Social and occupational profile of mediators in Portugal: Evidence and challenges

Abstract

Mediators have gained visibility in the national and international context because of the relevance of their intervention in light of current social challenges. However, the professional profile of mediators is not consolidated, and its recognition has been slow and ambiguous. The diversity of the initial basic training of mediators and the diversity of training available in mediation are two contributing factors to this lack of recognition. The objectives of this article are to characterize the professional profile of Portuguese mediators, to understand their stance regarding the introduction of a bachelor's in mediation in Portuguese higher education, and contribute to the debate about the consolidation and formal recognition of these professionals. Inspired by theoretical and empirical reflections and studies that discuss the possibility of creating a bachelor's in mediation as a strategy to standardize and consolidate mediation and the professional profile of mediators, we present, in this article, a quantitative and qualitative descriptive analysis of the socio-occupational situation of 175 mediators in Portugal. Most respondents agree that a bachelor's in mediation may contribute to the recognition of the area and the quality of the mediators' work. However, the advantages of multidisciplinary initial basic training and the lack of employability in the area of mediation are two factors that may call into question the relevance of creating this degree. Given the results, it is important to reflect on the nature and modalities of training in mediation, namely at the bachelor level, in order to contribute to the professional recognition of mediators.