The ability to negotiate can change perception about conflict and how you deal with it. Strong negotiation skills can help people in all industries resolve conflicts in their workplace, in their home, and in their personal life. Thus, in seeking to continuously contribute to and improve the education of students, Willminds Academy is launching its First Inaugural Negotiation Competition in 2025.
Willminds Negotiation Competition is a simulation of a negotiation process between two parties. It pits teams of various fields and from different universities against one another to find the most effective negotiators. Each team will represent a client or a party to negotiate a dispute. These simulations will be observed and evaluated by judges allowing participants to obtain advanced skills in the field of negotiation.
The competition provides an opportunity to work as a team and to learn to overcome potential challenges that may arise in a dispute. It reinforces the practical dimension of the academic knowledge that students receive in their university studies.
If you are interested in developing your own negotiation skills, get ready, and be prepared to compete!
Stay tuned for details!
Each team can have one coach, who should be either a graduate level student (Master of PHD), a professional, or a professor at a recognized university.
Teams will be divided into groups. The competition will be held in-person and will span across three days consisting of multiple rounds:
Each negotiation session will last 60 minutes:
Panel will consist of two judges per team with expertise in negotiation, mediation, law, or business. Judges will assess teams based on:
Judges will provide constructive feedback to teams after each session.
Teams will be divided into groups. The competition will be held in-person and will span across three days consisting of multiple rounds:
Participants must agree to keep all aspects of the competition confidential until the final results are announced.
The official language of the competition is English.
Teams may bring printed or digital materials but must not use internet-based tools during the negotiation session.
Any complaints or disputes regarding the competition must be submitted in writing, by email, to the organizing committee within 24 hours of the incident. The committee will conduct an initial review to assess their validity and seriousness. Valid complaints will be investigated impartially, with all involved parties given the opportunity to provide their perspectives and evidence. Following the investigation, a resolution will be determined, and the complainant will be informed of the outcome and any actions taken. If the complainant is dissatisfied with the resolution, they may appeal the decision. The appeal will be reviewed by an independent panel or higher authority not involved in the initial investigation. The decision of the appeals panel will be final. Confidentiality is maintained throughout the process, and participants are protected from retaliation. Records of all complaints will be documented for accountability, and feedback will be used for continuous improvement.
Teams may be disqualified for:
Interested individuals must apply before 1 June 2025, submitting the following:
Judges will be selected based on the following criteria:
Judges areexpected to:
Judges must be available for the entirety of the competition, including:
Any absence or late attendance must be communicated in advance and justified.
Judges must disclose any potential conflicts of interest during the application process. This includes relationships with participants, coaches, or sponsors. Judges with conflicts will not be assigned to rounds where these conflicts could influence their judgment.
All selected judges will be required to attend a mandatory briefing session before the competition. This session will:
Judges are encouraged to provide feedback on the competition process to improve future events. Their observations on participant performance, competition structure, and scoring criteria will be invaluable for continuous improvement.
Judges who fail to adhere to the rules or demonstrate unprofessional behavior may be disqualified from their role. This includes:
Judges will receive:
Selected participants have the option to attend the rehearsal schedule provided by third parties. These rehearsals will allow them to fine-tune their performance and gain further knowledge about negotiation skills useful for the competition. There hearsal schedule will be communicated to the teams at a later stage and subject to an additional nominal fee for those attending.
The results of the competition will be announced during an official ceremony following the final round.
Please note that further details will be provided closer to the competition. This includes the agenda, timings, role-plays and any other relevant information. The organizing committee reserves the right to amend the rules and dates to address unforeseen circumstances. Teams will be notified of any changes in advance.
For any inquiries, please contact the competition’s organizing committee at info@willminds.com.
We wish all participants the best of luck!
Let the negotiations begin!
