The areas of concentration bundle together course offerings from the Humanities and Social Sciences with a clear reference to themes from the core subjects, connecting elements of theory and practice. The following areas of concentration will be offered: History, Society, Creativity, Cultures, Media, Law, Technologies, Responsibility – and a so-called Open Area. Students have three possible ways of taking areas of concentration in the framework of Contextual Studies. Firstly, they can as before freely select from the entire course offerings; secondly, they can place a thematic focus in one of the areas of concentration; or thirdly, they can complete this thematic focus by means of a Portfolio seminar.
The Portfolios, which will be offered beginning with the academic year 2019-20, should make an innovative learning experience possible for our students in which functions of specialisation and synthesis will feature. Students should thus be able to make connections and correlations between different courses, and to bring core and context together in an integrative sense; they should also receive regular feedback from both teachers and fellow students. The Portfolios thereby offer a space for deep learning. For areas of concentration that are completed with a Portfolio, evidence of a student’s accomplishment will be given separately in a supplement to the diploma.
