Joop Vos

"Fleur Ravensbergen has been a guest lecturer over the past several years in the Masters Program in Conflict Resolution and Governance at the University of Amsterdam. We have come to depend on Fleur for an annual lecture on the topic of mediation in international settings. This occurs in a seminar on conflict resolution and governance practices at the domestic and international levels. Fleur has not disappointed us with regard to her generosity in taking the time to talk with students or in her ability to deliver an engaging and insightful talk.

One facet of Fleur’s succsss in these lectures is that she clearly knows her field. She has a solid command of the workings of mediation. This command means that Fleur is not tied to one approach to presenting the material. She is able to respond flexibly to the students’ interests as they vary from year to year and still ensure that the essential features of mediation practice come out and are discussed. The students walk away with a grasp of core features and a clear understanding of some additional ‘landmarks’ that they can use to make sense of other cases of mediation practice.

What sets Fleur’s sessions apart, however, is that she is able to convey to students the ‘view from the driver’s seat.’ She is confident enough to talk directly and candidly about her experience with mediation. Her willingness to share the moments of uncertainty when she did not know exactly what would happen or what to do gives students a feel for the way in which doubt and creativity are joined in these critical moments in practice. This insight helps students not only to advance their understanding of mediation, but also their grasp what it means to act effectively in setting of conflict that are marked by fear and doubt. I don’t know what could be more valuable for Masters students at this point in their development."