Peer Mediation meets discomfort pedagogy
Peer mediation at THUAS turns discomfort into growth by helping students and staff develop skills in empathy, dialogue, and conflict resolution.
Centre of Expertise Global and Inclusive Learning
The Comenius project Relational Peer Mediation at The Hague University of Applied Science (THUAS) strengthens affective learning and conflict-competency training. By engaging with the Pedagogy of Discomfort, the initiative fosters empathy, resilience, and constructive dialogue across our diverse academic community.
Through peer mediation, we transform discomfort into connection and conflict into growth. This project empowers our community to build inclusive and socially just education.
- dr. Barbara Warwas, Project Leader
Background project
In higher education, differences in values, perspectives, and identities often lead to discomfort or conflict. Instead of avoiding these tensions, this project uses them as learning opportunities. Supported by the Comenius Leadership Fellow grant, the project responds directly to THUAS' mission of creating socially just and inclusive education.
Purpose
To equip and prepare students and staff for constructive conflict engagement with mediation skills to transform discomfort into opportunities for learning, collaboration, and growth
Target
The project supports all THUAS students and staff by promoting emotional resilience, inclusivity, and stronger community ties. It also prepares graduates with conflict resolution skills valuable in professional and international contexts.
Method
Activities include story-sharing fora, critical dialogues, conflict competency training, and the establishment of a Peer Mediation Clinic as a sustainable resource, where we combine peer mediation with the Pedagogy of Discomfort.
Results
The project will deliver:
- Peer mediation workshops and training sessions.
- Story-sharing forums and critical dialogues.
- A Peer Mediation Clinic as a permanent support space at THUAS.
- An innovative affective learning model adaptable across education.
Impact
The project fosters an inclusive, socially just academic culture. It enhances emotional intelligence, empathy, and collaboration among students and staff, aligning with THUAS' knowledge agenda on sustainability, just society, and digital future.
More information
Follow the project on Instagram: @thuaspeermediation
Read more: relationalpeermediation.nl
Start and end date
March 2025-February 2027
Funding
NRO: Comenius Leadership Fellow Grant 2024-2027
Collaboration
- Research groups: Multilevel Regulation and Inclusive Education
- THUAS Centre of Expertise Global & Inclusive Learning
Team
- dr. Barbara Warwas (Project Leader)
- dr. Naomi van Stapele (Co-Applicant)
- Project team of lecturers, student leaders, and researchers