Training & Support

Upcoming trainings

This table provides an overview of all training sessions held on Wageningen Campus. While primarily designed for WUR personnel, these sessions are optionally open to a wider audience. Each training can be attended as a standalone module. However, trainings T1, T2, and T3 are designed as a complementary package and are most effective when completed together, as they build on one another to provide a comprehensive learning experience.

For registration or more details about each training, please refer to the list below. Additionally, all trainings can be customised and arranged for entire teams upon request. If you’d like to explore how these sessions can benefit you or your team, feel free to contact us.

Dealing with polarisation

Polarisation is a hot topic. People seem to be divided and debates escalate. While polarisation seems undesirable, that is not necessarily the case. But it is valuable to understand polarisation dynamics when conflicts arise and be aware of ways to depolarise – if that’s your aim. Learn to recognise the poles and to navigate between them. WUR developed this workshop and a podcast series together with polarisation expert Bart Brandsma and gives you insights in how polarisation works, with a focus on mechanisms and roles in a polarised debate. There is a possibility to subsequently follow a 3-hour in-depth session that helps you to deal with a concrete polarised debate. Let us know if you’re interested.

Roles of the scientist

While complex societal questions heavily depend on the integration of knowledge and expertise, science is often also contested. Covid-19 or the nitrogen debate are just two examples in case. This raises the question what is or should be the role of science in such polarised or contested debates? As a scientist, do you see it as your role to provide facts and figures and leave it to others to decide what policy directions are needed? Do you openly campaign for a better, fairer, and more sustainable world? Do you fulfil your role in a different way or do you do both perhaps? This workshop helps you to reflect on the different roles scientists can play in society. Unravel what role fits you best in what situation and learn more about the advantages and risks involved in these roles. This workshop helps to explore your own position in creating impactful science.

Dealing with uncomfortable conversations

Do you face challenging differences – as a project leader, consortium coordinator, or participant in a multi-stakeholder field? Develop personal approaches to register, process and respond to difficult conversations. Practice and stretch your open-mindedness by using techniques for being inquisitive, such as asking probing questions, constructive inquiry, making observations, and holding back negative reactions. By the end of this workshop, you'll be equipped with practical approaches to navigate diverse perspectives, respond in a constructive and open way, make informed choices, and foster dialogue.

To incorporate what you have learned in your work, we ask you to bring in concrete cases of conflict/controversy to the session. You will also receive a follow-up assignment after the training.

Moving forward when dealing with disagreement

Collaboration and navigating differences can be challenging when you face disagreements. Especially if you work in a diverse team, in multi-stakeholder processes or in inter- and transdisciplinary environments. Explore three key qualities to navigate disagreements: Respect, Reciprocity, and Responsiveness (based on research by Barrera and Kramer, 2009). Learn and explore how these qualities can help bridge disagreements and construct collaborative ways forward. Identify actionable options and practical tips using individual cases and examples. By the end of the workshop, you will be aware of what is relevant when dealing with disagreement, find collaborative ways forward, and leave with practical tools and tips.

This workshop requires some preparation from you by bringing cases to the session. After, you will also receive an assignment to incorporate what you have learned in your work. This workshop is ideally taken after the workshop on Dealing with uncomfortable conversations (T1).

Building on perspectives with generative listening

To clearly identify the needs of stakeholders, team members, colleagues, project partners, clients, and/or society, it is advisable to zoom in on what underpins their interests. What are their underlying values, beliefs, and needs? Join this workshop to cultivate essential skills to identify these underlying needs, build on diverse perspectives, strengthen working relationships, and drive change. Practice with listening skills and powerful questions that enhance your inquisitiveness and improve understanding. To bring context into place, we will work with cases brought in by you and your colleagues. By the end of the workshop, you will discover your listening habits, refine listening skills and leave with practical tools and tips to improve the output quality of your conversations.

This workshop requires some preparation from you by bringing a case to the session. After, you will also receive an assignment to incorporate what you have learned in your work. This workshop is ideally taken after the workshop on Dealing with uncomfortable conversations (T1).