Education ODS Facilitator constitutes a innovative and exclusive initiative of startADR, designed for professionals who wish to take an active role in alternative and digital dispute resolution (ODS) at European and national level.

After completing the training and successful evaluation, participants have the opportunity to join the official startADR ODS Facilitators Register, which is utilized in real cases.

Who are the ODS Facilitators?

The ODS Facilitators are specially trained professionals who take on the role of neutral coordinator in cases involving differences between users and platforms, such as:

• removing content from social media,
• suspension or deletion of accounts,
• restrictions on access to marketplaces,
• exclusion from video sharing platforms, gaming or apps,
• deviations from moderation policies.

This is a new role introduced by the Digital Services Act (sections 20–21), with the aim of providing users with fair, accessible and independent resolution of disputes with platforms.

What do Facilitators actually do?

The Facilitator is not a judge or arbitrator. It does not decide “who is right” with legal authority. Instead, it is a:

• Independent and neutral coordinator,
• Specially trained in technical, legal and ethical issues of the digital environment,
• Intermediate link between the user and the platform,
• Dispute resolution professional, which applies a procedure accessible, fast and transparent, with respect for freedom of expression and the protection of the rights of all.
  
  

Role of the Facilitator in an ODS process:

The ODS Facilitator is asked to bridge the gap between the user and the digital platform, in a field where they often clash:

• or freedom of expression,
• or provider's responsibility,
• or community integrity
• and the trust in content control.

The role of the Facilitator is not simply supportive, but on the contrary it is critically democratic:
Trained to recognize structural inequalities in access, language, documentation and understanding of the process, so that they actively balances.

Required ability to distance oneself from technocratic or emotional deviations, so that he can guide me transparency, documentation and professionalism, in a field where the boundaries between private self-regulation and public justice are fluid.

The Facilitator is the guardian of the “digital due process”:

controls not only the platform's decision, but also the manner, time, content and possibility of overturning it.

The Facilitator in practice undertakes:

• to analyze the user's request or the platform's decision,
• to communicate with the parties involved,
• to facilitates the exchange of positions,
• to examine the completeness, justification and justification basis of the platform's decision,
• and, when required, to issue a documented recommendation or decision, according to the standards set by DSA.
  
  

What skills does it require?

The trained ODS Facilitator combines:

• Legal understanding (digital rights, DSA, GDPR, moderation rules, ADR Directive),
• Technical familiarization (digital platforms, APIs, interfaces),
• Communication skills and neutrality (facilitation techniques),

The ODS Facilitator is asked to bridge the gap between the user and the digital platform, in a field where they often clash:

• or freedom of expression,
• or provider's responsibility,
• or community integrity
• and the trust in moderation.
  
  

Where does the role apply?

The Facilitator supports cases that come to startADR through:

• her startODS service,
• user requests for out-of-court dispute resolution with platforms,
• partnerships with online platforms, gaming companies, marketplaces, applications, social networks and digital content providers.
  
  

And after training?

Those who complete the ODS Facilitator Training and succeed in final evaluation, have the possibility to register in official panel ODS startADR Facilitators, and:

• they take on cases paid per case,
• are informed about developments in DSA and ADR,
• participate in the startADR community,
• enhance their professional profile in a emerging and strategically important area of law and technology.

What does startADR's ODS Facilitator Training offer?

Education ODS Facilitator it is not just a certificate. It is the your entry into a rapidly growing and innovative sector, where law, technology and electronic dispute resolution meet.

It is a intensive, high-quality 20-hour program, designed by the scientific team of startADR and based on the requirements of Digital Services Act (articles 20–21) and the ADR Directive.

20 hours of substantive training

In two weeks, you will receive full theoretical training and practical experience through:

• targeted courses (legal framework, ethics, moderation, DSA),
• Hands-on practice in mock cases TikTok, Instagram, e-shop, etc.,
• laboratory approach to using ODR tools and decision templates.

This is not a theoretical lecture, but rather, real preparation in the field of online digital dispute resolution.

Teaching by top professionals

Our instructors are:

• certified trainers, certified mediators, lawyers and ODR Specialists,
• executives technology, moderators, and content experts,
• people with practical experience in platform case management, not just academic knowledge.

Each course combines scientific expertise and practical application.

Focused training on cutting-edge skills

• Facilitation and de-escalation techniques
• ODR principles and tools, how ODS works in practice
• Intercultural and linguistically sensitive communication
• Ethics, neutrality, GDPR and privacy
• Complete deconstruction of the Digital Services Act for the role of Facilitator

You will learn how to resolve disputes clearly and confidently, even in sensitive cases.

Live simulations with real scenarios

You will participate in simulations of real cases, with the help of startADR trainers.

You will be invited to:

• analyze a case,
• communicate with "user" and "platform",
• use standard documents,
• issue a proposal or documented decision.

Everything you will encounter in practice, you will have already practiced in training.

Access to materials, templates and toolkits

After registration, you get:

• access to a student's electronic file
• instructions for using startADR's decision templates
• party communication manual
• practical guidelines for DSA compliance, moderation policies, etc.

Tools that don't stay in theory, but instead empower you as a professional.

Certification and professional development

After successful participation and final evaluation, you will receive:

Certificate of completion of ODS Facilitator Training
Possibility of joining the startADR ODS Facilitators Panel
Actual case assignment through the startODS service
Participation in a network of professionals in Greece and Europe

It is the first step to becoming an expert in the field of digital dispute resolution, with a recognizable and institutionally guaranteed role.

Who is the ODS Facilitator Training aimed at?

The program is aimed at modern professionals who wish to be at the forefront of the evolution of digital justice and technological regulationIf you belong to one of the following categories, this program is for you:

Lawyers, Advocates, Mediators

Professionals with a background in legal science or Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), who wish to specialize in:

• in the application of Digital Services Act,
• in the interpretation political content moderation,
• in management digital differences between users and platforms,
• in providing ODR services in the rapidly growing field of online rights.
  
  

Psychologists, Coaches, Facilitators, Communication Specialists

Professionals who possess communication, neutrality and conflict management skills. Here they acquire:

• knowledge of the legal and technological framework for dispute resolution in the digital environment,
• tools to support parties with conflicting rights (e.g. freedom of expression vs. user security),
• the opportunity to engage in interdisciplinary field in high demand.
  
  

Business executives, compliance officers and digital platform staff

Employees in businesses that provide digital services, manage users, accounts, content or usage policies. The training offers:

• understanding of DSA regulatory obligations,
• skills for internal escalation management,
• tools for organization internal or external dispute resolution mechanisms,
• foundations for creation or upgrading Customer Relations and Ethics Policy.
  
  

Those who wish to become active in the DSA – ESG – ODR field

The program is ideal for professionals who invest in lifelong learning and they want:

• to acquire a role usable in ESG reporting, DSA compliance and responsible entrepreneurship.
• to acquire new field of specialization.
• to enter the industry of alternative dispute resolution mechanisms in a digital environment.
  

Why choose it?

It is the first and only program in Greece and Europe.

startADR's ODS Facilitator Training:

• it is designed specifically for DSA requirements (articles 20–21),
• is not a "variant" of general ADR training, but on the contrary targeted certification program with legal, technical and ethical content.

You gain a unique comparative advantage in a sector that has just been institutionalized and will evolve dynamically in the coming years.

Leads to real professional engagement

After successful completion of the program:

• you have the opportunity to join the Panel ODS Facilitators of startADR,
• you gain the ability taking on cases through the startODS service,
• you receive priority in national and international projects of the organization,
• you build a proven profile as professional ODR/ODS Facilitator.

The training takes you straight to practice.

You join a network of professionals and international collaborations

By joining the official startADR Community:

• you acquire access to continuous professional development opportunities,
• participate in closed webinars, working groups and pilot projects,
• you are recognized as a member of a institutional and scientifically qualified ADR/ODR network.

You are not alone. You become part of a dynamic community with an international perspective.

Do you want to receive the top ODS Facilitator training?

Complete the following application form for ODS training now. Facilitator or contact us for additional information