

Mediation training
TOTAL HOURS
26 academic hours (intensive and dynamic training)
DURATION
3 days (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)
FORMAT
In-person attendance
LOCATION
University of Skopje
ORGANIZERS
University of Skopje, Pingala Consult, PIORSIS
FEE
450€
CONTACT
+389 78 33 43 73 info@pingalaconsult.com
Mediation is an alternative method of dispute resolution that enables the parties in conflict to find a mutually acceptable solution with the help of a neutral and independent intermediary – the mediator. It is based on the principles of voluntariness, confidentiality, equality of the parties, and their active involvement in the process.
Mediation is not only a process but also a skill that enriches everyday life. It represents the ability to listen actively, communicate clearly and non-violently, recognize interests behind positions, and search for common solutions even in the most difficult situations.
This skill is applicable in various contexts – from family and personal relationships, to the workplace and business partnerships, to educational institutions, public organizations, and intercultural settings. Wherever there is conflict or misunderstanding, mediation opens the door to constructive dialogue and sustainable agreements.
Mediation also changes the way we perceive reality and the people around us. Instead of seeing conflict as a threat or a fight, it is recognized as an opportunity for growth, learning, and creating new paths of understanding. The skill of mediation encourages the development of empathy, patience, and respect, transforming communication and relationships in a positive and lasting way. It helps minimize or eliminate conflicts from your life – and even more, to turn them into opportunities for personal growth, further developing your emotional intelligence and fostering it in others.
Mediators are trained not to block ideas, to manage the egos of the parties, to “soften” them in order to explore issues, and to create a common platform where interests can meet.
Who is it for and where can it be applied?
Mediation training is open to anyone who wishes to acquire practical skills for constructive conflict resolution and building better relationships – regardless of profession or education. You don’t need to be a lawyer to use mediation skills. Mediation techniques are helpful in negotiations and communication in general. They contribute to mastering and managing one’s own and others’ emotions. Mediation enhances your abilities and can make you a better professional.
The program is particularly useful for professionals who work with people on a daily basis: managers, entrepreneurs, team leaders, psychologists, educators, social workers, teachers, NGO representatives, public administration officials – as well as for anyone who wants to improve their communication and negotiation skills.
The training is also intended for individuals seeking personal development – to improve family relationships, overcome personal or professional challenges, and gain confidence in decision-making during situations of disagreement.
In other words – mediation is for everyone who wants to learn how to turn conflicts into opportunities for dialogue, understanding, and new solutions.
Methodology and Training Format
An intensive and dynamic program combining theoretical foundations with practical activities, including interactive exercises, practical demonstrations, presentations of educational films and videos, as well as role-playing with real-life situations.
International experts will lead the training process, tailoring the topics to real scenarios and participants’ experiences, so that everyone can effectively develop and apply the acquired skills.
What’s Included?
Top international lecturers among the first accredited mediation trainers in the EU, with numerous successfully completed mediation processes, including political mediation in Central Asia
In-person participation in modern classrooms equipped with the latest technology
Many additional benefits for other trainings, events, and networking opportunities
Interactive exercises, practical demonstrations, educational films and videos, and role-playing with real-life situations
Acquisition of skills immediately applicable in both professional and personal life
Opportunity to register in the Register of Mediators of the Republic of Bulgaria
Study aids and educational materials (in English and Macedonian)
Two certificates of non-formal education: one from the University of Skopje (in Macedonian) and one from PIORSIS Sofia (in English)
Benefits and Skills from the Training
The skills gained from mediation training are directly applicable in daily life and the professional environment. They enable more effective
conflict resolution, improved communication, and the building of healthy and productive relationships – both personally and professionally.
Benefits:
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Improved communication – participants learn how to express themselves more clearly and effectively and to listen actively
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Conflict resolution – gaining tools for constructive dispute management and transforming conflicts into opportunities. You use conflict as a resource for personal and mutual growth
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Building trust – learning how to create a neutral and safe environment for all parties
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Enhanced emotional intelligence – developing sensitivity to the emotions and needs of others
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Better negotiation skills – mastering techniques for achieving win-win outcomes
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Applicability in diverse areas – business, family, education, organizational culture, and international relations
Skills developed:
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Active listening and recognition of underlying interests
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Neutrality and impartiality in behavior
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Asking questions that guide the discussion
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Reflection and paraphrasing to confirm understanding
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Managing emotions (your own and those of the parties)
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Moderating discussions and facilitating processes
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Creative problem-solving and option building
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Reaching agreements that are fairly accepted by all parties
The training is valuable even if you don’t plan to become a professional mediator – because the skills directly improve everyday communication and professional performance.
A skill that changes the way you see the world
Meet the Expert Lecturers:

Maria Musorlieva Phd
Biography Executive Director of PIORSIS, lawyer since 1992, author of the first and so far only dissertation on “The Communication Model of Mediation Before, During, and After Political Elections and their Public Communication”, university lecturer, author of books, and active mediator. Maria Musorlieva is the longest-serving Deputy Chair of the Central Election Commission (CEC) – until 2019. As a graduate in film directing from the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts, she produced some of the first educational documentary films on mediation, broadcast on Bulgarian National Radio and Television. She is an active and highly inspiring speaker at numerous national and international conferences and mediation events, where she presents mediation as a way for parties to discover a platform of shared values and mutual understanding – and, whenever possible, to “shake hands.”

Atanas Musorliev
Biography Co-founder and President of the PIORSIS Foundation, mediator registered with the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria, licensed mediation trainer with significant decades-long experience. In 1991, Atanas Musorliev ranked first out of more than 100 candidates in the first democratic competition for judges, approved by the National Assembly of the Republic of Bulgaria after several rounds. He served as a judge for over 14 years and as a division president in the Sofia City Court. He left the court voluntarily due to disagreement with a series of developments in the judicial system. For the next 15 years, he worked as a lawyer. He was a member-commissioner in the Commission for Protection against Discrimination (2013–2018), Senior Legal Adviser at Bulgarian National Radio and Television, and in recent years, he has worked as a legal consultant in major international disputes. He is fluent in English and Russian and speaks Czech very well.
Organizers:

educational partner

organizing partner

expert partner
Meet our expert partner:
The Legal Institute for Training and Dispute Resolution outside the Court – PIORSIS, was founded in 2008 as a non-governmental, non-profit organization based in Sofia and Smolyan. The Institute is accredited by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Bulgaria as an official training center for mediation and since then has successfully organized trainings, seminars, and certified programs for mediators.
PIORSIS is one of the first mediation training centers in the European Union and has a long-standing history in the development and promotion of alternative dispute resolution. The Institute produced the first educational documentary films on mediation in its own film studio, broadcast on national television, as well as the first such films commissioned by the American Bar Association.
In addition to standard courses for mediators, PIORSIS conducts specialized trainings and real mediations in various types of disputes: commercial, family, inheritance, consumer, copyright-related disputes, public-private partnerships, property disputes, school disputes, disputes with and among municipalities, and many others. In its work, the Institute has trained thousands of mediators from different professional and social fields. PIORSIS also has extensive experience in international projects, including supporting peace processes in Central Asia and mediating interethnic and intercultural conflicts, such as resolving the dispute with Bulgarian doctors in Libya.
The main goal of PIORSIS is to promote mediation and alternative dispute resolution through trainings, lectures, presentations, and practical application, with the aim of increasing legal awareness, intercultural communication, and the development of skills for constructive conflict resolution. The Institute has trained elite mediators from all spheres of life – lawyers, judges, economists, accountants, teachers, psychologists, businesspeople, and parents, as well as youth organizations and public officials.
PIORSIS also offers a certified mediation training program for higher education institutions, with two core modules – “Introduction to Mediation” and “Specialized Mediations”, which are based on the model of Harvard University and the leading American approach to mediation. The course is interactive and conducted by experienced mediators, including judges, lawyers, and young specialists with experience in international projects and real mediations.
