18 Ukrainian labor mediators earn international certification as trainers

Eighteen Ukrainian specialists have been officially certified as trainers in labor mediation and dispute resolution, marking a major step toward building a sustainable mediation system in the country. The group completed a 60-hour blended learning program supported by the International Labor Organization (ILO).

The announcement was made during a briefing at Media Center Ukraine.

The initiative aimed to create a pool of certified trainers from among Ukraine’s most experienced mediators. These newly accredited trainers will not only continue their own mediation work but will also offer free certification training to other Ukrainian mediators, contributing to a broader national effort to expand and professionalize the field.

The program’s core objectives included enhancing conflict resolution skills, promoting adherence to ILO mediation principles, and fostering a robust training environment to ensure the consistent quality of mediator education across Ukraine.

“The team selected to participate in this certification training was already strong, meaning that at the entrance we had a constellation of participants, each and every one of whom already had a very strong mediation experience. And we did this on purpose, because these should be people who have a rich and powerful experience and who, perhaps, needed only a certain small add-on of special, very specific knowledge related to labor mediation,” explained Serhii Savchuk, project manager at the International Labor Organization in Ukraine. 

The certification course was divided into three stages, with a key segment held at the ILO’s International Training Center in Turin, Italy. During the technical stage (May 5-9), participants engaged in online sessions covering the theoretical underpinnings of labor mediation. The practical component (May 19-23) took place in Turin and featured hands-on role-playing, interactive exercises, and mentoring. The final stage (May 26-June 6) focused on developing personal growth plans and undergoing the final certification assessment.

All participants successfully passed the evaluation and were awarded certificates of competence that meet both international and national standards.

“As a result, we now have 18 fully certified mediation trainers ready to educate others,” Savchuk added. “Our goal is to build a critical mass of labor mediators in Ukraine, and the ILO will continue supporting this mission moving forward.”

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news