Certificate of Achievement
has completed the following course:
Growing apart: What is polarisation and what can we do about it
University of Groningen and University of Warsaw
This three-week online course on social polarisation and key mechanisms contributing to the emergence of this phenomenon consisted of a set of various materials: videos, texts, quizzes and exercises. The main topics covered included: defining and recognising polarisation, its effects on democracy, cognitive and social mechanisms related to polarisation and key strategies on how to navigate the issue in everyday life. Completing the course required three hours of work per week.
3 weeks, 3 hours per week
Agata Komendant-Brodowska
Lead educator
University of Groningen
Transcript
Learning outcomes
- Identify signs of polarisation.
- Describe the process of polarisation.
- Reflect on the consequences of polarisation (for democratic societies).
- Identify major cognitive and social mechanisms leading to polarisation.
- Discuss measures to deal with polarisation, both related to prevention and reconciliation
Syllabus
- Defining polarisation
- Recognising polarisation
- Polarisation and the effects on democracy
- Social Judgement Theory
- Confirmation bias
- Filter bubbles and echo chambers
- Distinguishing between real and fake information
- Us version them
- Lines of division
- Polarising speech
- Counteracting polarisation
- Reconciliation and dialogue
Issued on 3rd May 2026
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