Faculty Development Programme in Comparative Arbitration

Faculty Development Programme in Comparative Arbitration (FDPCA) 

A Professional Specialized Skill Training Program by Indian Arbitration Institution (IAI)

• Eligibility: Any Basic Qualification or any Formal Education with Graduation and any teaching or work experience.

• Total Fees: Rs. 8,000/-
  (Everything Included from Admission, Course Fees and Delivery of Certificate, no additional Fees Apart from it)

• Mode: Online

• Study Material:  Will be provided through Learning Dashboard/Portal

• Learning Type: Self Paced

• Duration:  3 Months (Preferably, but can be completed anytime as soon as you give the Exam)

• Enrollment:  Any Time, there is no Fixed Enrolment Date or Day. A candidate can choose any time and the enrolment will be processed real time.

• Exam: One Online Exam, MCQ and Subjective Type Questions of 100 Marks. Passing Marks 40%. If unsuccessful, you can give additional two attempts.

• Procedure: Fill the Apply Now Form →  Pay the Requisite Amount of Fees by Clicking Pay Now Button → Then Click on Payment Confirmation button and fill the form with all the Details → Then login to the Dashboard.

Course Overview

The global landscape of commercial dispute resolution has evolved into an interconnected matrix of domestic statutes, international conventions, and institutional guidelines. As commercial entities increasingly operate across diverse jurisdictions, legal educators, corporate trainers, and dispute researchers face a critical challenge: teaching and analyzing arbitration beyond the confines of a single legal system. The traditional pedagogical approach of teaching arbitration solely through a domestic statutory lens is no longer sufficient for preparing modern dispute professionals. The Faculty Development Programme in Comparative Arbitration (FDPCA), organized and conferred by the Indian Arbitration Institution (IAI), is an advanced, specialized training framework engineered to empower educators, legal scholars, and corporate instructors with a sophisticated comparative perspective on dispute mechanics across major legal traditions.

The FDPCA bridges the gap between conventional lecture-hall jurisprudence and the multi-jurisdictional realities of transnational commercial adjudication. Participants examine the distinct philosophies and procedural doctrines governing civil law and common law traditions, contrasting how each system handles evidentiary thresholds, document disclosure, tribunal appointment protocols, and judicial oversight. The curriculum provides an exhaustive comparative exploration of landmark arbitral jurisdictions—including the United Kingdom, Singapore, Switzerland, France, the United States, and India—dissecting how local courts support or supervise ongoing proceedings.

Beyond structural doctrine, this programme emphasizes cutting-edge pedagogical methodologies. Enrolled faculty and professionals learn how to translate complex cross-border arbitral disputes into engaging classroom simulations, moot arbitrations, and high-impact research agendas. The coursework examines leading institutional frameworks such as the ICC, SIAC, LCIA, and PCA alongside the UNCITRAL Model Law and the New York Convention, enabling instructors to articulate subtle variances in procedure, cost mechanisms, and jurisdictional philosophies.

By completing the FDPCA, candidates refine their analytical and instructional capabilities, positioning themselves at the cutting edge of alternative dispute resolution pedagogy. The Indian Arbitration Institution ensures that every participant emerges equipped not only with exhaustive comparative legal knowledge, but also with the practical teaching architectures and curriculum design strategies required to cultivate the next generation of dispute lawyers, tribunal secretaries, and commercial adjudicators.

Course Structure and Modules

The tentative modules are as follows and are subject to continuous updates based on guidelines issued by the IAI Board of Skill Studies:

Module 1: Methodologies of Comparative Arbitration and Legal Traditions

• Epistemology of comparative dispute analysis: civil law vs. common law systems.

• Harmonization of arbitral procedures under the UNCITRAL Model Law.

• Comparative analysis of party autonomy and mandatory public policy constraints.

Module 2: Comparative Frameworks of Arbitral Agreements and Jurisdiction

• Determining the law applicable to the arbitration agreement across jurisdictions.

• Comparative approaches to the doctrine of Kompetenz-Kompetenz and separability.

• Pathological clauses, non-signatory joinder, and multi-tier clauses in regional courts.

Module 3: Tribunal Composition, Impartiality, and Ethical Mandates

• Comparative appointment procedures and default appointment mechanisms.

• Ethical obligations and conflicts of interest under IBA Guidelines vs. national standards.

• Civil law inquisitorial traditions vs. common law adversarial models in tribunal deliberations.

Module 4: Evidence, Procedural Orders, and Case Management Techniques

• The IBA Rules on the Taking of Evidence contrasted with national evidentiary standards.

• Document production, discovery models, and privilege: civil law vs. common law divide.

• Best practices for conducting case management conferences and designing Procedural Order No. 1.

Module 5: Interim Relief and Court Intervention Across Leading Seats

• Emergency arbitrator proceedings and comparative judicial attitudes.

• Court intervention in aid of arbitration: UK, Singapore, Switzerland, and India.

• Anti-suit and anti-arbitration injunctions: cross-jurisdictional legitimacy and pushback.

Module 6: Comparative Scrutiny, Rendering, and Annulment of Arbitral Awards

• Structural paradigms of arbitral awards: civil law reasoning vs. common law drafting.

• Institutional scrutiny mechanisms (e.g., ICC Court of Arbitration) and award finality.

• Grounds for setting aside arbitral awards across primary arbitral jurisdictions.

Module 7: Pedagogy, Curriculum Design, and Academic Research in ADR

• Designing specialized clinical arbitration curricula and interactive syllabi.

• Supervising mock arbitrations, practical workshops, and moot tribunal simulations.

• Formulating impactful comparative arbitration research proposals and publishable scholarship.

Importance of Doing this Course

In higher education, legal scholarship, and professional training institutes, the demand for instructors who can teach cross-border dispute resolution with practical clarity is growing rapidly. Standard academic qualifications often provide a deep understanding of domestic law but leave educators without a practical framework for teaching transnational commercial procedures. The Faculty Development Programme in Comparative Arbitration (FDPCA) provides an essential upgrade to an educator's academic credentials and pedagogical capabilities.

First, this course broadens instructional authority. Educators learn to move effortlessly between civil law and common law jurisdictions, illustrating to students and trainees how identical contractual issues are resolved differently in London, Paris, Singapore, or New Delhi. This comparative breadth enriches classroom lectures, elevates academic seminars, and transforms routine legal instruction into an internationally relevant learning experience.

Second, the programme directly enhances academic research productivity. By examining structural variations in institutional rules, judicial intervention standards, and award enforcement, participants gain the technical grounding needed to formulate high-impact research papers, comparative monographs, and institutional policy briefs. This scholarly output is essential for securing tenure, advancing professional promotions, and obtaining competitive research grants.

Finally, the certification from the Indian Arbitration Institution validates an instructor's capacity to design and lead professional-grade ADR training workshops. Law faculties, business schools, and judicial academies actively seek master trainers who understand how to structure case simulations, run interactive arbitral drafting exercises, and evaluate advocacy performance. The FDPCA equips candidates with precisely these tools, establishing them as recognized leaders in arbitration pedagogy.

Career Prospects

Completing the FDPCA equips participants with a prestigious, specialized profile that opens high-level academic, instructional, and research pathways globally.

Law Professors, Lecturers, and Clinical Faculty: Graduates can secure senior faculty appointments, head alternative dispute resolution (ADR) centers, and lead specialized post-graduate modules in commercial arbitration. The training enables educators to establish dynamic clinical legal education programs, mentor moot court teams, and attract international student cohorts.

Corporate Trainers and Professional Skills Instructors: Law firms, arbitral institutions, and corporate legal departments frequently engage master trainers to upskill their dispute teams, contract managers, and in-house counsel. FDPCA holders are uniquely qualified to deliver practical executive training programs, comparative compliance workshops, and institutional arbitration seminars.

Think Tank Fellows and ADR Policy Advisors: Law reform commissions, multilateral dispute forums, and judicial academies require researchers with deep comparative insight to draft legislative amendments and arbitral institutional rulebooks. Programme alumni are well-positioned to contribute to legislative reform committees, international policy initiatives, and judicial training modules.

Tribunal Consultants and Curriculum Developers: Educational institutions, private universities, and e-learning platforms continuously seek subject-matter experts to develop accredited dispute resolution degrees and certifications. FDPCA alumni possess the pedagogical expertise and structural understanding required to build institutional course materials, design assessments, and serve as senior academic reviewers.

Necessary Details

The Indian Arbitration Institution maintains a structured, transparent, and flexible training model designed to accommodate the schedules of working academicians and busy professionals.

Eligibility To ensure high-level discourse and appropriate educational peer groups, applicants must satisfy the following admission criteria:

• Any Basic Qualification or Formal Education with Graduation, combined with any teaching or work experience.

This criterion welcomes university lecturers, adjunct faculty, corporate legal instructors, practicing advocates, and researchers eager to cultivate comparative instructional expertise.

Total Fees The all-inclusive fee for the entire programme is Rs. 8,000/-. This single fee covers everything from admission processing, online portal registration, and comprehensive study material distribution to final examination administration and the delivery of the Certificate of Completion to your registered address. There are no additional or hidden fees.

Mode and Study Material The programme is conducted entirely Online, eliminating geographical barriers and allowing candidates from across the globe to participate. All Study Material—including curated comparative statutes, institutional rule comparisons, pedagogical reading lists, and clinical case studies—is provided through the dedicated Learning Dashboard/Portal.

Learning Type and Duration The programme follows a Self-Paced learning methodology. While the recommended timeline is 3 Months, candidates enjoy the flexibility to complete the modules and take the examination whenever they are ready. You can finish the curriculum sooner or take additional time according to your professional schedule.

Enrollment Enrollment is open Any Time, with no fixed intake schedules or rigid registration deadlines. A candidate may register on any day of the year; all applications are processed in real time to grant instant access to the training portal.

Examination Structure Certification is awarded upon the successful completion of One Online Exam, consisting of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) and Subjective Type Questions totaling 100 Marks.

• Passing Marks: 40%

• Safety Margin: Candidates who are unsuccessful on their first attempt are provided up to two additional attempts at no supplementary cost.

Application Procedure

1. Apply: Complete the official Apply Now Form on the web portal.

2. Pay: Submit the requisite course fee of Rs. 8,000/- by clicking the Pay Now button.

3. Confirm: Click the Payment Confirmation button and complete the submission form with your transaction details.

4. Access: Log in to your Learning Dashboard to immediately begin your coursework.