The use of experts (arbitrators) and co-mediators for conflict management is increasing in the building and construction industry, and the expert role is regulated in many of the industry's standard contracts. Experts play a key role in dispute resolution between the parties, and there is an increased focus on and demand for skilled experts. The expert also plays an important role in new standards and in the revision of existing standards.
The trade associations NITO, Tekna and the Norwegian Mediation Association are therefore establishing, together with the Norwegian Mediation Centre, a joint professional framework for experts with courses and associated certification.
As a certified expert, you can contribute in several areas:
- In the traditional role of an expert who gives a professional opinion in a conflict
- As a co-mediator together with legal mediator in and out of court
- As an expert co-judge in court cases
- As a participant in preventive conflict management, such as PRIME (Project-Integrated Mediation)
The course consists of two parts
Part 1: Online Courses
The online course provides a basic understanding of the industry's needs and actors, roles and basic principles for expert work, work methodology, ethics and other practical aspects of expert assignments. The online course must be completed and passed before you can participate in part 2. A link to the online course will be sent to registered participants approx. one month before the physical gathering.
The online course has been developed by lawyer Anett Aarrestad Ravndal and engineer Henning Hamnes. Both are certified mediators with extensive experience from the construction industry and with dispute resolution both in and outside the courts.
Part 2: Physical two-day gathering
At the physical gathering, we go into more detail about key topics for the expert role, with particular emphasis on practical exercises and cases. The gathering ends with a practical exam.
Speakers include people who teach the certification course for mediators (the Mediation Academy).
