Entry requirements

Fulfilment of the requirements for a Bachelor's degree, from an internationally recognised university. Proficiency in English equivalent to the Swedish upper secondary course English 6.

Learning outcomes

This course is designed to give students:

• an introduction to key concepts and tools of negotiation and mediation;
• an understanding of what obstacles and problems commonly arise in actual negotiations;
• an understanding of what tools and strategies are best used to build trust, break deadlocks, avoid inefficiencies, and reach durable agreements of joint gains.

After completion of this course the student is expected to be able to:

• appreciate the strengths and limitations of using negotiation to resolve conflict and reach agreement;
• identify independently common challenges which arise in attempting to negotiate agreement;
• identify and employ, independently and critically, suitable tools and strategies for negotiating effectively in different contexts;
• independently write assignments/essay within a given time frame;
• communicate in English, in writing and/or orally.

Content

This course focuses on key concepts and tools of negotiation and mediation, drawing on research literature and practical experience. The main emphasis is on how to negotiate effectively, by identifying common obstacles in resolving conflicts through negotiations. Much focus is laid on the mediation process and the role of the mediator. Students learn the basic concepts of negotiation and mediation theory and practice practical tools and personal negotiation skills through exercises and simulations. These take place in settings ranging from the interpersonal and communal to the global. The students also get to meet people who have been working practically in different conflict situations in order to share their experiences as mediators.

Instruction

The course is taught through short lectures with discussion and practical exercises. The language of instruction is English.

Assessment

The final course mark will be based on performance in fulfiling the following three requirements:

1. Active participation in and contributions to teaching sessions
2. A short written in-class examination
3. A written analytical assignment

If there are special reasons for doing so, an examiner may make an exception from the method of assessment indicated and allow a student to be assessed by another method. An example of special reasons might be a certificate regarding special pedagogical support from the University's disability coordinator.

Uppsala University does not accept cheating and plagiarism. Suspected incidents of cheating or plagiarism are reported to the Vice-Chancellor, which may issue a formal warning to the student or suspend the student from studies for a certain period.