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Graduation Fund

The Graduation Fund is the financial contribution from the students of Design Academy Eindhoven towards the staging of the school’s annual Graduation Show during Dutch Design Week and the production of the Graduation Catalogue.

Total contribution: €420

The Graduation Fund plays a vital part in helping to stage the annual DAE Graduation Show – a graduate exhibition unlike any other. It is made up of contributions from current students.

The Graduation Show is both a platform for graduate talent and an opportunity for DAE to show itself to the world. It serves many functions as a communications moment for both the Academy and its graduates. It is produced as a professional exhibition, with curators, signage and publications. Over the years, it has become recognised internationally and attracts a large number of professional visitors, including designers, talent scouts from related industries, journalists and academics, as well as members of the public, including potential future students. Each year, DAE hires a new team for the show – consisting mainly of DAE alumni – including the curatorial team, designers, writers, producers, invigilators and staff.

To be able to produce an exhibition of this scale (in 2023 growing to include more than 220 projects), the school brings together different funding sources, including its own communications budget and support from the City of Eindhoven, the Dutch Design Foundation (DDW), sponsors of the show, friends of DAE and the DAE Graduation Fund, among others. The Graduation Fund covers 8% of the total costs.

The money in the Graduation Fund is provided by students in an optional contribution, which can be paid in a lump sum or a series of instalments over two years. The total contribution is the same for both BA and MA students. Payment details are provided in an internal email and in the re-enrolment information package received by every student returning after their first year.

Students wishing to participate in the Graduation Show and be included in the show’s catalogue must contribute the full amount. Students should contact the Executive Board as soon as possible if they have any concerns about their ability to contribute or questions about the fund: executiveboard@designacademy.nl.

More details on how the contribution is calculated, what it contributes to, ways to pay and deadlines for payment can be found in our Graduation Fund Q&A below.

Photo: Angelique Swinkels

What is the Graduation Fund?

The Graduation Fund is the financial contribution from the students of Design Academy Eindhoven towards the staging of the school’s annual Graduation Show during Dutch Design Week and the production of the Graduation Catalogue.

The Graduation Fund is one of several funding sources for the show, which is a large-scale event produced to a professional standard and is unlike any other final show at a design school. Contributions to the Graduation Fund are optional – if a student does not want to participate in the Graduation Show or Graduation Catalogue, they do not need to contribute.

The show and catalogue are a communal effort and one of the greatest demonstrations of the strength of the DAE community. As well as students contributing to the show through the Graduation Fund and by showing their graduation projects, many of the curatorial and support team who help stage it are DAE alumni or current students. This collective effort has been key in ensuring the success of both projects every year, creating unique exhibitions and publications that are respected and anticipated both by the global design industry and as a cultural event in the Netherlands.

The Graduation Fund is entirely separate from the study fee (also known as the tuition fee), which all students must pay to study at DAE. This reflects the fact that the Graduation Show and Catalogue are not a part of a student’s studies and it is never compulsory for a student to participate to graduate. The show takes place after students have already graduated and completed their studies, usually in the October of the following academic year.

 

Photo: Boudewijn Bollmann

What are the benefits of participating in the Graduation Show and Catalogue?

The Graduation Show is one of the major focal points of Dutch Design Week, attracting around 40,000 visitors and international press. This makes it unlike any other graduation show in terms of the size of the audience for the exhibition and the potential reach. It is a unique opportunity to present work to the general public, the media and professionals from a wide range of design and design-related industries, as well as specialists and enthusiasts from various fields.

For many graduates, the show is a rite of passage – their first experience of participating in a professional exhibition. Graduates are encouraged to capitalise on this opportunity as much as possible by being present at the show, ensuring they have business cards and other communication materials ready, and being open to conversations with visitors.

The Communications, Presentations and PR (CPPR) department of DAE runs the entire show. Their team of mostly all former DAE students puts in a lot of effort to arrange VIP viewings and press tours of the exhibition, to further increase the likelihood for graduates to have their work seen by individuals who could influence their future careers. The Dutch Design Week press department also directs journalists and VIPs to the show.

The Catalogue is a publication of record for the school, ensuring that the projects take their place in its history. But it is also widely used as a research and reference tool in design and related industries, such as trend forecasting. While the exhibition lasts for one week, the catalogue lives on over time.

In addition, for many graduates, the photo shoot DAE arranges for the catalogue is the first chance they will have to see their work shot professionally. Some will use these images for years to come, and they are also used by the press. The cost of a similar shoot if done individually would likely exceed the contribution made by each student to the Graduation Fund. DAE is able to organise this thanks to the contributions of the students and the invaluable sponsorship support that the team works hard to secure each year.

Who else contributes to the costs of the Graduation Show?

The budget is made up of the Graduation Fund, financial contributions from Dutch Design Week, money from the City of Eindhoven, and a portion of DAE’s annual costs (not including tuition fees). Student contributions cover 8% of the total budget.

How is the money spent?

The Graduation Show costs include the securing of a venue to host all of the BA and MA graduates, the hiring of a curatorial and editorial team, invigilators and venue staff, the creation and publication of the graduation catalogue, photography of the graduation projects, scenography and technical requirements inside the exhibition space, publicity including advertising and PR, and more. The Graduation Fund contributes towards a much larger pot of money that pays for all of these elements of the show, with funding drawn from various sources.

 

The 2021 DAE Graduation Show. Photo by Angeline Swinkels

Why is my contribution significant if the Graduation Fund is only a small portion of the total budget?

Although the Graduation Fund represents 8% of the total budget, it is important to realise that this is a significant amount of money that cannot be sourced elsewhere. DAE is not permitted to use any of its educational funds to fill gaps, and the show and the catalogue are significant undertakings with high costs.

The team behind the Graduation Show and Catalogue works very hard to cover as many of the costs as possible through sponsorships, with the support of the Communications Presentations and Public Relations department. An example is the electricity costs for the show, which in the past have been as much as €60,000 and have been covered by generous sponsors. DAE has been very lucky to find this support over the years, and we are very grateful.

How much should I contribute?

From the 2023-24 academic year, the total contribution for every student (BA and MA) is €420. This amount is set by the Executive Board and is based on an assessment of total costs for the Graduation Show and Catalogue, taking into consideration the contributions from external sources such as the City of Eindhoven.

Do I need to contribute every year?

No. You must meet the contribution deadlines either for a one-off payment or for instalment payments.

All students at DAE need to contribute to the fund if they want to participate in the Graduation Show and be featured in the Graduation Catalogue after they graduate. Students can contribute a one-off lump-sum payment OR contribute in instalments over two years during their studies, Bachelors year 3 + 4, Masters year 1 + 2. The contribution of €420 is the same for both BA and MA students.

Bachelor students year 3 and 4 and Master students will be provided with a Graduation Fund Form, in which they can state whether they want to participate in the show and catalogue and how they would prefer to make their contribution to the Graduation Fund.

Do MA and BA students contribute different amounts?

No. All BA and MA students contribute the same – €420. This payment can be made in one lump sum or divided into instalments spread over two years.

This arrangement came into effect in the 2022-23 academic year, following a discussion between the Executive Board and the Student Council, with the objective of ensuring that all students contribute equally. It was the first significant change in many years, as the Graduation Fund had not previously been adjusted to reflect inflation or the rapidly increasing price of materials. The decision was discussed with the Student Council and validated by the Institutional Participation Council (IPC), which consists of elected students, staff and educators.

 

The 2021 DAE Graduation Show. Photo by Angeline Swinkels

Can I contribute in instalments?

Yes, absolutely. DAE is committed to ensuring that all students can participate, whatever their financial situation. Payment in instalments is a solution we have developed based on feedback from the DAE community.

The instalments are spread over two years, with 8 payments of €52,50. Bachelor students year 3 and 4 and Master students will be provided with a Graduation Fund Form, in which they can select whether they would like to pay in instalments or in one lump sum. For the payment in instalments, you once need to pay €24 extra and this will be deducted from the first instalment payment.

Deadline for the total payment is 1 April in the year of participating in the show.

What is the deadline for contributions?

The final deadline for payments for contributing in GS 2024 is 1 April 2024.

From the beginning of the 2023-2024 academic year, the following deadlines have been in place:

For BA students who choose to transfer the fund in one lump sum or in instalments, the full contribution should be paid by 1 April in the year of participating in the show.

For BA students who choose to pay in instalments via Direct Debiting, payments will be organised during year 3 and year 4 of their studies. The dates for these payments will be provided after receiving the form by email. For the payment in instalments you once need to pay €24 extra, this will be deducted from the first instalment payment

For MA students who choose to transfer the fund in one lump sum or in instalments, the full contribution should be paid by 1 April in the year of participating in the show.

For MA students who choose to pay in instalments via Direct Debiting, payments will be organised during year 1 and year 2 of their studies. The dates for these payments will be provided after receiving the form by email. For the payment in instalments you once need to pay €24 extra, this will be deducted from the first instalment payment.

Current students who have already contributed during their studies will receive a message from DAE confirming about the fund they already have paid and the outstanding amount.

Any current student with concerns about the payment deadlines or their ability to contribute should contact the Executive Board as soon as possible. DAE does not want to add unnecessary pressure to students, and we will work together to find the best way forward.

How do I send my contributions?

Lump-sum contributions should be paid by direct transfer or deposit into a dedicated DAE bank account, with the DAE student number clearly stated as a payment reference.

Account name: Stitching Design Academy Eindhoven

IBAN: NL13RABO0351546154

Instalment payments will be organised through a Direct Debit system. A form will be provided for students who select this option.

What support is there for students who cannot afford to contribute?

There are a number of ways the Academy is trying to support students who might have an issue with contributing. We have overhauled the Graduation Fund system and introduced instalment payment options to ease the financial pressure on students.

The school also offers paid opportunities for students to work within DAE – including non-EU students – which can help cover the cost of the Graduation Fund contributions and provides more flexibility than a regular job for those who need to focus on their studies. We encourage all ideas and feedback, which can be submitted directly to the Executive Board.

Any student struggling to make their contribution should contact the Executive Board as soon as possible: ExecutiveBoard@designacademy.nl.

Can my contribution be refunded if I decide not to participate in the Graduation Show or Graduation Catalogue at a later date or if I do not graduate?

Unfortunately, this is not possible. Planning begins for the Graduation Show over a year in advance, and the budget is set even earlier. All of the Graduation Fund contributions go directly into the show production, and any changes can significantly impact the event and the exhibiting graduates. This is why there can be no flexibility in the contribution system.

Can I participate in the Graduation Show or Graduation Catalogue if I change my mind and want to pay after the deadline for Graduation Fund contributions has passed?

No. A graduate can only participate if they have contributed in advance. Allowing last-minute changes would have a significant knock-on effect, which would be unfair to other graduates and the team responsible for putting together the show and the catalogue. For further explanation, see the answer to the question above.

Can I still have my project photographed if I opt out of the fund?

The official photo shoot for the catalogue is only open to those graduates who have contributed to the fund. DAE does not have the funds to organise other official photo shoots for graduation projects, but graduates can arrange their own photography.

Who do I ask if I have any further questions?

All questions or feedback on the Graduation Fund should be sent to the Executive Board on executiveboard@designacademy.nl

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Who do I ask if I have any further questions?

All questions or feedback on the Graduation Fund should be sent to the Executive Board on executiveboard@designacademy.nl