that it produces constructive and not destructive outcomes, and mechanisms must be in place to resolve disputes that do occur.

Managing Conflict in Education offers these services to universities and colleges:

  • Mediation, facilitation, restorative conferences and circles
  • Training programs in mediation, peer mediation, restorative justice (mediation, conferences, circles)
  • Coaching for those responsible for the management of conflict
  • Courses on conflict management, dispute resolution and effective communication
  • Conflict assessments and systems design

“Conflict is inevitable in higher education, where academic freedom is revered and free thinking is encouraged. It is vital that we understand the conflicts that occur in higher education, and that we learn to deal effectively with them. Lack of understanding of conflict leads to inability to cope with it.”

[Susan A. Holden]

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