DIA_Compendium_SS15 Jun. 2015 | Page 2

welcome Dear Students, W DIA welcomes you back to the summer semester and welcome the new exchange students joining us this semster in its Master Program which has taken up speed from having initially 10 students more than a decade ago to now about 220 participants from over 50 countries. It is this multi facetted atmosphere within the course, which is its trademark. And all this is mostly created by you. As of 2010 the Directory Board at DIA decided to introduce a division of teaching at DIA into a First and Second Year. This is necessary to insure competent and thoughtful teaching at Mastercourse Level at DIA with its 200+ students. This means there is a separate teaching units for the Compulsory Courses for each of the two years with a list of common electives which are offered and open for both years. (First Year = 1st and 2nd Semester and Second Year = 3rd and 4th Semester). This Summer Semester will therefore have approx. 85 Students who are going to finish their Thesis this semester. The First Year will still offer different Studios of choice. Each Studio is limited in size to a maximum of 10 Students. In the First Year, Studios offered run only over the period of one semester. This should give students a chance to experience different thematic possibilities before focussing on the thesis Year. I hope you can enjoy your time here in Dessau and take back both a unique academic experience and a valuable degree when you return home. The DIA teaching staff is looking forward to sharing this experience with you. If you should run into difficulties of any kind and at any time during your stay here, do not hesitate to contact us. Kindly yours, Prof. Alfred Jacoby, Director DIA welcome | summer semester 2015