Think Clearly, Communicate Effectively: Your Guide to Critical Thinking

Critical-Thinking_sm

Location: Online

Dates: Any Friday / 2025

Fee: € 50

In this age of information overload, bias exploitation by big tech, and increasing political divide, critical thinking has become not just important but integral to the survival of modern society. Tolerance, communication, and critical thinking are the three essential tools for a functional society. This course aims to address at least two, if not all three, of these critical elements.

Course Objectives:

  • Foster Collaboration: Improve communication skills such as active listening and establishing a respectful feedback loop
  • Discern Fact from Opinion: Understand the difference between fact and opinion, and learn how to discern the signal from the noise in the world of social media
  • Enhance Public Speaking Skills: Focus on public speaking and presentation skills to construct better arguments and become better discussion partners

Who is the Coach?

1

My name is Abdul Ahad, and I am a Data Consultant specializing in building data infrastructures to unlock the full potential of data.

In addition to my technical expertise, I have a passion for training and teaching data and data driven thinking. Since 2020, I have trained organizations like Phillips, Rabobank, and NN, and collaborated with GrowthTribe, Qureos, and MICompany to foster data literacy and enhance critical thinking skills. I aim to see every company leverage their critical thinking / data literacy for better decision-making and operational efficiency.

Schedule

Duration: Any Friday / February – December 2025 / from 1 to 5 pm*

*Subject to some changes like vacations

Apply

Please write as detailed as possible who told you about us
In exchange for being granted the opportunity to participate in The Netherlands Education Group (TNEG) programs, the student, intending to be legally bound, agrees to the following terms and conditions:

ELIGIBILITY AND COMPETENCIES
1. ELIGIBILITY: In order to be eligible to participate in TNEG programs, you must:
a. Have good command of English;
b. Be in good financial standing to pay for the course;
c. Be in good academic standing;
Please note that we do not have any age or geographical limits for the applicants. A person of any age from any country is welcome to apply for the program.
2. REQUIRED COMPETENCIES: In order to participate in TNEG programs, you must demonstrate the following required competencies:
a. Ability to be flexible and adapt to new, unexpected circumstances as they occur. Navigate independently and/or appropriately in a new and /or unfamiliar environment. (Ex: live in a host dorm; use urban/rural public transportation systems).
b. Ability to be responsible for all known personal medical and psychological needs prior to participation in the program.
c. Ability to respect the host culture and its different language, values, customs, and belief systems.
d. Ability to respect people living with you as well as your neighbors, if living in an accommodation provided by TNEG. It is not allowed to make any kind of noise after 10pm, included but not limited to speaking on the phone loudly. If participant makes noise after 10 pm, he or she may be asked to leave the accommodation.

COST AND PAYMENTS

1. REGISTRATION FEE POLICY (*depending on the program):
Option 1
1st instalment: You pay 50% of the course fee. Then we send you a visa invitation from the organization that you use to apply for a visa. 2nd instalment: You pay the remaining 50% of the course fee within 5 business days after receiving a visa.
Option 2
1st instalment: You pay 100% of the course fee. Then we send you the following package of documents:
Visa invitation from the organization
The official visa invitation from the Municipality of Amsterdam confirming the invitation and supporting your visa application process
Proof of payment that can be included in your visa application package to confirm your financial sufficiency
The sponsorship letter from us stating that we are covering all your travel expenses during your stay in the Netherlands. 2nd instalment: No

2. ACCEPTANCE: By submitting an application or registration form online to a TNEG program you are agreeing to enroll in the program for which you applied/registered if you are approved and accepted. Programs may require interviews, written statements, or both, before deciding to accept a student. If the group does not reach its maximum capacity, the course might be canceled, rescheduled, or provided on an individual basis.

3. PROGRAM COST AND BILLING: Upon acceptance into the program, if applicable, the TNEG’s communication manager will send you an invoice for the program cost less the deposit. Full payment is due as stated on the invoice. For specific costs, please refer to the applicable program. 4. STUDENT WITHDRAWAL: In order to withdraw from a program, you must notify the communication manager and/or Program Leader(s) in writing. The participant has the right to cancel his/her participation in the program 30 days prior the starting date. In this case, second installment is not required (if it has not been already paid). If the participant cancels participation in less than 30 days, provided that a visa has been obtained (if necessary) and there are no other good reasons for canceling participation, then the participant must pay the full amount for participation in the program (remaining 50% of the payment, if they have not yet been paid) or reimburse all expenses incurred for the organization of the program. The organization, in negotiation with the participant, will determine which option is most appropriate. 5. REFUND POLICY. If a student cancels registration, there is no refund. Deposit is kept on the student’s account within the organization. If a student can’t join the planned course, the student can join any other one in future and the deposit will be successfully transferred. There is no deadline and student can use deposit anytime in future for any of the courses. Deposit transfer is available only between programs and can’t be moved to another person.

VISAS: You are generally responsible for obtaining proper visas and paying all costs associated with such visas. However, some programs include visa processing, which is coordinated by the Program Leader(s). Obtaining visas may be a lengthy and detailed process involving persistence. Check for specific entry requirements from VFS advisor. To attend our courses which are up to 3 months, you have to apply for a Short-Stay Schengen Visa. Go to VFS Advisor webpage, enter your country and destination. Complete the online application form, print it and sign it: https://consular.mfaservices.nl/schengen-visa/short-stay. Take your documents and print the completed Application Form and go to your local VFS center on the booked date and time. Submit your visa application.

AUTHORIZATION AND RELEASE OF COPYRIGHTS: I grant permission to TNEG to use my photograph, likeness or comments in any medium for educational, promotional, or any other purpose in furtherance of the non-profit missions of the organization. By signing below, I confirm that I have read and understand these conditions and agree to be bound by them.