ICT and modern technologies for training professional mediators in restorative justice and related processes

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to determine the role and potential of information and communication technologies and modern digital tools in the system of training professional mediators in the field of restorative justice and related processes, as well as in developing approaches to integrating these technologies into educational programs. The research methodology consists of the following methods: comparative analysis method, policy analysis method, empirical method and system method. The study found that the integration of modern information and communication technologies into the system of training mediators in the field of restorative justice contributes to increasing the efficiency of the educational process and professional activities of specialists. The use of digital platforms and online environments provides the opportunity to conduct trainings, simulations and role-playing games in a remote format, which significantly expands access to training and increases its flexibility. The models of application of videoconferencing technologies, interactive software solutions and artificial intelligence tools and their role in forming in future mediators the digital competencies necessary for effective work with participants in restorative processes in various social and legal contexts were analyzed. A number of challenges associated with the use of ICT were identified, including issues of ethics, protection of personal data, adaptation of training methods to online environments and preservation of the authenticity of restorative dialogue. The results obtained confirm the need to develop comprehensive training programs for mediators that combine traditional training methods with innovative technological approaches, contributing to the formation of a new generation of specialists capable of operating in a digital society.