Services. “They offer both practice and theory and have unsurpassed
knowledge about their subjects.”

That one conflict resolution certificate first offered in 1986 has now
become six in different fields of specialization, as the number of students
has grown along with the course offerings. Depending on their professional
requirements or personal choices, students may opt to take certificates in
Negotiation, Mediation/Third-Party Intervention or Family Mediation. Or
they may decide to take Associate Certificates in Leadership and Conflict
Resolution, or in Workplace Conflict.

The JIBC has become such a strong believer in the efficacy of conflict
resolution in so many areas that the subject has become a component in
every major credential offered. As a measure of its continuing appeal to a
wide range of people, White points to the diverse backgrounds of students
in a typical class. There can be lawyers wanting to improve their mediation
skills, retirees pursuing an interest, a construction worker seeking ways of
dealing with workplace differences, a religious leader eager to find a method

fe Cencre jor Conflict of healing splits in a community, a banker looking for ways to reduce stress
Resclition’s senior and strife between clients and employees, and a receptionist working on
insiruecter Dacorch strategies to deal with conflicts in the front office.

Waite teacnes cours: “Our programs are open to anyone interested,’ says White, who has
suctias Vianaging the herself earned one of the JIBC certificates in conflict resolution. “We have
Dijjiculi Conversation, people taking our courses who may be leaders in their businesses and are
Prosaring jor Your more technical than people-minded. They may have difficulty working
Nego’fatisn Assess:nant, with other people and find our courses help them become better managers.
ane Criticism: How co We find police officers and fire fighters in our courses who have learned
Giva and Recrive !t. about the benefits of conflict resolution while attending the JIBC. Some

have career enhancement in mind, while others are simply interested in the
topic of conflict resolution for its own sake. Whatever the reason, students
usually find that they have had a unique educational experience and have
undertaken quite a personal journey”

The JIBC is planning to make that journey even more extensive
and comprehensive as it commits itself to providing in-depth courses for
graduates of the certificate programs and from other post-secondary insti-
tutions. The planning for these post-baccalaureate offerings is in the early
exploratory stages. But the vision for these advanced programs would be
to enable conflict resolution practitioners, and those who are interested
in conflict resolution as a field of knowledge, to take advantage of all the
expertise and experience that the JIBC has accumulated in this area since
the early 1980s.