Innovative Approaches to Dispute Resolution in Academia: Insights from the University of Bologna

This paper investigates the current mechanisms for managing and resolving internal disputes at the University of Bologna, aiming to enhance them through a comparative analysis with systems from the USA and Spain. The paper begins with an overview of current practices at the University of Bologna, including traditional adjudicative procedures and sanctions. It then delves into the role of the Ombudsperson in fostering ADR mechanisms. Subsequent Sections examine conflict resolution practices in American universities and explore the legal framework for conflict management in Spanish universities. The final Section presents the ‘University Dispute Resolution’ Project, which aims to implement an interest-based dispute resolution system at the University of Bologna. Drawing on international experiences, this paper seeks to bridge research gaps and enhance conflict resolution within the academic community in Bologna.