Status

This school ran for thirteen weeks in 2009. It will run again in February/March 2012. Please see the home page/forthcoming for future Dialogue School sessions.

Introduction

The current global situation requires a dialogue among civilizations, both to resolve existing conflicts of ownership, of power and of worldview - and to help prevent future ones. A respectful dialogue is required to increase mutual understanding between those of different political convictions, social positions and cultural, ethnic and religious backgrounds. At its best such dialogue can result in a collective sense of shared goals, enabling us to address the most important issues of all: What kind of future world do we want to live in? How can we work together to solve the problems facing humankind today, and begin creating that future?

Equally at the national and local levels, increasing cultural and religious diversity necessitate dialogue. Such diversity is capable of promoting a culturally rich, open-minded society able to draw on a wide range of perspectives in confronting social, economic and political challenges. But a diverse society also has the capacity to harbour deep divisions which can lead to problems of ghettoisation, social and political disengagement, inequality, resentment, mistrust, insecurity and discrimination. The need to address such difficulties and the aspiration to achieve a thriving diversity demands dialogue to increase interaction and understanding between different sectors of the community.

Through the Dialogue School, among other courses and projects, the Dialogue Society aims to build capacity for this crucial dialogue by equipping participants with the understanding and skills they need to organise and lead dialogue themselves.

Objectives

• To stimulate interest in the theory and practice of intercultural dialogue
• To provide a safe and vibrant environment for open and critical dialogue on sensitive societal issues, and
• To equip participants with key dialogue and interpersonal skills.

Target Audience

• Young people (17-27 years) of a variety of social, cultural and religious backgrounds

Methodology

The Dialogue School operates through a series of interactive sessions in which participants are invited to explore arguments for dialogue, skills and techniques for its practice and organisation, and relevant contemporary debates. Dialogue Society staff drawing on their own experience are periodically joined by experts from other organisations. Discussion and active participation are encouraged, and the sessions frequently feature individual and group exercises through which participants can practice various relevant skills.

The pilot run of the School included the following:

• Analysis of media footage relating to topical faith and multiculturalism issues, developing participants' communication and speaking skills.
• Discussion of the justifications for interfaith and intercultural dialogue.
• Hands-on exercises to enhance the theoretical components of the course. In one session, participants were asked to solve intricate problems associated with interfaith and inter-cultural dialogue through group exercises. Students were then given the opportunity to feedback their findings to the larger group to formulate an agreed best practice guide.
• Introductions to a range of practical techniques to enhance productivity and motivation, including memory skills, speed reading, active listening and time management.

Format

The sessions will be held in the evening, during weekdays and are expected to attract an audience of between 20 and 50 participants. The sessions have a practical outlook and will be interactive. They last for 2 hours in total. According to the particular topic, the structure will be either:

• An initial presentation, followed by Q and A and discussion

or

• Workshop format, with a focus on practising skills, receiving feedback and discussing approaches and techniques