School leaders and teachers from the Gold Coast to Gladstone convened at Bond University this month for a workshop on conflict management and negotiation skills.
Over 50 School Principals, Teachers and Administrators attended the one-day workshop on June 6, which was run by Laurence Boulle and John Wade of Bond University’s Dispute Resolution Centre.
Workshop instructor and Professor of Law at Bond University, Laurence Boulle, said the course was extremely successful and would be run regularly.
“The popularity of these programs is a reflection of the growing importance of conflict management in the workforce generally, but particularly in teaching where these skills are especially important,” he said.
The workshop looked at both the theory and practical skills of conflict management, with participants putting their newfound knowledge into practice immediately through a series of case studies and simulations.
“They walked away armed with an understanding of the causes of conflict and possible intervention methods that they could try in their classrooms,” Professor Boulle said.
The workshop also covered the different models of negotiation, dispute resolution processes and communication skills for conflict situations.
The program was extremely well received, with all participants rating the course as excellent (70%), or very good (30%).
Feedback from participants included: “Thanks – this has helped with some real life situations facing me when I return to work tomorrow”; and “Excellent course with practical skills that can be applied to my role at school.”
Many participants were impressed with the facilities in the new Legal Skills Centre and expressed an interest in attending future programs.
The next short workshop will be on 4 October on Conflict Management in the Health Care Industry. To register your interest for future programs conducted by Bond University’s Dispute Resolution Centre, please email [email protected]