BANGKOK, September 19 – 20, 2026

The Institute for Education and Development of Conflict Management by Peaceful Means Foundation (I.D.P.), in collaboration with the School of Law and Politics at Suan Dusit University, hosted the online phase of the “Advanced Mediation Skills Training Course (Class 1)” via Zoom on September 19–20, 2026. The opening ceremony was presided over by Dr. Ngamprawan Esomnuk, Dean of the School of Law and Politics, alongside Mrs. Prakairatana Thontiravong, President of the I.D.P. Foundation, who delivered opening remarks highlighting the crucial role of neutral mediators across the 5-stage mediation process. The training drew strong interest from mediators and peacebuilding practitioners seeking to enhance their professional capabilities.

This course is certified by the Rights and Liberties Protection Department, Ministry of Justice, allowing participants to utilize their training certificates to renew their registered mediator status upon completing 3 years of service.

Deepening Mediation Skills Online: Unlocking Mindsets for Peaceful Solutions (Sept 19–20, 2026)

The two-day online intensive focused on delivering deep-level conflict management strategies and practical applications, guided by a distinguished panel of national experts across four core modules:

• Step 1: Preparation and Systematic Conflict Analysis Lectured by Asst. Prof. Dr. Banphot Thontiravong, M.D., Chief Advisor to the I.D.P. Foundation, and Mrs. Prakairatana Thontiravong, President of the I.D.P. Foundation. This session aimed at reshaping mediators’ mindsets to view conflict holistically and systematically. Participants learned to deconstruct disputes by separating structural and financial facts from intense personal emotions, preventing negotiations from stalling in anger. The module covered techniques for uncovering underlying needs beneath the surface, preparing pre-negotiation conflict maps, and integrating Buddhist Mindful Mediation to maintain room composure, alongside intensive case analysis workshops with guidance from expert instructors.
• Step 2: The Art of Opening Mediation Sessions and Building Trust Lectured by Mrs. Prakairatana Thontiravong, President of the I.D.P. Foundation, and Ms. Nunthiya Keawkong, Subcommittee Member on Mediation at the I.D.P. Foundation (Senior Legal Officer, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Public Health). This module detailed a formal, professional 6-step opening statement structure—from welcoming parties to ease tension, establishing a safe space, clarifying mediator neutrality, ensuring voluntary participation and statutory confidentiality, to setting ground rules for mutual respect. Participants practiced individual opening statements through role-playing simulations to build confidence, refine demeanor, and check informed consent.
• Step 3: Advanced Communication Psychology and Deep Listening for Conflict Resolution Lectured by Mrs. Prakairatana Thontiravong, President of the I.D.P. Foundation, and Dr. Thanak Utakapan, Managing Director of the I.D.P. Foundation. Designed to elevate mediator competence, this module applied behavioral psychology to assess disputants’ emotional states. Techniques included deep listening to capture underlying needs, strategic silence to foster self-reflection, message filtering to remove hostile rhetoric while retaining essential facts, and systemic circular questioning to open new perspectives toward shared solutions, accompanied by practical exercises utilizing diagnostic observation worksheets.
• Step 4: Integrative Negotiation for Mutual Gain Lectured by Mrs. Prakairatana Thontiravong, President of the I.D.P. Foundation, and Dr. Suthada Mekhavongsakul, Advisor to the Executive Committee of the I.D.P. Foundation. This module summarized strategies for guiding parties beyond rigid, adversarial positions toward identifying shared interests through private caucuses, option generation, and sustainable agreement frameworks.

Intensive Hands-on Practice (Role-play) Across All Steps

Beyond theoretical instruction, a key highlight of the course was its emphasis on intensive, hands-on workshops in breakout rooms across every module. Participants actively engaged in conflict analysis worksheets, individual opening statement drills, psychological diagnostic evaluations, and negotiation deadlock-breaking simulations. Expert instructors provided real-time, individual feedback to ensure participants could confidently apply these skills in real-world practice.

Preparing for Onsite Practical Evaluation (September 26, 2026)

Following two days of online theoretical and simulated workshop training, the course moves to its final onsite evaluation phase on Saturday, September 26, 2026, at Room 201, Dr. Sirote Pholpantin Building, Suan Dusit University.

The morning session will cover Step 5: Principles and Guidelines for Drafting Civil and Criminal Settlement Agreements, led by Mr. Pirom Sriprasert, Board Member of the I.D.P. Foundation (former National Human Rights Commissioner), and Dr. Nattawat Wan-arom, Head of the Administration Group, Dispute Resolution Promotion Division, Rights and Liberties Protection Department, Ministry of Justice (and Subcommittee Member, I.D.P. Foundation). In the afternoon, participants will undergo individual evaluation through simulated 5-stage mediation scenarios assessed by expert examiners prior to the official certificate presentation ceremony.

Opening Opportunities for Future Professional Mediators

Mediators, legal professionals, and conflict resolution practitioners interested in advancing their expertise in future cohorts can follow announcements, course schedules, and application details for upcoming classes of the “Advanced Mediation Skills Training Course” on the official websites and public relations channels of the Institute for Education and Development of Conflict Management by Peaceful Means Foundation (I.D.P.) and Suan Dusit University.