March 8th-11th, 2023, a team of MRU Student Mediators, representing Mykolas Romeris University, participated in the XXI International Academy of Dispute Resolutions (INADR) International Law School Mediation Tournament in Bologna (Italy). Law School Prof. Dr. Agnė Tvaronavičienė and Lecturer Indrė Korsakovienė helped students prepare for the tournament.

While preparing for the tournament, students got acquainted with mediation and acquired knowledge of legal negotiations, discovered different styles and methods of mediation and negotiations. MRU was represented in the tournament by Eglė Striškaitė, Viktoria Palahniuk and Edvinas Gelžinis. They had a unique opportunity to practically test themselves in the roles of mediators and negotiators. They competed with students from more than 20 countries (Italy, Poland, Sakartvelo, USA, India, Singapore, the Czech Republic, Ukraine and others).

A total of 44 student teams participated in the tournament. Students were were assisted in preparation for the tournament by members of the Mediation and Peaceful Dispute Resolution Laboratory, post-doctoral intern dr. Julia Radanova, doctoral students Agnieszka Góra and Jacek Czaja and School of Law researcher Alina Serhieieva.

Students say they came back from the tournament even more hungry for knowledge and skills in mediation and negotiation. "The tournament was not only a great opportunity to test yourself, but at the same time to learn from other students, gain real mediation and negotiation experience, and receive judges' comments on the chosen negotiation strategy or mediation tactics," students said. In addition, it was an invaluable experience - long hours of work, stress, but at the same time a lot of acquaintances and good emotions, they noted.

The four intense days of the tournament became an invaluable opportunity for students to personally get to know internationally recognized mediation experts, participate in training specially designed for tournament participants, demonstrate their abilities and get to know mediation enthusiasts, students and teachers from all over the world.

In November 2023, Mykolas Romeris University will invite students, their coaches and judges from various foreign countries to meet and compete in Vilnius.