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Structure and Workload

I had expected Tuesday evenings to feel gruelling until 22:00, but the opposite was true. The discussions were not just fascinating, they were actually really enjoyable — partly thanks to the lovely atmosphere and the new friends you make along the way. (Nina van de Velde)

It is best to think of this honours programme as an extra module that you need to (be able to) take on in the second semester.

  • If you actively participate throughout the entire semester, this will result in a "pass" on your transcript of records.
  • If you do not do this or drop out early, you will receive a "fail". This does not affect your overall mark in any way.

In teams of five students (one student per participating faculty), you will work intensively for a full semester with experts from various disciplines on a single specific theme.

These themes change annually, ranging from the issue of stigmatisation in mental health to the debate on "degrowth" and "green growth", from the future of the West to questions about artificial intelligence. After two weeks, you will have the opportunity to enrol in the theme group of your choice.

The programme is divided into two parts. Before the Easter break, the focus is on reflection and debate; after the Easter break, it is primarily on creation.

 
Reflection and debate

We were privileged to witness, at close quarters, how each of these young people, week after week after week, strove to gain new insights. Thanks to the perspective of others, their own view became clearer. Their individual lens became a shared lens that allowed them to look at the world together. (Aurelie Daems, expert team Art as a currency? 2021-2022)
  • We kick off the semester with an opening debate in which the students engage in discussion with the group of experts and supervisors.
  • In two workshops run by The Orator, you will then learn not only how to debate yourself, but also how to organise and moderate a debate. Various formats will be covered. 
  • Next come the actual debate evenings.
  • You and your teammates will prepare one such debate evening down to the last detail in close collaboration with the experts, covering both content and practical arrangements.
  • You will take an active part in all the other debate evenings.
  • You will undoubtedly invest by far the most time in your own debate. However, the other debates must also be thoroughly prepared. You will do this using reading lists drawn up by the experts. These lists contain both academic articles and more accessible pieces.
     

Creation

The programme offers an accessible platform for interaction between students and experts. Both sides can learn from one another. (Michaël Verdonck, expert team Artificial Intelligence 2020-2021)

After the Easter break, you and your teammates will devise a creative assignment of your choice, in line with the theme and format of your debate evening.

  • The outcome of the creative assignment can take many forms: a podcast, video, poster, leaflet, website, etc.
  • You can count on input from the experts as you brainstorm the creative assignment, but you will be very much in charge of the process yourself.
  • We will bring the programme to a ceremonial close with a final evening where you and your team will present your work and results to a group of invited guests, including all the experts.
     

Practical information

All information – not just practical details, but also content-related details – will be shared with the selected students in good time via a private Ufora course.

  • second semester
  • Tuesday evenings
  • from 19:00 to 22:00