[NEWS] VMC held Training Courses on Dispute Resolution Skills through Commercial Mediation (2021 – 2025)

From 2021 to 2025, the Vietnam Mediation Center (VMC), under the Vietnam International Arbitration Center (VIAC), successfully organized seven Training Courses on Dispute Resolution Skills through Commercial Mediation. These courses have contributed to raising awareness and enhancing capacity in using this dispute resolution method among legal practitioners and businesses.

Along with the rapid growth of commercial activities, the demand for a flexible and efficient dispute resolution method continues to rise. With its advantages such as confidentiality, flexibility and effectiveness, commercial mediation is a preferred dispute resolution mechanism for both domestic and international parties. To help the business community, legal professionals, and other interested stakeholders in accessing structured and in-depth information on mediation, since 2021, the Vietnam Mediation Center (VMC) under the Vietnam International Arbitration Center (VIAC) has successfully organized basic Training Courses on Dispute Resolution Skills through Commercial Mediation and advanced Training Courses on Mediator Skills.

Lecturers and participants actively engaging in discussions during the Training Courses

The training courses were flexibly held both online and in-person in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. All courses received positive feedback and recognition for their organization quality, in-depth content, and effective interaction among lecturers and participants. The training content was designed to equip businesses and lawyers with the essential knowledge and skills needed when participating in commercial mediation processes.

Notably, building on previous basic courses, the Training Course on Mediator Skills held in April 2024 was designed at an advanced level, catering to participants with prior knowledge and expertise in mediation with an aim to equip Mediators with practical skills in handling disputes through mediation. This course featured foreign lecturers who are experienced international experts in commercial mediation.

International lecturers at the Training Course on Mediator Skills

Statistics from VMC show a steady increase in the number of participants in its Training Courses, reflecting the growing interest in commercial mediation. Participants ranged from lawyers, business leaders, in-house counsel, legal practitioners, to lecturers and students from various academic and research institutions.

The Training Courses offer valuable insights into commercial mediation practices in Vietnam from leading professionals in commercial mediation, along with practical skills drawn from the real-life experiences of mediators and lawyers. In addition, participants can engage in discussions and role-play exercises based on real-life scenarios, guided by the lecturers. These activities help participants revise and apply what they have learned, while improving their mediation skills with the feedback and evaluations from lecturers. VMC also continuously reviews and updates the training content to ensure it aligns with participants’ needs, domestic developments, and international trends in commercial mediation practice.

Lecturers and participants of the Training Courses

Following the Courses, participants gave positive feedback on the quality of the course content, the expertise and skills of lecturers, as well as the organization of the classes. Many expressed interest in joining future in-depth training programs on mediation by VMC. Notably, some participants who are practicing lawyers gave encouraging feedback and expressed their commitment to advising clients to bring ongoing disputes to mediation at VMC. Such feedback serves as a strong motivation for VMC to continuously enhance the quality of its training programs.

“...The experts and lawyers shared their knowledge and practical experience, while also providing examples and hands-on exercises to help participants apply what they learned during the sessions. This was extremely valuable as I was able to gain a lot of useful information. Most importantly, I have grasped the process and skills of dispute resolution through mediation...” - said Mr. Pham Minh Phu, a participant of the Training Course on Dispute Resolution Skills through Commercial Mediation in August 2022.

Another participant, Mr. Pham Xuan Thanh, also commented: “The Training Course has been wonderful and memorable. The quality of teaching was excellent. The trainers were dedicated and used intuitive and effective teaching methods to help participants easily grasp the lessons. I learned many new concepts and skills that I believe will support my personal development and help me achieve my goals.”

Alongside the development of the economy and commercial activities, commercial mediation is expected to continue growing in Vietnam, across the region, and globally in the coming years. In line with this trend, VMC will continue to organize Training Courses on commercial mediation, with content tailored to reflect the legal framework and practical application of mediation in Vietnam, while also incorporating updates on international mediation practices.