Mediation and Dialogue Research Center, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy aims to generate high quality academic research that impacts practice of conflict transformation in Ukraine.
The Center does research on various aspects of the current armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine. It focuses on mediation and dialogue as conflict transformation tools used to deal with the violence in the conflict affected areas as well as within broader context of positive peace, democratization and current reforms in Ukraine.
The past research projects of the Center members dealt with integration of mediation within Ukrainian court system; mechanisms of self-regulation of mediation practice; institutionalization of mediation in Ukraine; patterns of track-three dialogues and associated risks in post-2014 Ukraine.
The current projects are focused on inclusion into dialogues and peace processes, civil society in peacebuilding and impact of track-three dialogues in Ukraine.
The Center connects its research to University teaching through introduction of conflict resolution and mediation courses and modules into undergraduate and post-graduate curriculum at law, political sciences and public administration departments of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.
The Center maintains close links with practitioners; its research is practice-driven and relies on the “research in action” approach. It responds to the concerns of the international organizations such as OSCE and UN agencies working in Ukraine, local NGOs and community of mediators and dialogue facilitators by bringing academic research into practice and vice-versa.