Ukrainian Academy of Mediation Completes Ukraine’s First Interpreting Programme in the Field of Mediation

The Ukrainian Academy of Mediation has held the final session of “Foundations in Mediation”, the first educational programme in Ukraine dedicated to interpreting in the field of mediation. The programme marked an important step towards building a new professional community of interpreters equipped to work effectively in mediation processes.

The programme brought together interpreters for whom words are not only a professional tool but also a responsibility for preserving balance, meaning, and emotional context in complex conversations. Throughout the training, participants explored the logic and structure of the mediation process, worked with specialised terminology, and developed essential skills such as active listening, neutrality, and accuracy — all crucial for effective understanding between the parties.

The programme was developed and delivered by international mediation experts Barrie J. Roberts and Maria Ceballos-Wallis. They created a practice-oriented learning environment combining reflection, practical exercises, and simulations, enabling participants to gain a deeper understanding of their role in mediation and of its dynamics, principles, and values.

The trainers delivered the programme pro bono specifically for Ukrainian professionals, making an important contribution to the development of professional capacity in mediation-related interpreting in Ukraine.

The training was organised by the Ukrainian Academy of Mediation in cooperation with the Ukrainian Association of Translators and Interpreters within the project “CONSENT: Enhancing the Role of Alternative Dispute Resolution in Ukraine with a Focus on Mediation”, implemented with the financial support of the European Union.

The organisers express their sincere gratitude to the trainers for supporting the initiative and bringing it to life for the Ukrainian professional community, as well as to all participants for their trust, active engagement, and commitment to developing their expertise in this new professional field.

The Ukrainian Academy of Mediation believes that this programme has laid the foundation for a professional community of interpreters who can speak the language of mediation as confidently as they speak the languages of the world.