Back to All Events

2nd THUAS Relational Peer Mediation (RPM) Conference 2026


Programme:

Day 1 - 12 March 

The language of the conference is English, but we will also offer activities in Dutch. Everyone is welcome to attend and we will try to facilitate language interpretation on the spot, whenever possible.  

Speakers Corner   

9.30 – 10.00 Registration & coffee 

10.00 – 10.05 Welcome words by Wâtte Zijstra, senior researcher, Centre of Expertise Global and Inclusive Learning, THUAS 

10.05 – 10.15 Welcome words by Arend Hardorff, THUAS Board of Directors 

10.15 – 10.30 Welcome words & conference goals, Barbara Warwas, lector Multilevel Regulation  

10.30 – 11.30 Keynote talk Michalinos Zembylas, Professor of Educational Theory and Curriculum Studies at the Open University of Cyprus, followed by an interview by Naomi van Stapele, Program Director Climate Justice, Movisie & the Q&A session  

11.30 – 11.45 Coffee and snack break 

11.45 – 12.45 Introducing relational peer mediation based on pedagogy of discomfort at THUAS   

10 minutes presentation of the RPM concept, training, and the project activities – Barbara Warwas 

Chair: Laurence Guérin, Lector Citizenship, Academica  

Exploring the opportunities for embedding the RPM training at THUAS at different levels.  

  • Jikke Verheij, Program Director International Public Management - Bestuurskunde & Overheidsmanagement, THUAS 

  • Willem van Nieuwkerk, Faculty Dean: Public Management, Law and Safety  

  • Marion Uitslag, trainer, mediator – experiences from the peer mediation program from Hogeschool Utrecht  (tbc) 

  • Marcus Kempe, SSMS student, one of the Comenius project student leaders 

  • Antje Gerbner, lecturer European Studies, THUAS 

  • Janique Scharenborg, social safety team, THUAS (tbc)  

12.45 – 13.30 Community lunch  

13.45 – 14.00 Short movie screening on restorative justice  

14.00 – 15.00 Panel discussion on what we can learn from restorative justice in the educational context. What institutional change is needed to transform the current power structures in education in general to create a restorative, just space for teachers and students?  

  • Annemieke Wolthuis, senior researcher Avans Hogeschool (speaker and chair) 

  • Alexandra Albei, Student International and European Law, one of the Comenius project student leaders 

  • Marjoleine Nes, Lecturer PABO, Comenius project team member  

  • Marieke Slootman, Associate Lector Resilient development in inclusive pedagogical contexts, Inholland  

  • Mi Jung van der Velde, senior lecturer International Public Management - Bestuurskunde & Overheidsmanagement, THUAS, Comenius project team member  

New practices for teachers and students: workshops by external guests & friends of the project 15.00 – 17.00  

  • 15.00-17.00 Workshop(s) on the Pedagogy of Discomfort, Michalinos Zembylas (together with Naomi van Stapele, Laurence Guérin, and Marieke Slootman) Ov 3.45 

17.00 – 18.00 Reception including the informal meeting of the Advisory Board Members on the project with the Comenius team 

 

Day 2 – 13 March 

London & Paris rooms combined 

9.00 – 9.30 Inloop & registration with coffee  

9.30 - 10.00 Welcome words & quick recap of day: Barbara Warwas, Naomi van Stapele, Wâtte Zijstra  

10.00-11.30 Workshops by the friends of the project 

  • Workshop on Mediation & neurodiversity, Tabitha van den Berg, Mediation Amsterdam & Myrthe Korf 

  • Workshop on bodymapping (tbc) 

11.30 – 11.45 Coffee & snack break 

11.45 – 13.15 Relational Peer Mediation parallel training workshops by the Comenius team members:  

  • on emotions and conflict.  

  • on de-escalation of conflict. 

  • on peer mediation techniques to improve the group work. 

13.00 – 14.00 Closing lunch, café West  

Previous
Previous
December 30

Kick-Off