Across healthcare and academia alike, we often speak about dialogue, but what does it actually mean to engage in one? How can we create conversations that help people explore different perspectives, navigate complexity, and learn together?
The Art of Dialogue is a hands-on training series for researchers, educators, and practitioners who want to strengthen their dialogical skills and learn how to design meaningful dialogue processes. Whether you (want to) work in patient engagement, interdisciplinary collaboration, public engagement, or science communication, this training offers practical tools and insights that can be applied directly in your own context.
The series is organised by Netwerk Wetenschap in Dialoog (VU), VU IXA-GO and Amsterdam Public Health.
Session 1: The Art of Dialogue – Engaging in Dialogue
Date: Monday 5 October 2026
Time: 13:00 – 17:00
Location: VU Campus Amsterdam
Focus: Interpersonal communication and the mindset of dialogue
In this session, participants explore the foundations of dialogue as a distinct form of communication, different from discussion, debate, or persuasion. Through practical exercises and reflection, participants learn how curiosity, deep listening, and suspension of judgement contribute to meaningful conversations. We will explore how different perspectives can be welcomed, and how dialogue can help navigate complexity in research, healthcare, and society.
Session 2: The Art of Dialogue – Designing Dialogue
Date: Monday 2 November 2026
Time: 13:00 – 17:00
Location: VU Campus Amsterdam
Focus: Designing dialogues that make a difference
The second session focuses on the design of dialogue processes. Participants learn how to create meaningful conversation formats that support reflection, learning, participation, and collaboration. Drawing on their own cases and challenges, participants explore how dialogue can be embedded within research, healthcare, education, and community engagement. The session introduces practical design principles and provides space to develop dialogue concepts for participants’ own contexts.