Professor\u00a0Donna Hicks<\/strong>, researcher at the Weatherhead Center for International Affairs of Harvard University and member of the IECO academic board, was the main lecturer of The International Excellence Encounter VLC\/CAMPUS \u201cDignity and conflict\u201d. From 5 to 8 October of 2015, professor Hicks gave three lectures in Valencia and 1 workshop to IECO researchers. She also held several interviews with the media.<\/p>\n Professor Hicks has acted as negotiator in several international conflicts such as those in Northern Ireland, Colombia and The Middle East. She has also been a consultant to big companies and non profit organizations aiming to resolve internal conflicts. As a result of her experience, in 2011 she published her book\u00a0Dignity: The Essential Role It Plays in Resolving Conflict<\/em>. This book offers guidelines to resolve common conflicts which may emerge within the family, in schools, organizations or at an international level.<\/p>\n Based on more than 25 years of experience as a conflict negotiator, Hicks maintains that many conflicts are addressed without taking into account the implicit or \u201cunder the table\u201d conflict between the parties involved, which considerably affects the parties\u2019 willingness to engage in dialogue. Emotional wounds are \u201cunder the table\u201d. Hicks argues that it is not common for people to be open to talking in public about such wounds. Nevertheless, \u201cit is essential to have an understanding\u201d.<\/p>\n The success of professor Hicks\u2019 approach is rooted in the way it explains how to deal with the \u201cunder the table\u201d conflict, in terms that allow an honest dialogue: \u201cit is more efficient to ask both of the parties in conflict to talk about the wounds they have suffered to their own personal dignity\u201d. This approach allows us to unblock the dialogue. Besides, each of the parties can take moral responsibility by listening to the way in which they have emotionally hurt the other party. For Hicks, \u201cthe concept of dignity provides a common language because it expresses a universal reality\u201d. At the same time, it is important to distinguish between the concepts of dignity and respect. Dignity refers to a quality \u201cwe all share inherently as human beings\u201d; respect is related with a status \u201cwhich may be earned or lost according to how we treat others\u201d.<\/p>\n This International Excellence Encounter was organized by the Real Colegio Complutense (RCC) at\u00a0Harvard University, the Generalitat Valenciana, the University of Val\u00e8ncia by means of the IECO, and the International Excellence Campus VLC\/CAMPUS. The event forms part of the areas of scientific collaboration between the University of Val\u00e8ncia and the Real Colegio Complutense (RCC) of Harvard University.<\/p>\n During the Encounter, professor Hicks gave three lectures. The first was entitled \u201cUnderstanding conflict in the company: a need to face the future\u201d. It took place on the 6th<\/sup>\u00a0October\u00a0 at the University-Enterprise Foundation ADEIT, at which close to 240 people, mostly related to the business world, were in attendance. Then professor Hicks held a dinner with some members of ADEIT board, among which was the President\u00a0Manuel Broseta<\/strong>.<\/p>\n![\"Hicks-1\"](\"http:\/\/iecoinstitute.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/Hicks-1.jpg\")
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