Developing Across Differences: Overcoming Diversity Opposition
D&I initiatives can trigger threat responses that fuel apathy, skepticism, or pushback. This 2-day course equips you to reduce defensiveness and shift resistance into constructive engagement and better outcomes.
Why should you attend?
Despite increasing diversity in societies globally, there is a new, strong strand of resistance to initiatives aimed at Diversity & Inclusion (D&I) across sectors and regions. This opposition varies, ranging from apathy ("Why bother?") and defensiveness ("Don’t make me feel guilty.") to corrective (“D&I has gone too far.”) and even aggressive "anti-woke" movements.
To meet and challenge this reality head-on, this 2-day course first explores the underlying reasons people disengage or resist in this area. Then, we identify practical communication and behavioural strategies that you can use to help successfully address various forms of resistance and begin to (re)engage in constructive, belonging-focused conversations.
Informed by insights from intergroup and social psychology, you will leave with practical approaches that both respect people’s diversity concerns and underlying needs so that you can begin to reduce resistance and shift their attitudes towards more constructive D&I engagement.
While the opposition you encounter is unique to your circumstances, the approaches in this course are globally relevant and adaptable across sectors. You can customize them to navigate your own cultural and organizational contexts—whether in teams, projects, classrooms, or organization-wide.
Practical information
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Dates
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9 - 10 July 2026
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Location
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Academy Building (Broerstraat 5) or Harmonie Building (Oude Kijk in Het Jatstraat 26)
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Level
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PhD/Postdoc/Practitioners May be appropriate for some MA students; contact the organisers for consultation about eligibility |
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Fees
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€ 1050 (until early-bird deadline, 14 February 2026) € 1125 (after early-bird deadline, 14 February 2026) The fee includes course and materials, optional evening programming |
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Academic coordinators
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Dr. Nadine Binder, Annelie Wambeek |
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Contact |
ic rug.nl or info iddifferences.org |
Requirements
Participant profile
This course is for you if you are an in-house or external D&I professional or trainer/multiplier/educator who helps those who:
● Are implementing diversity and inclusion initiatives within their organisations or help organizations implement such initiatives in an external role,
● Offer D&I focused training to help people collaborate and/or lead in more inclusive ways,
● Work with those who express opposition to D&I, such as apathy, skepticism, or pushback.
While this course is open to all who want to learn how to overcome diversity opposition, this course will be most beneficial if you have some experience with implementing D&I initiatives, such as training, mentoring programs, recruitment practices, or larger change efforts.
Contact the organisers at ic rug.nl or info iddifferences.org if you have questions about the suitability of this course for your circumstances.
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
Course schedule
Monday, 6 July
15.00-18.00 Optional networking event
Thursday, 9 July - Friday, 10 July
09.00-17:30
LEARNING APPROACH
This course combines research-informed input and facilitated dialogue on why people resist D&I with practical skill-building to reduce defensiveness. You’ll practice communication and behaviour strategies you can adapt to your context to re-engage others in constructive, belonging-focused conversations.
Learning outcomes
In this course, you will learn how to help yourself and those you work with so that you/they can better:
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Identify different types of D&I opposition prevalent today as illustrated in real-world examples.
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Analyze and articulate three core underlying issues behind this resistance.
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Apply three effective communication strategies to begin to address these underlying issues.
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Start designing “belonging”-focused strategies (e.g. incentive structures) and environments that can successfully counter D&I resistance narratives.
Workload
12 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 12 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.
Teaching staff
Nadine Binder, PhD
Psychologist Dr. Nadine Binder is a certified professional Co-Active coach (CPCC), trainer, university lecturer, and consultant who supports individuals, teams, and organizations in their development, providing them with proven tools and techniques to help them realize their full potential and connect deeply and meaningfully with others. She specializes in Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, intercultural communication and global leadership, personal leadership, and mental health awareness.
In addition to her applied work as a coach, trainer, and consultant, Nadine publishes research on topics such as the intersections between intercultural competence and DEI, intercultural and global competence development and assessment as well as global leadership.
Dr. Binder holds external lecturer positions at various universities in Germany where she regularly teaches courses on diversity training, cross-cultural management, and intercultural business communication. She is the co-founder and co-host of the Globally Conscious Peacemakers (GCP) and is a partner at the Institute for Developing Across Differences (IDD).
Annelie Wambeek
Annelie Wambeek is an independent trainer and consultant specialized in the intersection between the DEI and intercultural fields. Her professional background spans communications, sociology, international relations, and finance and her current focus is on helping clients understand and enhance inclusion and belonging in organizational settings.
Annelie is an emerging leader in the field: she currently sits on the boards of SIETAR Europa and SIETAR Netherlands. She previously worked within the finance sector in international compliance, and was the Communications Director at a foreign policy think tank in Sri Lanka.
Application procedure
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Deadline for application
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Early bird registration closes on 14 February 2026. |
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Date of selection
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Within 72 hours following registration, you will be contacted directly by the organisers about your application. |
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Application
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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.
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Please note that as all courses are subject to meeting minimum enrolments, the DAD team will confirm on or before 19 May 2026 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 19 May 2026 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.
