Africa Centre for Dispute Settlement
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Africa Centre for Dispute Settlement
Conflict in the workplace and elsewhere in society is a fact of life, but if managed properly disputes can be prevented or settled early, before resulting in costly legal battles, bankrupt businesses or shattered relationships. This vision lies at the heart of the Africa Centre for Dispute Settlement (ACDS), which forms part of the University of Stellenbosch Business School (USB) in Bellville, Cape Town.
Under the patronage of Nobel Peace Prize-winner Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, the Centre has established itself as an academic hub for teaching and research on the theory and practice of dispute settlement. The Centre envisages a paradigm shift from resolving differences with guns and litigation to finding solutions through negotiations and mediation.
Support for this approach can be found in African values, which had traditionally involved local community leaders taking responsibility for resolving conflict peacefully through dialogue. Colonialism and apartheid weakened such practices, as had industrialisation and urbanisation.
The Centre offers a postgraduate diploma in Dispute Settlement and various short courses, trains school children and communities in peer mediation and conflict resolution. The Peacemakers Project’s objective is to train leaders in dispute resolution and peacemaking, while the Business for Peace Programme will help ensure good relationships between companies and African communities.
The ACDS acts as a catalyst and thought leader in transforming the theory and practice of dispute settlement. A combination of academic excellence and practical, real-world experience enables the Centre to adopt the role of change agent.