The program is run by PATHWAYS asbl/vzw in partnership with participating university-colleges. The program was initially launched with a grant from the Be Talky initiative of the Brussels Capital Region and created in cooperation with Haute École Francisco Ferrer, Odisee Hogeschool, Erasmushogeschool Brussel, and ECSEDI-ISALT at Haute École Galilée.

The Game Changers BXL program will be comprised of 6 interactive 3-hour workshops, hosted at participating schools. Workshops will be facilitated in English by a native English-speaker. During each session, we will explore and practice different aspects of a problem-solving approach to negotiation developed at the Harvard Negotiation Project. The concepts and tools of this approach will help develop your professional and personal negotiation toolkit and confidence. We’ll learn actively through a variety of role plays, simulations, and small group debriefs and discussions – all while getting to know students from other schools, language communities, and academic majors. We’ll also expand our negotiation vocabulary, not just to English but with all of the languages represented in the group

Participants are expected to attend and participate actively in all 6 sessions. 1 justified absence (e.g. sick day with doctor note) will be allowed. Any further absences will result in a student being disqualified from the course. Students are expected to participate actively in workshop activities and discussions and to contribute to their group’s final projects. A brief written individual assignment (reflection paper) will be assigned by each school. 

Our approach is based on methodology developed at the Harvard Negotiation Project. Here is a high-level outline of the program (subject to change): 

• Session 1: Know your Game – We will get to know each other and then, through interactive exercises and a high-stakes role play, explore key choices in negotiation and identify how our assumptions influence our results.
• Session 2: Creative Negotiation – We will discover and experiment with the seven elements framework developed at the Harvard Negotiation Project through a selection of targeted exercises and role plays.
• Session 3: Preparing to Negotiate – We will practice methodically preparing for a negotiation using the seven elements framework. We’ll  work in groups to practice team-based preparation and then conduct negotiations in pairs.
• Session 4: Engaging with Disagreement & Conflict – What to do when things get tough? How do we say “no” when needed? We will exploring issues around having challenging conversations and build our repertoire and confidence.
• Session 5: Constructive Communication – We will take a deeper look at applying communication tools for understanding and navigating different points of view and for engaging in principled and productive persuasion, influence, and joint problem-solving.
• Session 6: Negotiation Leadership – What impact can we have with these kinds of ideas and approaches in our organizations and communities? 

Students successfully completing the course will receive academic credits from their schools, a LinkedIn badge and signed certificate from PATHWAYS. Please contact your school’s program coordinator for details regarding academic credits.

Participation in this co-curricular program is free of charge for all accepted students enrolled in good standing at participating university-colleges. 

We are planning for workshops sessions to be held in person, with appropriate sanitary measures. Workshops will be hosted at participating university-colleges, alternating between schools in a pair. If required at any point by public health regulations or school policies, we will adapt to hold interactive virtual workshops on the same days and at the same times. 

Please contact the program contact at your school for more information.