IMI Online Mediation Specialisation is here!

Today we are delighted to announce that it is now possible to have your skills as an online mediator recognised, via IMI Online Mediation Specialisation. Being an IMI Online Mediation Specialist means that you meet IMI’s international independent quality criteria for conducting mediation online.

Because this, like Intercultural Competence, is an IMI Specialisation, you can seek the appropriate training or assessment via an ODR-QAP at any stage of your career, following initial training and experience.

A huge thanks must go to IMI’s ODR Taskforce, who worked to develop and publish the associated competency criteria in 2017, and particularly to Co-Chairs Ana Maria Maia Gonçalves and Daniel Rainey, who have worked incredibly hard to get this Specialisation over the line. You will find some helpful introductory videos from them below.

The initial ODR-QAP Appraisal Committee consists of Ana and Daniel, as well as Frank Fowlie, Ije Ononogbu, Jessica Carter, and Larry Bridgesmith. The Appraisal Committee page has been updated accordingly.

What happens next?

  1. Organisations who deliver online mediation training and assessment, and whose programs meet the criteria, may now submit their programs for assessment against IMI standards. The link may be found under ‘Organisations’ in the website menu. Applicants should make sure they watch the videos at the bottom of this page for guidance.
  2. Submitted programs will be assessed by the ODR-QAP Appraisal Committee, and once they are approved, this will be announced on the IMI website. Approved programs will be known as ‘ODR-QAPs’.
  3. Individual mediators can then contact organisations with approved ODR-QAPs to become recognised as IMI Online Mediators.

I want to be recognised!

Keep an eye on the IMI website for news about approved ODR-QAPs. In the meantime, do make sure you keep a log of online mediation hours, and check out the criteria for an idea of what will be required of you. The bare minimum experential requirement is 20 online mediations in the last 24/36 months, or 5 full-scale online mediations for existing IMI Certified Mediators.

Note that IMI does not recognise applications from individuals; all new IMI Online Mediation Specialists must be submitted to us via an approved ODR-QAP.

What will I be called?

Individuals who are assessed as having the required skills and competencies will be known as an IMI Online Mediation Specialist, or IMI Online Mediation Specialised. If that person is separately IMI Qualified or IMI Certified, then they may call themselves an IMI (Qualified/Certified) Online Mediation Specialist. Completing IMI Online Mediation or Intercultural Competence Specialisation only does not entitle individuals to call themselves IMI Qualified or Certified.

Moving from IMI Qualified to IMI Certified shows your progress as a mediation professional in your career, from newly-trained to highly-experienced. IMI Specialisations show that you have a particular desirable skillset.

To learn more about IMI Specialisation and Certification, see here.

What costs are involved?

  • Individuals who are already IMI Qualified or IMI Certified can pay a once-off 100EUR (or equivalent) fee to have a Specialisation added to their profile.
  • Individuals who are not IMI Qualified or Certified must pay an annual fee of 225EUR per year to have an IMI profile with a Specialisation only. (Note that the usual listing contribution for people who are IMI Certified is 125EUR per year. We encourage you to seek IMI Certification.)
  • Organisations submitting their programs to be assessed pay the same fees as for other for other QAPs–450EUR to have their program assessed, or 150EUR at the discounted rate for eligible countries, and a bienniel (every two years) audit fee of 150EUR.
  • These costs do not include the costs of training or assessment payable to implementing organisations by individuals; nor do they include any internal costs organisations may have in preparing their application.

How can I have my organisation’s program assessed?

Organisations who deliver online mediation training and assessment, and whose programs meet the criteria, may now submit their programs for assessment against IMI standards. The link may be found under ‘Organisations’ in the website menu. Applicants should make sure they watch the videos at the bottom of this page for guidance.

Watch the videos

An introduction to ODR-QAPs and requirements
Required competencies and assessment thereof
Required skills and assessment thereof

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