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Certificate in Dialogue and Civic Engagement

An engaged and activated citizenry is good for democracy and for the communities in which we live. Citizens who are connected with each other and their local governments account for an increased sense of belonging, trust, well-being and resilience. Learning ways to strengthen these connections is essential to our ability as a society to thrive and be resilient in the face of multiple challenges – social, economic and ecological.

There is much to learn about how leaders in communities, public institutions, government and quasi-government agencies approach the work of engaging diverse publics in the plans and decisions that impact the quality of their private and public lives. This learning is central to SFU’s Certificate in Dialogue and Civic Engagement.

In this program, participants will become aware of and learn how to design and implement a range of engagement models that create and structure good practice in a variety of settings, e.g., local neighbourhood organizing, multi-stakeholder dialogue and decision-making, planning for land use or service provision and many other important matters of public interest.

Brochure

Download our brochure (PDF)

Who should apply?

This program is designed for learners who are involved in their respective organization’s community and/or civic engagement activities, or for those who see this work becoming more part of their responsibilities. These include representatives from citizen-led and nonprofit organizations (NGOs), business, community organizations, labour, Crown Corporations, health, First Nations and all levels of government (staff and elected officials). Given the focus of this program, learners should be in a position to utilize the skills they learn in their respective organization’s civic engagement strategies.

Benefits

• Understand the concepts, emerging models, best practices, and practical tools/formats for designing and implementing meaningful civic engagement processes
• Increase awareness of the range of possible models and their appropriate uses (e.g., in short term, long term, occasional settings)
• Develop more thoughtful and effective engagement plans and strategies
• Enhance the quality of dialogue in your community and organization, and contribute to learning
• Use the inputs gathered through engagement to improve policy, programs, and services
• Become part of a community of reflective learners in the field of dialogue and civic engagement
• Meet and work together with experienced leaders in the field (i.e., teaching team and special guest presentations and demonstrations)
• Develop and test innovative engagement plans with coaching and feedback

Teaching Faculty

All instructors and special guest presenters are academically trained and recognized as well as highly skilled engagement practitioners.

Program Requirements

Completion of four core courses, at least two skills workshops, and a practicum/field project. Written assignments are included in each of the four core courses.

Non-certficate program attendees are not required to complete written assignments but are expected to complete readings and in-class assignments. However, should you wish to declare the program as a certificate, you must have completed written assignments in all courses.

Single course registration

Learner may register for individual courses on the condition that they complete Course One: Dialogue and Engagement - Principles and Concepts.

Program Content, PRICING and Dates:

Courses: $550 for the full 3-day course, or $467.50 with the certificate discount
DLOG700: Dialogue and Engagement: Principles and Concepts September 22-24, 2009:
DLOG701: The Practice of Engagement October 13-15, 2009
DLOG702: Citizen Engaging Citizens: Issues and Practices 
November 17-19, 2009
DLOG703: Public Issues and Engagement January 5-7, 2010

Skills Workshops: $300 for individual workshops, or $255 with the certificate discount

Non Certificate participants: save 10% by registering for two workshops, or 15% by registering for 3 or more!

Skills workshops are open for everyone, not just Certificate participants. Click here to apply for the workshops without applying for the entire Certificate program

DLOG750: Hosting Powerful Conversations: Introduction to World Café and Open Space Technology
Date: October 8: HC Room 2945

DLOG751: Large Scale Public Involvement Methods: 21st Century Town Hall & Deliberative Polling
Date: October 16: HC 2945

DLOG752: Engaging “Hard to Reach” Publics
Date: November 20: Room 320 (Wosk)

DLOG753: Arts-Based Methods for Engagement
Date: January 8, 2010 (Room Numbers/Location TBC)

Practicum: (for declared certificate students only). $550, or $467.50 with the certificate discount

DLOG790: Practicum. This is the capstone course for the program. The first meeting is scheduled for January 9, 2010, with later meetings in March and April. Final projects and papers are due on the final day of practicum.

Certificate discount: Declared certificate students are eligible for a 15% discount when they register for all four courses, at least two workshops and the practicum, and pay in one lump sum.

How to apply

To register for the skills workshops, please register online here.

To apply for the full Certificate program, simply download the application form below, fill it out, and return it to us by fax, 778-782-5098, or mail:
Dialogue Programs
Continuing Studies
SFU Vancouver
515 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC
Canada V6B 5K3

APPLICATION FORM (PDF)

Or, register online, here

Scholarships:

Scholarships are available to people working in the non-profit sector, for
up to 75% of the tuition fees for the full Certificate in Dialogue and Civic
Engagement. The exact amount of the scholarship awarded will be determined
by the Scholarship Committee.

Scholarship application form (PDF)

Course and workshop Details

DLOG700 - Dialogue and Engagement – Principles and Concepts Course
Dates: September 22-24, 2009, 9 - 4:30: Room 470, Morris J Wosk Centre For Dialogue, Vancouver
Session Leader: Amy Lang

Course Description:
Why engage citizens? Who does the engaging? What are the benefits, risks, challenges, opportunities?

What role does dialogue play in civic engagement? How can dialogue and engagement build relationships and allow progress on a community or public issue?

This course provides the conceptual foundation for the certificate program. Students will learn key frameworks for understanding the nature and core elements of dialogue and civic engagement, the power dynamics involved in engagement, and how to choose the right dialogue process for different kinds of issues and contexts.

DLOG750: Hosting Powerful Conversations:
Introduction to World Café and Open Space Technology Workshop
Date: October 8, 2009, 9 - 4:30: Harbour Centre Room 2945
Session Leader: Chris Corrigan

Workshop Description:

• Learn both the theory and practice of two effective conversation-based methods for dialogue.
• Learn how to frame powerful questions and engage the people you need to answer them.
• Learn which technique to use when, and why.
• Practice both methods with your fellow students, and experience the flow and energy of powerful conversations.
• Discuss the pitfalls and the promise of two techniques for sitting in circle, listening, learning and opening space for dialogue and positive change.
  

DLOG701 - The Practice of Engagement Course
Dates: October 13-15, 2009, 9 - 4:30: Room 470, Morris J Wosk Centre For Dialogue, Vancouver
Session Leader: Vince Verlaan

Course Description:
What are the steps in designing, implementing, and learning from an effective citizen engagement process? What has to be considered by elected officials, bureaucrats and planners, community associations, grassroots organizations, Crown Corporations, activists, etc., who want to engage?

This course covers the entire design process, with a focus on action and change as a result of the engagement.

Students start by learning how to identify opportunities for engagement and the key players to involve. Days 2 and 3 cover skills in dialogue, productive conflict, action planning, and tools for organizing ongoing conversations.

Students will learn about proven engagement methods and how to match the method to a particular context or issue. The course wraps up with strategies to ensure organizations embed and maintain civic engagement values and practices over the long-term.

DLOG751: Large Scale Public Involvement Methods: 21st Century Town Hall & Deliberative Polling Workshop
Date: October 16, 2009, 9 - 4:30: Harbour Centre Room 2945
Session Leaders: Amy Lang and Susanna Lyons Haas

Workshop Description:
In this workshop, you will examine two of the most popular methods for engaging large numbers of citizens in dialogue about public policy issues: Deliberative Polling and the 21st Century Town Meeting. These processes immerse citizens in learning about an issue, create space for in-depth discussion, and help citizens to generate detailed feedback on public policy choices. They have been used for issues as diverse as energy policy, health care reform and post-disaster reconstruction in New York and New Orleans.

We will examine the origins of these methods, their strengths and weaknesses, and what kinds of issues are appropriate for these methods and use detailed case studies to understand how large scale public dialogues work, what organizers can expect from participants, and what kinds of outcomes are generated.

You will learn the steps to planning and executing large-scale public engagement process, including recruitment of policy stakeholders, identifying and recruiting participants, framing the issues and setting the agenda, logistical planning, facilitation, summarizing citizen dialogue, and evaluation. We will also discuss strategies for sustaining community interest in the outcomes of large scale public engagement, including media engagement and community organizing.

DLOG702 - Citizen Engaging Citizens: Issues and Practices Course
November 17-19, 2009, 9 - 4:30: Room 370, Morris J Wosk Centre For Dialogue, Vancouver
Session Leader: Charles Dobson

Course Description:
Many of the ties that bind a community, neighbourhood or grassroots organzations work across horizontal lines. That is, citizens working with other citizens. The main objective of this course it to build the skills needed to create robust social networks.

Learning outcomes:
On completing this section of the program students will be able to:

• Foster grassroots relationships that bring people together
• Address the obstacles to citizen to citizen engagement
• Carry out a local improvement campaign
• Create working partnerships with governments and other public institutions
  
• Walk on fire and cross miles of desert
  
  DLOG752: Engaging “Hard to Reach” Publics Workshop
  November 20, 2009, 9 AM - 4:30 PM: Room 370, Morris J Wosk Centre For Dialogue, Vancouver
  Session Leader: Steven Dang
  

Workshop Description:
In the interests of socially sustainable, innovative, creative and inclusive decision-making for community and public issues, convenors of dialogue and civic engagement must critically reflect on some tough issues. Why is engagement in traditional venues of political participation declining, why are “hard to reach” communities not participating in some meetings and events?

We must also ask why this matters, who is being engaged and who is not, what is the range and type of engagement that exists, who gets to decide, if our institutions and agencies respect all forms of engagement equally, etc.?

In this workshop learners will examine issues of marginalization, diversity and inclusion; discuss barriers to participation and engagement; explore methods that attempt to address barriers in different marginalized communities within the context of what it means to be a “citizen”; and learn to use new tools for outreach, working with leaders and approaches that enhance inclusive, intercultural and intergenerational relationships.

DLOG703 - Public Issues and Engagement Course
Dates: January 5-7, 2010, 9 AM - 4:30 PM: Room 370, Morris J Wosk Centre For Dialogue, Vancouver
Course Leader: Peter Boothroyd

Course Description:
Which issues, challenges, opportunities and trends facing society today would benefit most from genuine dialogue and effective engagement? How can dialogue and engagement help mediate power differences, deepen understanding of issues and choices, and assist with wise deliberation on tough (perhaps even “wicked”) problems? How can social learning and capacity to act on critical issues be best enhanced in this way?

This course takes the theory and tools provided earlier, and applies them to issues that challenge society at various scales. Students will first analyze and assess the quality of current public dialogue and engagement practices related to climate change and sustainability, poverty and social exclusion, First Nations rights and relationships, health, and urban development in their home city, province, region or country. They will then, with reference to experiences elsewhere and selected literature, design models that have the potential to enhance practice in their home societies.

DLOG753:Arts-Based Methods for Engagement Workshop
Date: January 8, 2010, 9 AM - 4:30 PM: Room 370, Morris J Wosk Centre For Dialogue, Vancouver
Session Leader: jil p. weaving

Workshop Description:
Art and art making has the capacity to bring people and ideas together in creative and collaborative ways. In this workshop you will examine a range of successful approaches where specific communities and publics have, through such artistic processes as quilting, ceramics, murals photography, music and other media, come to understand each other and the nature of their mutual challenges better. Regardless of your own artistic abilities, understanding the power of art-based engagement and learning to work with artists to design meaningful processes will add significantly to successfully involving diverse perspectives and people in your planning.

DLOG790 Dialogue and Civic Engagement Practicum
Dates: January 9, 2010, March date tbc, April date tbc (final projects and paper due on final day of practicum)
Session Leaders: TBC

Course Description:
This is the capstone course for the Certificate in Dialogue and Civic Engagement. After a brief review of steps to successful engagement, students will develop and execute plans for their own dialogic engagement projects. Students will receive professional and peer feedback on their projects in class and in one-on-one meetings with faculty. The course meets together for a final day of presentations on the progress and outcomes of their projects. This will also allow for reflection on the learnings developed throughout the Certificate Program.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How do I apply for the program?
A: Simply fill out the application form and return it to us by mail or fax.
Dialogue Programs
Continuing Studies
SFU Vancouver
515 West Hastings Street
Vancouver, BC V6B 5K3
Fax: 778-782-5098

Q: What is the background of the instructors?
A: All instructors have both formal training and extensive practical experience in the field.

Q: How much time will I need to complete the course work outside of the classroom time?
A: Expect pre-reading, some brief assignments during the course itself and at least 3-5 hours to complete a marked assignment at the end of the course.

Q: What is the difference between the Certificate in Dialogue and Civic Engagement and the Diploma in Dialogue and Negotiation?
A: Both programs are offered by SFU’s Dialogue Programs and share an approach to bringing dialogue (an interactive, values-based, relationship building approach to understanding and problem-solving) into the way groups or individuals work together and get things done. The Certificate is more focused with the way in which governments, organizations and citizens interact to deal with shared concerns. The principles and practices of civic engagement taught in the Certificate foreground ways to understand, plan and design processes that create meaningful involvement of citizens in issues of public concern. These processes may be citizen-led or initiatives of public agencies or government.

The Diploma in Dialogue and Negotiation, also offered by Dialogue Programs at Simon Fraser University, puts a greater emphasis on the multi-party negotiation process – the way in which groups with diverse interests reach agreement collaboratively on public policy related issues. Citizens may be one of the parties at the table, but the emphasis in not on citizen engagement per se. 

The two programs are complementary, and the Certificate is a good grounding for the Diploma.

Q: Can I take individual courses but not sign up for the entire Certificate?
Yes! However, please note that our first course, DLOG700, Dialogue and Engagement – Principles and Concepts, is a prerequisite for all other courses.  If you want to take any of the other Certificate courses, you must successfully complete DLOG700 first or have permission of the program director.

Q: What if I don’t sign up for the Certificate, but change my mind later?
A: You can declare your intent become a registered Certificate student at any time. However, to qualify for the Certificate you must have completed all assignments (some assignments are optional for non-declared students). If you are not sure whether or not you want to declare yourself as a Certificate student, it is best to complete all assignments to keep this option open.

Q: How much does the Certificate Program cost?
The Certificate program has four courses, four workshops, and a practicum; declared Certificate students must take all four courses, their choice of  two workshops, and the practicum. Courses are $550, workshops are $300 and the practicum is $550. The full cost is $3350, if students pay on a course-by-course basis, or they can save 15% and pay $2847.50 by paying for all courses in one lump sum.

Q: Can you describe the practicum component of the course?
A: The practicum is a guided studies project working with an actual organization in the area of civic engagement. You can use your own organization of choice, or select from a number of organizations already chosen by us.

Q: Are scholarships available for the Certificate Program?
A: Yes, a limited number of scholarships are available for selected students who are current members of non-profit organizations. To apply for a scholarship, please fill out our Scholarship Application Form

Q: Where are the Certificate Program courses held?
A: All courses are conveniently located downtown Vancouver, at SFU Vancouver. Classrooms will be at the Morris J Wosk Centre for Dialogue at 580 West Hastings, or Harbour Center, 515 West Hastings.

Q: Is it possible to arrange to have an intact work group take the whole program together?
Yes, if you have a group of 8 or more you may be interested in arranging with the director of Dialogue Programs to hold the program at your work site.

Contact: Joanna Ashworth, Director of Dialogue Programs
jashwort@sfu.ca

Do you have any other questions?

Please contact us!
dialogue-info@sfu.ca
778-782-7925

For more information contact:

778-782-7925 or dialogue-info@sfu.ca