Join the Art of Hosting Training
The Social Safety Programme Team is organising a three-day in-company training course called 'The Art of Hosting', which will take place on 16, 17 and 18 November 2026 at the Meetlab in Groningen. This training course is intended for individuals who wish to learn how to participate in or facilitate meaningful conversations about complex issues. The University of Groningen aims to encourage participatory leadership through this training, and to contribute to a working and study environment in which everyone feels welcome and at home.
About the Art of Hosting
The Art of Hosting is an international method offering insights and tools for creating spaces for dialogue, co-creation, and innovation. This is urgent and necessary, because issues are becoming more complex and we are experiencing a growing sense of uncertainty and polarisation. In 2025, 35 colleagues and students participated in the training. Another 35 places are available in 2026. The costs of the training are covered by the UG. The training is conducted in English, but you are welcome to speak Dutch.
Participants' experiences from the previous edition
Miriam Kerkhof, work and organizational expert
‘Art of Hosting has given me a different perspective on collaboration and introduced me to new creative working methods. The method is based on a number of clear principles, such as listening attentively and creating space for everyone’s story. What I find particularly interesting is that relatively simple exercises - such as a check-in before a meeting - have a significant impact on how you collaborate afterward.’
Manuel Pinto Reyes, Project Manager Recognising and Rewarding Open Science | Interim Leader Open Education Community of Practice
‘Art of Hosting has deepened my understanding of participation as a continuous process of co-creative questioning and listening - building better answers, decision support, and community trust. I applied this in my daily work by hosting a workshop where colleagues felt safe to voice concerns about the department’s organizational change, and channel them into shared action, supporting the co-creation of a new departmental structure.’
More information
Would you like to find out more? Join the Art of Hosting Team for an information call on Wednesday 24 June from 12 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Register for the infocall via: socialsafety rug.nl. Or read these slides for more information.
Would you like to register for the training course right away? You can do so via the registration form. You will be notified by 1 September at the latest as to whether your place has been confirmed.