“What is dialogue and what advantages can it offer in conflict management?” This was the theme that brought together more than 250 high school students to compete in the fourth edition of the Dialoga Prize, a competition organised by ESADE’s Conflict Management Research Group and the Catalan Association of Notaries, in collaboration with the Catalan Departments of Education and Justice. After this year, a total of more than 700 students in the fourth year of compulsory secondary education (ESO) and the first year of non-compulsory secondary education (bachillerato) have participated in the various editions of the Dialoga Prize. The aim of the competition is to bring the concepts of mediation and negotiation into the classroom as alternative conflict-resolution methods.

“The Dialoga Prize is now a consolidated award,” commented Teresa Duplá, Director of ESADE’s Conflict Management Research Group. “Our spirit calls us to continue growing with young people, tutors and schools as the main ambassadors of this initiative.” She added: “Year after year, ESADE trains people who are aware of their responsibilities as citizens of the world, sensitive to solidarity and committed to social justice. All of these values are present in the Dialoga Prize.”

The winners of the fourth edition of the competition – students from Institute of Gurb, in the written category; from Colegio Internacional SEK Cataluña of La Garriga, in the audiovisual category; and from Arquitecte Manuel Raspall Institute of Cardedeu, in the school-wide category – will receive a scholarship to attend ESADE Law School’s pre-university Summer Programme. In addition, this year the Sarrià University Residence – which came on board this year as a sponsor of the initiative – will cover the accommodation costs of students who live outside of Barcelona.

On the heels of a successful fourth edition of the competition, the organisers of the Dialoga Prize wanted to take advantage of the award ceremony to announce the theme of next year’s edition: “Breaking the silence around bullying”. Prof. Duplá commented: “After participating in this competition, we hope that students come away with a good experience that they will never forget – one that awakens in them a restlessness and a dream of playing an active role in creating and defending a better society.”