Ukrainian Academy of Mediation Joins CDRC Vienna 2026 as Expert Assessors
International mediation and negotiation competitions bring together future dispute resolution professionals, academics, mediators, arbitrators, and experts from around the world. They provide participants with an opportunity to develop practical skills, explore different legal cultures, strengthen intercultural communication, and build professional connections that often grow into future international partnerships.
One of the world’s leading educational platforms for consensual dispute resolution is CDRC Vienna – The IBA-VIAC Mediation & Negotiation Competition 2026. For Ukraine, participation in such events is also an important element of cultural and professional diplomacy, providing an opportunity to share Ukraine’s experience in developing mediation, strengthen trust in Ukrainian professionals, and maintain an active dialogue with the international professional community.
This year, Luiza Romanadze, President of the Ukrainian Academy of Mediation, and Svitlana Sergeyeva, Vice President of the Ukrainian Academy of Mediation, joined the international expert community at CDRC Vienna as Expert Assessors. In this role, they assessed mediation and negotiation rounds, worked alongside leading international professionals, and observed university teams from different countries as they demonstrated their skills.
Each round of CDRC Vienna demonstrates that there are no universal solutions in mediation. New circumstances, confidential information, human relationships, and cultural contexts create a different scenario every time. This is why such competitions develop not only mediation and negotiation skills but also critical thinking, adaptability, the ability to work with uncertainty, and the capacity to build understanding in complex situations.
We are particularly pleased to highlight the achievement of the Ukrainian team from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, which confidently advanced to the quarterfinals this year. Two Australian teams met in the final of CDRC Vienna 2026.
The Ukrainian Academy of Mediation is proud that its representatives continue to be part of this international professional community and contribute to the development of the next generation of mediation and negotiation professionals.
For those considering their first steps into the world of international mediation and negotiation competitions, a useful selection of opportunities is available on the specialised Mediation Help resource:
International mediation and negotiation competitions on Mediation Help
Those interested in learning more about how to prepare for and participate in international competitions can also watch the panel discussion “Where to Start? How to Enter the World of International Negotiation and Mediation Competitions”, held as part of the 10th International Forum “Mediation and Law”: