Singapore Convention Week is always a highlight in the international mediation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR) calendars, bringing together institutions, practitioners, and thought leaders from across the globe. This year was no different.
During the week, IMI’s Executive Director, Ivana Ninčić Österle, and IMI Board of Directors Chair, Tat Lim, met with peers from the Singapore International Mediation Institute (SIMI), Executive Director Alvin Sim, Chairman Joel Lee, and Manager/Assistant Registrar Prema Thangavelu to reflect on shared goals and explore ways to deepen collaboration. The conversations were thoughtful, constructive, and reaffirmed the organisations’ joint commitment to quality assurance and supporting mediators worldwide, including aligning the credentialing frameworks and clarifying pathways.
Moving Forward with the Feedback Digest
A key update discussed was the Feedback Digest (FD) component of the certification scheme. IMI’s Executive Director shared the most recent development: the IMI Board has decided to evolve away from the mandatory feedback digest system to one whereby IMI encourages and enables mediators to gather feedback, through a new user interface on the IMI website and a tool that assists mediators to gather feedback, and reviewers to compile such feedback into digests, with unprecedented ease.
IMI also confirmed with SIMI that this update remains consistent with SIMI’s certification and that the IMI–SIMI cross-recognition scheme remains unaffected.
Read more about IMI’s latest updates to its credentialing scheme for Mediators.
Mediator Ethics
The two organisations also touched on IMI’s public consultation on its Draft Code of Conduct and the SIMI Code of Professional Conduct, recognising the value of harmonisation as well as the merits and value of fostering local and regional nuances.
Spotlight on Cross-recognition: Building Bridges Across Borders
The IMI–SIMI cross-recognition scheme helps certified mediators translate recognition across jurisdictions. In short: SIMI Certified Mediators can apply to become IMI Certified, and IMI Certified Mediators can apply to become SIMI Certified—via the relevant Qualifying Assessment Program (QAP) or IMI/SIMI.
Note: Cross-recognition applies at the certification level; it does not extend to initial/entry-level training (e.g., IMI Qualified or SIMI Level 1).
Who are IMI/SIMI Certified Mediators?
IMI Certification is for experienced mediators who have completed at least 200 hours/20 mediations and have been assessed as having the required mediation skills and knowledge by an IMI Qualifying Assessment Program (QAP).
Similarly, SIMI Certification is for experienced mediators who have completed at least 200 hours/20 mediations and have been assessed as having the required mediation skills and knowledge by a SIMI Qualifying Assessment Program (QAP).
IMI and SIMI Certified Mediators benefit from the IMI-SIMI Cross-Recognition scheme, whereby Certified Mediators from either credentialing institution can gain an additional certification as an IMI or SIMI Certified Mediator, as applicable, without further assessment of knowledge and skill.
As such, mediators who are actively listed as IMI Certified Mediators and in good standing can, upon application and payment of the relevant listing fees, also attain SIMI Certified Mediator status, and vice versa.
IMI and SIMI are committed to strengthening institutional collaboration, streamlining processes, and innovating to ensure that mediators worldwide can access recognition with ease, uphold the highest standards, and contribute to a truly global and trusted mediation community.
