University of Cape Town
Negotiation and Conflict Resolution
Develop the art of resolving disputes and crafting persuasive solutions by engaging in practical negotiation simulations.
Start date
14 July 2025
Course duration
6 weeks
Excluding orientation
Language
English
Access resources from start date
Effort
7–10 hours per week
Self-paced learning online
Course overview
The amount of employees who will require six months of retraining in skills such as negotiation and persuasion by 2025.
World Economic Forum (July, 2020).
The number of managers who expect candidates to negotiate salary during hiring.
Robert Half (Feb, 2019).
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
With the rise of remote work culture, negotiating and effectively resolving conflicts is becoming increasingly important. Based on timeless principles, these essential interpersonal skills are the cornerstone of building strong professional relationships and achieving favourable outcomes.
The Negotiation and Conflict Resolution online short course offered by the University of Cape Town (UCT) is designed to provide the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively and ethically resolve disputes and differences in the workplace. Over six weeks, under the expert guidance of David Woolfrey, an accredited mediator and arbitrator with more than two decades of experience in the negotiation field, you'll explore dispute resolution mechanisms, communication techniques, and identify the common causes of conflict.
You'll also learn how to apply these newfound insights to positively impact your organisation. The course also allows you to put your newly acquired skills into practice during live online negotiation sessions with your classmates.
By the end of the course, you'll be equipped with the tools to confidently manage conflicts, negotiate successful outcomes, and establish lasting professional relationships.
Is this course for you?
If you handle employee requests, expectations, and conflicts, then this course can help you improve your core soft skills. It's perfect for professionals and managers who want to boost their persuasive abilities and effectively manage disputes. By registering for this course, you'll learn how to become a more confident negotiator and communicator, which will benefit you in your current role and help you advance in your career.
Course overview
Introduction
Duration: 6 weeks (excluding orientation)
With the rise of remote work culture, negotiating and effectively resolving conflicts is becoming increasingly important. Based on timeless principles, these essential interpersonal skills are the cornerstone of building strong professional relationships and achieving favourable outcomes.
The Negotiation and Conflict Resolution online short course offered by the University of Cape Town (UCT) is designed to provide the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively and ethically resolve disputes and differences in the workplace. Over six weeks, under the expert guidance of David Woolfrey, an accredited mediator and arbitrator with more than two decades of experience in the negotiation field, you'll explore dispute resolution mechanisms, communication techniques, and identify the common causes of conflict.
You'll also learn how to apply these newfound insights to positively impact your organisation. The course also allows you to put your newly acquired skills into practice during live online negotiation sessions with your classmates.
By the end of the course, you'll be equipped with the tools to confidently manage conflicts, negotiate successful outcomes, and establish lasting professional relationships.
Is this course for you?
If you handle employee requests, expectations, and conflicts, then this course can help you improve your core soft skills. It's perfect for professionals and managers who want to boost their persuasive abilities and effectively manage disputes. By registering for this course, you'll learn how to become a more confident negotiator and communicator, which will benefit you in your current role and help you advance in your career.
Get this course for your team
Leading organisations recognise the value of this course and invest in it to enhance their employees' skills and expertise.
What will set you apart
The ability to identify the causes of workplace conflict and recommend sustainable solutions.
The skills to negotiate agreements with confidence and communicate persuasively in business environments.
Tools to navigate complex ethical issues and social differences in negotiation contexts.
The expertise to design an appropriate dispute resolution system for your organisation.
Unlimited access to edX's Career Engagement Network, offering you exclusive resources and events to support your professional journey and drive your career forward.Course curriculum
Orientation module
Welcome to your Online Campus
Module 1
Diagnosing conflict
Module 2
Negotiation strategies for an effective deal
Module 3
Understanding negotiation parties and dynamics
Module 4
Ethics and relationships in negotiation
Module 5
Choosing dispute resolution mechanisms
Module 6
Maximising your business impact
What past students
think
Ryan von Ruben
Principal, RvR Architecture and Design
The course exceeded all my expectations and has given me exactly the start that I needed. I feel that I have learned enough to have both a broad understanding of the main concepts and sufficient knowledge to enable a practical application of these concepts. Whilst I am also aware of just how much more there is to learn, I feel I have been given enough information to know where to start looking to get the answers. Looking back, it is incredible how much ground we have covered in just six weeks, and I am definitely interested in taking the subject further.
Course Convenor
David Woolfrey
Practising Attorney, Cape Town; Associate, Institute of Development and Labour Law, UCT
About the certificate
Refine your negotiation and conflict resolution skills and earn an official certificate of completion from the University of Cape Town.
Assessment is continuous and based on a series of practical assignments completed online. In order to be issued with a digital certificate, you’ll need to meet the requirements outlined in the course handbook. The handbook will be made available to you as soon as you begin the course.
%20(1)%20(1).png)
Get more information
Want to know more?
Why choose GetSmarter?
GetSmarter operates as edX's partner for premium online short course products from the world's leading universities and institutions. With edX, we leverage our people, technology, and resources to power your education and your potential.
We deliver market-led courses that equip working professionals with the expertise required to upskill, reskill or kickstart a completely new career. Through a data-driven approach, we analyze future skills requirements and ensure all courses address this need. We ensure that leading universities and institutions are your expert guides and our people, technology, and resources are your engine – together we power more than just education, we power your potential.
Read more about GetSmarter here and edX here.
Find out more about GetSmarter’s approach to digital learning, course design, and online delivery here.
Payment options
You can pay your course fees before the course starts, or you may opt for a split payment plan on courses that are nine weeks and shorter. For courses 10 weeks and longer, there is a three-part payment plan available. To find out more about payment options please visit our Payment and Financing page, or contact an Enrollment Adviser, to find out which option you qualify for.
Manage your time
GetSmarter's learning model is designed to help you, as a working professional, improve your skills without compromising on work and family responsibilities. The course work is broken up into weekly, manageable bite-sized modules, with incremental deadlines, designed to help you pace yourself over the duration of the course and allow you the legroom to work when it suits you best.
At the beginning of each module you'll be presented with the course content and assignments necessary for completion. You also have access to your Success Adviser who will help you manage your time, and support you with any administrative or technical queries you might have.
Seek employer assistance
By improving your skills and industry knowledge, you'll have an influence on the success of your organization. Why wouldn't you ask your boss to help you fund your studies if it's going to have an impact on the way you do business?
Of our past students, 37 percent have received financial assistance from their employers. You can ask for help, too. Here is a guide to show you how to request financial assistance from your employer.
If you are a Learning & Development (L&D) manager, or involved in training and upskilling for an organization, you can request information regarding our corporate offering on our GetSmarter for business page.
How to change your start date
As part of our commitment to your professional development, GetSmarter offers you a two-week period to change your course start date or request your money back if you’re not fully satisfied.
To qualify for a deferral of your course start date, or to cancel your enrollment and receive a refund of your course fee, your request would need to reach our Success Advisers before the release of Module 2. For more information, please read our Terms and Conditions.
Discover the Online Campus
The Online Campus will be your virtual classroom for the duration of your course. Through its easy-to-use interface you'll have access to a diverse variety of course content formats including: interactive videos, module notes, practice quizzes, presentations, assignment briefs, and additional web resources.
On the Online Campus, you'll also be able to ask questions and interact with your fellow students and teaching team through the discussion forums. If you are looking for your Online Campus login, please visit your Account page here.
Financing options
We've recently partnered with financial services firm, FeverTree, to offer you another convenient way to finance your short course education. Find out how you can apply for a short-term loan below.
How do I apply?
- You have the option of applying for a full course-cost loan agreement with FeverTree (South African citizens and short courses only)
- FeverTree works with GetSmarter to ensure your studies are financed right away, giving you the chance to join the soonest presentation
- You can find out if you pre-qualify in seconds. Send an SMS with your “Name*Surname*ID Number*Gross Salary” to 30082
- FeverTree’s application process is simple and quick – expect a 15-minute turnaround to find out if you’ve been successful with your loan application
- Even if you aren’t successful in your FeverTree application, you’ll still be eligible for the payment plan options with GetSmarter
.svg)
.svg)
.svg){kind=logo}
.svg){kind=logo}
Want to buy this course for your team? Chat with us to get started.
Get Started
