HTDTWT: formal framework 2025-2026
HTDTWT is a two year study trajectory designed to develop skills to formulate relevant questions related to theory. It consists of two equally important parts: seminars & the writing of a master thesis, supported by a training in academic writing.
First and second year students study together in the seminars. The thesis writing trajectory is divergent.
Next to annually changing thematic seminars the curriculum component HTDTWT (How To Do Things With Theory) offers a two year trajectory oriented towards the writing of a master thesis. This path is designed to help our students to develop skills to formulate relevant questions which strengthen their praxes and allow them to position themselves and their work in broader contexts. For the first year students are required to follow the Academic Writing Class (which leads to the formulation of a thesis proposal). Building on this proposal, in the second year students receive prolonged personal guidance from one theory tutor assigned to them at the end of the first year of study. In general this is the tutor of the seminar they will attend during the second year at DAI.
The content descriptions relating to this curriculum component are to be found here:
HTDTWT curatorial framework 2025-2026
General introduction to the terms in use: GLOSSARY
FIRST YEAR STUDENTS (INCOMING 2025)
* Compulsory Choice | 17 ECTS | 476 hours in total
* participation in seminars, academic writing course & the writing of a thesis proposal
Contact hours: 119 hours
Self study hours (reading + writing): 357 hours
ELABORATION ON SEMINARS | CONTACT HOURS:
Thirteen (13) days of seminars led by the 6 theory-tutors (each student takes part in one out of the six different seminars on offer, after a process of careful matchmaking, informed by a statement about their current research interest from the student - students do not select their tutor- the tutor creates a group based on the compatibility with the content and purpose of the seminar).
Mandatory presence: 10,5 days ( 80% of contact hours by law) BUT 100% attendance is strongly recommended.
If your absence extends beyond that number, an additional task (always tailor-made !) must be agreed upon your theory tutor, the HTDTWT education leader Dina A. Mohamed, the study trajectory counsellor Nikos Doulos, the head of program Gabriëlle Schleijpen and by yourself (backed by the Central Exam Committee of ArtEZ University of the Arts).
ACADEMIC WRITING:
2007-2026 Abstracts ~ the written MA thesis
First year
2025-2026 ACADEMIC WRITING classes for students in their first year
2 sessions of 2-3 hours + individual coaching
Mandatory presence: 2,5 sessions (80% of contact hours by law) BUT 100% attendance is strongly recommended.
ELABORATION ON SELF-STUDY + OUTPUT:
*Written statement of intent = mandatory
*Preparation for each seminar (extensive reading + writing) + writing exercises Academic Writing = mandatory
*Written thesis proposal at the end of the academic year= mandatory.
ELABORATION ON TESTING:
Midterm Formative Evaluations HTDTWT ~ first year
When: Confluence 4 ~ midterm first year
What: Individual formative conversation (with the help of a checklist provided by the HTDTWT education leader), between first and second year students and their tutors.
Outcome registration: signed form to be placed in the student's Carrier Bag
Concluding Assessment HTDTWT ~ first year
When: End of year, after Confluence 5.
What: At the conclusion of the first year, each student will be assessed by their tutor plus the HTDTWT education leader on research & participation in the seminars (including the academic writing course), and research & writing for the thesis proposal which is then green-lighted for further development in the second year. Both assessments are brought together in an overall formative written assessment which will be shared in the Carrier Bag towards the beginning of the second year. The assessments are weighed against the Intended Learning Outcomes | Final Qualifications | Competencies and with 2) Discovery 5) Research & Contextualization and 6) Critical Analysis and Reflection to be considered as the scope of investigation.
*The Grade is signed off by the HTDTWT education leader /certified BKE examiner and the assigned theory tutor/assessor.
*How To Do Things With Theory Year#1 is concluded successfully when the student is credited with a ‘PASS’ in the overall assessment.
SECOND YEAR STUDENTS (INCOMING 2024)
* Compulsory Choice | 17 ECTS | 476 hours in total
* participation in seminars & the writing of a thesis
Contact hours (incl. individual thesis coaching): 114 hours
Self study hours (reading + writing): 362 hours
SEMINARS
What: 13 days of seminars led by the 6 theory-tutors (each student takes part in one out of the six different seminars on offer, after a process of careful matchmaking, informed by a statement about their current research interest from the student + their written thesis proposal - students do not select their tutor- the tutor creates a group based on the compatibility with the content and thesis interests).
Mandatory presence: 10 days ( 80% of contact hours by law) BUT 100% attendance is strongly recommended.
If your absence extends beyond that number, an additional task (always tailor-made !) must be agreed upon your theory tutor, the HTDTWT education leader Dina Mohamed, the study trajectory counsellor Nikos Doulos, the head of program Gabriëlle Schleijpen and by yourself ( backed by the Central Exam Committee of ArtEZ University of the Arts).
THESIS WRITING
(Link): 2025-2026 Thesis Coaching Matches for students in their second year
Contact hours (mainly) online: tutor and student meet during coaching sessions around the student's written input (new input = conditional for each meeting). In the course of the second year this concerns 4 - 5 sessions. Duration of each session = variable.
ELABORATION ON SELF-STUDY + OUTPUT:
*Preparation for each seminar (reading + writing).
*Writing of the master thesis.
ELABORATION ON TESTING
Midterm Formative Evaluations HTDTWT ~ second year
When: Confluence 4 ~ midterm second year
What: Individual formative conversation (with the help of a checklist provided by the HTDTWT education leader), between first and second year students and their tutors.
Outcome registration: signed form to be placed in the student's Carrier Bag
Final Assessment HTDTWT ~ taking place after the second year ~ looking at the outcome of both years.
When: End of year, after the 5th Confluence or the re-sit deadline for the thesis.
What: A combination of formative & summative assessment guided by DAI's
What: At the conclusion of the second year student will be assessed by their tutor plus the HTDTWT education leader on "research & participation” in the seminars and “research and writing” for the thesis.
Both assessments are brought together in an overall formative & summative assessment, which will be shared with the student during the graduation ceremony and after that be placed in the Carrier Bag which will remain accessible to the graduate.
The assessments are weighed against the Intended Learning Outcomes | Final Qualifications | Competencies and with 2) Discovery 5) Research & Contextualization and 6) Critical Analysis and Reflection to be considered as the scope of investigation for research and participation & 2) Discovery, 3) Realization of creative potential, 4) Presentation and communication, 5) Research & Contextualization and 6) Critical Analysis and Reflection.
*The Grade is signed off by the HTDTWT education leader /certified BKE examiner and the assigned theory tutor/assessor.
*How To Do Things With Theory is concluded successfully concluded when the student is credited with at least a ‘satisfactory’ in the overall assessment.
Evaluation standards:
Insufficient, Satisfactory, Very Satisfactory, Good, Very Good, Excellent.