What connects law, psychology, and communication? The answer is mediation—the art of resolving conflicts peacefully, before they ever reach the courtroom. From August 11 to 21 in Riga, the NORDPLUS intensive summer school “Mediation in Criminal and Civil Cases” (Project No. NPHE-2025/10493) brought together students and lecturers from Lithuania, Latvia, and Finland to learn how to transform conflicts into dialogue and disagreements into constructive agreements.

Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) was represented by Vice-Rector for Studies Prof. Dr. Natalija Kaminskienė and PhD student and lecturer Indrė Kasiulaitė, who, together with the international team, took part in intensive lectures, practical workshops, role plays, and discussions with experienced mediation experts. The program was further enriched by intercultural sessions and visits to the Latvian Parliament and the Supreme Court, offering participants a unique opportunity to experience the international legal context firsthand.

The student participants emphasized that the experience provided not only a solid theoretical foundation but also confidence in real-life situations. “The practical role plays were extremely valuable—now I feel much more confident during negotiations,” shared one participant. “Excellent organization, professional lecturers, and an inspiring atmosphere—I would recommend it to everyone,” added another student. It is no surprise that the overall evaluation of the course reached an impressive 9.5 out of 10.

Mediation is more than just a tool for conflict resolution. It is the ability to build bridges between people, prevent escalation, and help discover solutions that work for all parties. This is exactly the kind of experience MRU representatives brought back—joining an international community that fosters future leaders capable of creating a more peaceful and mature society.

Read more about students’ impressions and feedback here.