Mahindra University’s School of Law has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Arbitration and Mediation (IIAM) to establish the Seeding Centre for Peace and Justice, which is essentially an Institutional Arbitration and Mediation Centre on its campus.
The initiative forms part of IIAM’s ‘Gateway to Justice’ (G2J) project, a nationwide initiative that aims to set up these centres at law schools across India. The project’s goal is to enhance access to justice and promote a culture of amicable dispute resolution.
The Mahindra University Seeding Centre for Peace and Justice will serve as a consortium partner of the IIAM G2J project and function as an affiliated centre under IIAM’s online dispute resolution platform, ‘Peacegate’. Through this collaboration, students, faculty, alumni, and the community will have access to real-time dispute resolution, mediation, arbitration, and case management, integrating practice with legal education.
According to Dr Yajulu Medury, Vice Chancellor, Mahindra University, “With a strong focus on interdisciplinary education and experiential learning, our collaboration will enable the exchange of knowledge and broaden their perspectives while preparing them to become industry-ready professionals. The establishment of the “Seeding Centre for Peace and Justice” at Mahindra University marks a significant milestone in experiential legal education in institutional arbitration and mediation. It reflects our commitment to creating a learning ecosystem that goes beyond theoretical understanding. We aim to nurture practical competence and social responsibility by bringing real cases into our education system. We are not only enhancing the professional readiness of our students but also contributing meaningfully to bring accessible justice for the community.”
This JDC will also be complemented by the Mahindra International Dispute Resolution Centre, which will operate as a full-scale institutional ADR facility housed on the university campus. The Mahindra International Dispute Resolution Centre will serve as a training ground for students and young professionals to manage real cases, offering a vital resource to the community.
Anil Xavier, President, Indian Institute of Arbitration and Mediation (IIAM), said, “Law schools have always been justice training centers and not delivery centers. By establishing these Centers, we are enabling students to undertake real-time work so that by the time they graduate, they are industry-ready and equipped with real-world experience. We aim to transform law schools from mere training grounds into active hubs of justice delivery, where students and young professionals manage real cases, offering a vital resource to the community. This initiative will also benefit the public at large, as they won’t have to go to court for adjudication and dispute resolution—they can instead approach the law schools.”
The centres will host institutional and ad-hoc arbitration and mediation, provide training programmes in accordance with IIAM’s approved schedule, and help cultivate a panel of student, faculty, and professional mediators and arbitrators. The initiative also aims to benefit the broader community by offering accessible dispute resolution beyond traditional courts.
“This MoU is a pathbreaking initiative as it offers our law students professional training, a significant change from the typical simulations or mock exercises. This partnership is a crucial step in bridging the gap between classroom theory and professional practice. The programmes’ focus on mediation advocacy, arbitration advocacy, case management, and adjudication in real-world settings provides students with a distinct readiness advantage, preparing them for the challenges of the legal profession. It is a paradigm shift in law education,” emphasised Dr E.R. Jayram, Dean, School of Law, Mahindra University.
Under the collaboration, Mahindra University and the Indian Institute of Arbitration and Mediation (IIAM) will organise joint workshops, seminars and research projects, all aimed at further promoting ADR practices.
Prashant Chaudhary
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