Life Achievement Award for Friedrich Glasl

Conflict researcher receives highest award in the continuing education industry, the Life Achievement Award

(Bonn) When one thinks of conflicts, one thinks of Friedrich Glasl – at least, when one wants to solve them professionally. The continuing education industry owes a lot to the economist: through his work, he has shaped conflict research like no other and developed pioneering methods for mediation. For example, the stage model, which is indispensable in the analysis and resolution of conflicts. For these achievements, the Austrian was awarded the Life Achievement Award of the continuing education industry on March 31, 2017. The lifetime achievement award was presented for the eleventh time by a panel of leading representatives of the continuing education industry. Around 460 trainers and human resources developers witnessed the honoring of the conflict researcher at the renowned industry event Petersberger Trainertage at the Kameha Grand in Bonn. Marlies Fröse, Professor of Human Resources and Organizational Development in Dresden, delivered the laudatory speech for the awardee. "His concepts and models are indispensable in the analysis and resolution of conflicts," praised the organizational developer the achievements of the 75-year-old. "Conflict resolution competence is an essential skill for managers. Glasl's models enable them to deal with their own conflict patterns," emphasized panel member Nicole Bußmann. Moved by the award and the ongoing ovations during the award ceremony, Friedrich Glasl expressed his deep gratitude: "The honor means a lot to me. However, I do not see it as a culmination of my life's work, but as an advance – because I still have a lot ahead of me," said the conflict advisor in his acceptance speech. In his keynote on the second day of the event, Glasl, who works in companies and organizations of all sizes as well as on the international stage in civil wars and conflicts between states, provided insights into the system-theoretical-evolutionary conflict resolution. The Life Achievement Award (LAA) honors the lifetime achievements of a trainer, coach, speaker, author, scientist, or educational organization, and is considered one of the highest awards in the continuing education industry. The nomination of the awardee is the responsibility of the LAA panel. Members of the panel include: Renate Richter (Vice President of the Association of Continuing Education Organizations (DVWO)), Nicole Bußmann (Editor-in-Chief of managerSeminare Verlags GmbH), Gerd Kulhavy (Managing Director of the Speakers Excellence Speakers Agency), André Jünger (Owner of Gabal Verlag and Board Member of the Didacta Association), and Prof. Dr. Lothar Seiwert (Keynote Speaker and Honorary President of the German Speakers Association e.V.). The award is presented annually at the Petersberger Trainertage. The previous LAA awardees are: Nikolaus B. Enkelmann, Prof. Dr. Lothar Seiwert, Prof. Dr. Friedemann Schulz von Thun, Prof. h.c. Wolfgang Mewes, Dr. Gunther Schmidt, Prof. Dr. Geert Hofstede, Tony Buzan, Dr. Bernd Schmid, Robert Dilts, and Manfred Kets de Vries. Information about the award can be found at www.life-achievement-award.de. The Petersberger Trainertage (PTT) is a congress for training professionals and human resources experts, organized by managerSeminare Verlags GmbH since 2005. The presentation of the Life Achievement Award has been part of the industry event since 2009. The Petersberger Trainertage 2018 are expected to take place from April 13 to 14 at the Kameha Grand in Bonn. Information about the event can be found at www.petersbergertrainertage.de.