Developing Across Differences: Addressing Hot Global Issues Locally

When divisive global events take over local discourses

Increasingly, global events spark divisive local reactions — even, in some cases, provoking violence — far away from their places of origin. Explore this troubling “spillover effect” phenomenon and, as a powerful alternative to it, learn how to use more considered, critical responses and constructive approaches in both your own work helping others and your everyday interactions.

Why should you attend?

There is growing evidence that major international events, for example those in Palestine/Israel, Ukraine/Russia, do damage not only to those most immediately involved, but also can sow significant discord — and result in unexpected and serious consequences — among those who are far away from the physical centers of activity.

While many of us may feel un(der)prepared to take on global issues, this phenomenon suggests that we ignore them at our peril: What was once happening “over there” is now also a reality to be contended with “right here” and often “right now” — even if the topic seems unrelated to our areas of responsibility.

To help you better navigate global issues that become local hot-button items, this course

Examines this occurrence and the disruptive impacts (e.g. name-calling, cancelation/shame campaigns, physical confrontations, etc.) that it can have on local realities and
Explores effective alternative strategies that multipliers can use to prevent, diffuse and/or counteract this trend in workplaces, classrooms, trainings and community spaces.

Additional information

Practical information

Dates	10 July 2024
Location	Academy Building (Broerstraat 5) or Harmonie Building (Oude Kijk in Het Jatstraat 26)
Level	PhD/Postdoc/Practitioners May be appropriate for some MA students; contact the organisers for consultation about eligibility
Fees	€ 560 includes course and materials, optional evening programming
Academic coordinators	Dr. Maja Nenadović
Contact	ic rug.nl or info iddifferences.org

Requirements

This course is for you if you are an HR specialist/diversity officer/consultant/trainer/multiplier/educator who helps those who:

● Find global issues are increasingly raised in local discussions and debates

● May be more comfortable ignoring rather than addressing these issues — but find this is no longer a viable option

● Seeks strategies that allow for authentic engagement about complex issues for which there are many, often differing perspectives and no clear-cut answers

While topics will be approached sensitively and with warnings provided, this course will necessarily not shy away from addressing current complex global affairs, differing perspectives around them, and some of the troubling consequences that these can result in far away from the center of action.

Level requirements

The DAD is for multipliers who help individuals, organizations and societies better recognize, appreciate and use differences as a way of better communicating, working and thriving together.

These are (in-house and external) trainers, educators, consultants, coaches, researchers, scholars, facilitators, HR staff, advanced-level (MA+) students, and professional development specialists with 5+ years of experience/study in the greater Differences field. Contact the organisers at ic rug.nl or info iddifferences.org for consultation about appropriateness and eligibility.

It is expected that the participants have a sufficient command of the English language to actively participate in the discussions and to present their own work in English.

Course schedule

Sunday, 7 July
15.00-18.00 Optional networking event

Wednesday, 10 July
09.00-17.30

Course approach

This course will blend cognitive and affective discussions about key concepts, dynamics, and cognitive biases with experiential, behavior-oriented opportunities for self-reflection, skill-building activities, and how to pass along these insights to others. You will practice applying the tools and strategies and consider how you might share them as a part of your client work.

Learning outcomes

In this course, you will learn how to help yourself and those you work with so that you/they can better:

● Define what roles you/they might take in navigating global issues locally.

● Be more mindful and critical in (social) media consumption/contributions, workplace discussions, and other everyday behavior related to global events.

● Implement appropriate strategies that move away from disruptive tactics and impacts (e.g. name-calling, cancelation/shame campaigns, etc.) towards more considered, constructive dialogues and outcomes.

Workload

6 hours of in-class learning and active participation using experiential methods.

Upon successful completion of the programme, the Summer School offers a Certificate of Attendance that mentions the workload of 6 hours (28 hours corresponds to 1 ECTS). Students can apply for recognition of these credits to the relevant authorities in their home institutions, therefore the final decision on awarding credits is at the discretion of their home institutions. We will be happy to provide any necessary information that might be requested in addition to the certificate of attendance.

Application procedure

Deadline for application	Registration closes on 1 July 2024.
Date of selection	Within 72 hours following registration, you will be contacted directly by the organisers about your application.
Application	Participants submit payment and details about their interest at the link below (click the "Apply now!" button). They will be contacted directly by the organisers about their experience and the suitability of the course.

Apply now!

Please note that as all courses are subject to meeting minimum enrolments, the DAD team will confirm on or before 17 May 2024 that your course is taking place. We strongly advise you not to book non-refundable travel until you have received this confirmation. In all cases, refunds for courses are not available except in the case of course cancellation by the DAD organisers. In the case that your preferred course is cancelled, you are welcomed to enroll in an alternative course or request a refund. You will be notified on or before 17 May 2024 if the DAD course is cancelled. This policy is different from that of other University of Groningen Summer School and Language Centre courses. Full details are available on the Developing Across Differences (DAD) Learning Lab & Community Week Terms and Conditions page.

Last modified:

08 May 2024 11.52 a.m.