• Graduation

    Certificate

  • ECTS-Points

    24

  • Learning format

    Blended Learning

  • Duration

    2 semesters, part time

  • Start

    Winter semester 2025/26

  • Costs

    EUR 4.200,--

  • Admission requirements

    According to curriculum

  • Language

    English

  • Study location

    Krems (AT)

  • Curriculum

    Subject to Senate approval

Interested? Get in touch!
The Certificate Programme (CP) addresses the growing demand for professional conflict management in higher education. Currently, no formal training exists in Europe for this complex role. The CP fills this gap by offering structured learning for both aspiring and experienced ombudspersons and professionals dealing with student complaints or stakeholder conflicts.

Participants gain a solid grounding in higher education governance and the legal and ethical frameworks of ombuds work (confidentiality, data protection). They develop key transversal skills, such as strategic negotiation, communication, self-reflection and learn to apply techniques in alternative dispute resolution. The programme emphasizes peer learning, joint case analysis, and peer coaching, creating a strong network of practice. It prepares participants to navigate the sensitive role of intermediaries, advocate for fair policies, and use conflict as a driver for institutional learning and change. The CP offers a unique pathway for mastering the challenges of ombuds work and contributing to the professionalization of this vital field.

Conflict is costly - for all parties involved. But when handled constructively, it can become a powerful source of institutional (and personal) learning.

Dr. Elke Welp-Park, M.A.

head of study programme

The CP was developed in cooperation with the European Network of Ombuds in Higher Education (ENOHE) and the Department for Legal Studies and International Relations at UWK. It is co-funded by the Austrian Federal Ministry for Women, Science and Research.

Launch Event 18. November

Any questions?

We’re here to help.

Barbara Auer

Barbara Auer

study programme coordinator

To contact form

To contact form

The programme is aimed at individuals in higher education who are responsible for handling complaints and resolving conflicts between stakeholders. This includes both explicitly designated ombudspersons as well as professionals dealing with student complaints and/or discrimination cases in other roles, such as diversity management, student counseling, and academic units. The diverse professional backgrounds and levels of experience among participants are essential for achieving the programme’s learning outcomes.

  • future-oriented

  • networking

  • practice-oriented

ECTS

  • Contents

    Module 1 provides a foundational understanding of governance structures and legal frameworks relevant to ombudspersons in higher education and others working in similar areas. Participants will analyze organisational and stakeholder dynamics within higher education institutions and the larger European Higher Education Area and develop the competencies to address legal and ethical challenges in their work, with particular focus on confidentiality, privacy, whistleblowing, and non-discrimination.

  • Contents

    Module 2 develops advanced communication and negotiation skills tailored to the university context, enabling participants to navigate difficult conversations and stakeholder dynamics. The module emphasizes empathetic listening, strategic dialogue, and interest-based negotiation approaches. It is designed for those managing complex interactions and aiming to build trust in institutional environments.

  • Contents

    This module focuses specifically on dispute settling and conflict resolution in the context of higher education as the core responsibility of ombuds. Learners will analyse conflict sources, understand conflict management systems and recognise cultural and contextual differences. The module provides learners with concrete ADR techniques they can apply in their work; participants will learn how to support stakeholders effectively, how to encourage proactive conflict management and how to promote institutional learning.

  • Contents

    In the CP’s concluding module, participants will apply the learning outcomes of the previous modules to work together on actual cases and devise solutions. Moreover, the module aims to foster the reflective, emotional, and interpersonal competencies essential for ombuds in higher education. Participants will develop strategies for stress management and self-care while enhancing their own resilience and empathy. Leveraging peer-learning and collaboration, the module emphasizes the importance of peer-support net-works in sustaining professional effectiveness in high-pressure environments. Through interactive workshops and case-based group work, participants will analyze complex real-world challenges from their own backgrounds, reflect on critical incidents, and develop collective solutions to systemic and interpersonal issues in higher education

Dr. Elke Welp-Park, M.A.

Center for Higher Education Development and -Innovation

vCard

Admission Requirements

Applicants must meet one of the following criteria:

  • A completed university degree (minimum of a Bachelor's degree), 
    OR
  • A general university entrance qualification and at least one year of relevant professional experience in dealing with (student) complaints and/or conflict management within higher education institutions, 
    OR
  • A minimum of two years of relevant professional experience as an ombudsperson or in a comparable role involving conflict and complaint management in higher education settings.
     

Overview of the admission requirements

Find out more

Scholarships and funding

Show financing options

Interested in applying for the Certificate Programme “Managing Conflict and Effective Dispute Resolution in Higher Education”?

We’re glad to hear it! To secure your place, please follow the enrolment steps outlined below.

Please note: Study places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Early application is strongly recommended.

Application Process

  1. Initial Contact
    Reach out to us to clarify your expectations and to check whether you meet the admission requirements.
  2. Document Submission
    Submit your CV and a letter of motivation outlining your interest in the programme, your relevant experience, and your professional goals.
  3. Interview
    Participate in an interview with the Director of Studies to assess programme fit, motivation and language proficiency.
  4. Preliminary Admission
    If eligible, you will receive a preliminary offer of admission by the department. Please note: This offer is binding and secures your place in the programme, provided that all required documents are submitted on time and successfully verified.
  5. Online Application
    Complete your official application via the university’s online portal. Registration for the winter semester 2025 opens 4 July 2025.
  6. Final Admission
    Upon successful verification of your documents, you will be formally admitted to the certificate programme.
Folder Managing conflict and effective dispute resolution in higher education
PDF | 1 MB
Timeline 2025 - 2026
PDF | 60 KB