Annual Meeting for International Relations Coordinators 2019

19 - 22 september 2019

Malostranské nám. 258/13, 118 00 Malá Strana, Prague

The Annual Meeting for International Relations Coordinators 2019 took place at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, Czech Republic, from 19 to 22 September 2019.

The meeting is meant for administrative or teaching staff members in Conservatoires who deal with international relations and European programmes (such as ERASMUS), as well as for institutions not familiar with these programmes, but with an interest in becoming involved.

The meeting is important for networking, exchanging useful information and for developing partnerships. With this annual meeting, the AEC is bringing together a growing community of International Relations Coordinators. The programme of the meeting, as well as other important documents and policies on the field of international relations of conservatoires, are the result of the collaboration between the AEC office and the IRCs Developmental Working Group

The IRCs Developmental Working Group:

Bruno Pereira (ESMAE, Porto) – Chairman
Hanneleen Pihlak (Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, Tallin) – EASY subgroup
Christofer Fredriksson (University College of Opera – part of the Stockholm University of the Arts, Stockholm)
Jan-Gerd Krüger (Prins Claus Conservatorium, Groningen)
Dimitrios Marinos (Athens Conservatoire)
Frauke Velghe (Hogent, Gent)
Sara Primiterra (AEC Events and Project Manager) – Working Group Coordinator and EASY project manager
Ingeborg Radok Zadna – representative of the hosting institution
Roberto Boschelli (former student at Conservatorio Stanislao Giacomantonio Cosenza) – Student Representative

The AEC working groups members work on the preparation of AEC events on voluntary basis. The AEC Preparatory Working Groups are all formed by coopting active individuals in the relevant field of specialization within AEC member institutions. Proactivity, as well as geographical and gender balances are the applied criteria to guarantee the diverse and dynamic character of the groups, who should ideally recreate the diversity of AEC members institutions.

Working group members are financially supported by their home institutions, which cover their travel and accommodation expenses to the working group meetings and to the actual event.

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IRCs Meeting 2019

The Pink Elephant
Reflections on the Future to Transform the Present

The “pink elephant in the room” is an expression used to indicate that something very visible and obvious is there, but nobody wants to point it out and talk about it^[1]. How many “pink elephants” do the international relations coordinators have to deal with in their daily work? Starting from the points raised by the International Relations Coordinators Working group in their Reflection on the AEC Annual Meeting for International Coordinators 2018 – looking back at the past while imagining the future of internationalization of Higher Music Education (which we invite all of you to read before coming to Prague) the IRCs Meeting 2019 presents itself with the provocative title “The Pink Elephant” to trigger discussion about all constraints, contradictions, unsaid and unknowns that make the work of the IRCs more and more complex and multifaceted.

Pink elephants generate contradictions: how can we stay flexible within the constraints of the institutional, national and European regulations? If we claim that all our work is for the good of the students, why is our work not entirely based on an accurate listening of their needs? If we claim that it is important to be in a network with common tools and procedures, why still many AEC members do not accept applications via EASY? If we claim that “being international” is a sign of quality, why don’t we compare each other internationally on regular basis? And if we claim that networking is the most important function of the IRCs meeting, while as the networking activity been presented as an optional feature of the event? The IRCs Meeting 2019 will talk openly about these “pink elephants” and will address in particular the centrality of networking by assigning a central place in the programme to the Networking Activity, which will take place for the first time on Saturday afternoon, as part of the main programme.

Uncertainty is one of the biggest pink elephants in the IRC room. While in Birmingham the Brexit was for obvious reasons at the centre of the debate of last year, the approaching end of the current Erasmus+ Programme is bringing more questions than answers. Besides the news about the doubling of the budget, many other important details are still unknown, including the administrative implications of managing the expected huge increase of mobility numbers. And what about the European Universities initiative? How could higher music institutions take advantage of this big opportunity? Or is this elephant too big to handle? Other question marks are related to the Erasmus Going Digital initiative: what and how will be officially digitalized as of 2021? Which degree of autonomy will the institution(s) have in this process? Contradictory information is coming out in this regard and exact details have not been officially disclosed. In his “TedX style” talk, Mirko Varano, Senior Advisor International Projects at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, will try to “unveil” the Erasmus 2021 pink elephant by telling more details about the future of the most famous EU programme^[2].

Employability is another pink elephant for higher music education institutions: what do we mean exactly when speaking about it in relation to the music sector? How can we best measure it for reporting purposes? And what is the responsibility of higher music education institutions and IRCs in particular? The impact of international mobility of students on employability will be addressed by the keynote speaker Dana Petrova, Director of Centre for International Cooperation in Education in Czech Republic, who will trigger breakout groups discussion on this theme, which will also address the responsibility of institutions in providing international internship opportunities to their graduates.

The responsibility of institutions in relation to the employability of their graduates reflects the responsibility of higher music education actors in society at large. The role of international relations coordinators within their institution in relation to the bigger role of the institution in society is also a pink elephant. The paramount role that IRCs have in transforming individuals by facilitating life-changing experiences such as Erasmus exchanges and international opportunities is undeniable and often neglected. The societal responsibility of IRCs goes even beyond that as it touches also the environmental sphere. The sustainability of physical mobility, which concerns all travels involved in international meetings and activities, is nowadays becoming an increasing important issue and has entered the strategic agendas of governments and institutions. Unfortunately, the sustainability agenda clashes with the internationalization and mobility goals which set higher and higher numbers in terms of projects and activities to be performed and people to involve. But is this reflecting the actual trends? Many institutions see a decline in exchange applications despite the increased Erasmus budget. Are music students surprisingly become less mobile? And, if so, why? Could technology help in solving the puzzle by providing digital solutions to replace physical mobility with virtual and blended mobility? Can distance learning and cooperation offer a sustainable future to higher music education? The future of internationalization in higher music education will be a central topic of the 2019 IRCs Meeting. Extensive discussions which will lead to the publication of an IRCs Manifesto 2020 will be inspired by the “expert on future” Peter Majanen from Quattroporte who will help participants imagining the future of internationalization.

The AEC is looking forward to welcome you at the Academy of Performing Arts in Prague from 19th to 22nd September for the 19th AEC Annual Meeting for International Relations Coordinators, the second taking place in the framework of the Creative Europe funded project AEC – Strengthening Music in Society (SMS). The event will also feature sessions and pre-conference seminars prepared by the Diversity, Learning&Teaching, Digitization and Student working groups of the SMS Project and the usual EASY Workshop open to all internal and external users of the system. Plenty of time will be given to discussion on relevant topics for international relations coordinators and informative sessions about international projects carried out by AEC member institutions.

Join us in our reflection upon the future to transform the present!

[1] https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pink%20elephant%20in%20the%20room
[2] Mirko Varano will also give a pre-conference seminar about Joint Programmes

Programme

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Annual Meeting for International Relations Coordinators

19-22 September 2019, Academy of Performing Arts in Prague, Czech Republic

The Pink Elephant
Reflections on the Future to Transform the Present

Pre-Conference Programme

Thursday 19th September – EASY Workshop

11:30 – 13:30 EASY Live Tutorial (optional session – for registered participants only)

Registered participants can take part in the following Live Tutorials:
– EASY application procedure step by step (beginner level)
– Learning Agreement (intermediate/advanced level)
– Question and Answer to Dreamapply (intermediate and advanced level)

13:30 Registration for EASY Workshop participants

14:00 – 14:45 Parallel Introductory Sessions

1 – Introduction to EASY by the Working Group for new/future EASY users and external institutions
2 – Results questionnaire and planned developments for Year 4 – by Sara Primiterra and Breck Shuyler for current/advanced EASY users

14:50 – 15:50 Plenary Session – Gallery (floor -1)

FAQs, the updated EASY Code of Conduct and news about the EASY Application Form and Export Tables by Sara Primiterra, EASY Project Manager

15:50 – 18:00 Parallel Sessions on EASY topics
repeated 3 times, starting time 15:50 – 16:35 – 17:20

1 – How set up the institutional profile (first session) / Letter Templates generation (second and third session) by Breck Shuyler
2 – How to set up the app form and how to create and use export tables by Jose Luis Fernandez and Sara Primiterra
3 – Managing incoming and outgoing applications by Lucia di Cecca
4 – Learning Agreement by Kert Kivaste and Salvatore Gioveni

18:00 – 19:00 EASY Live Tutorial (optional session – for registered participants only)

Friday 20th September – Pre-Conference Seminars

09:00 Registration to the seminars (seminars are only for participants who signed up in the registration form)

9:15 – 12:15 Seminars (running in parallel)

Seminar I – Internationalization of Curricula – ‘free’ mobility within a subject-specific network

by Christofer Fredriksson and Charlotte Saelemakers, European Opera Academy, and Susanne Van Els project representative and the SMS WG5 on Learning and Teaching

Seminar II – Perspectives on diversity in internationalization – sharing experiences and practices

by Katja Thomson, Clara Barbera and Baptiste Grandgirard from the SMS WG2 on Diversity, Identity and Inclusiveness

Seminar III – Joint and Double Degree Programmes: a powerful tool for the internationalization of higher education

by Mirko Varano, Senior Advisor International Projects at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm

12:15 – 13:15 Networking Lunch for Seminar Participants ONLY – Restaurant across the street

Conference Programme

Friday 20th September

11:45 Registration Open, refreshments, networking time

[Ground Floor]

12:30 – 13:00 Tour of the Academy

[Meeting point: Registration Desk]

13:15 – 14:15 Introductory Session for first-time delegates [Orchestra Rehearsal Room]

Presentations by Paulina Gut, AEC Office, Dimitrios Marinos, Frauke Velghe, IRCs WG members and Payam Gul Susanni, former IRC WG member
Followed by group discussion moderated by experienced IRCs

14:30 – 15:15 Opening Event [Martinu Hall]

Music introduction
Welcome words by:

Jan Hančilm, Rector of AMU
Pavel Fischer, member of the Czech Parliament
Bruno Pereira, IRC wg chairman
Stefan Gies, AEC Chief Executive

15:15 – 16:00 AEC Talk 1 Martinu Hall]

The impact of international mobility of students on employability by Dana Petrova, Director of Centre for International Cooperation in Education, Czech Republic, and Uwe Brandenburg, Director of the Global Impact Institute, Prague
Q&A moderated by Ingeborg Radok- Žádná, AEC Council Member

16:00 – 17:00 Discussion Groups on impact of international mobility of students on employability

17:00 – 17:30 Networking with Refreshments [Respirium]

17:30 – 18:45 Updates about EASY and Information Forum and Market [Martinu Hall and 10 tables in Respirium]

chaired by Sara Primiterra, AEC Events and Projects Manager

18:15 Rooms available for projects meetings

18:45 – 19:30 Concert [Martinu Hall]

19:30 Welcome Dinner [Café HAMU and Courtyard]

Saturday 21st September

9:00 – 10:00 Pre-booked rooms available for Project meetings

10:00 – 11:00 AEC Talk 2

[Martinu Hall]

Music Introduction

Imagining the Future of Music Education by Peter Majanen, Quattroporte

Q&A moderated by Christofer Fredriksson, Uniarts Stockholm, IRCs working group member

11:00 – 12:00 Discussion Groups on the IRCs Manifesto

12:00 – 12:30 Networking with Refreshments [HAMU Café]

12:30 – 13:30 Parallel Sessions I

EOALAB – European Opera Academy: discussion on the future of opera education moderated by Christofer Fredriksson, Charlotte Saelemakers, Bruno Pereira, representatives of the project partners and Susanne Van Els from the SMS WG5 on Learning and Teaching
Perspectives on diversity in internationalisation – sharing experiences and practices, discussion introduced and moderated by Katja Thomson, Clara Barbera and Baptiste Grandgirard from the SMS WG2 on Diversity, Identity and Inclusiveness
Joint and Double Degree Programmes: a powerful tool for the internationalisation of higher education, presentation by Mirko Varano, Senior Advisor International Projects at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm
MusiQuE – linking internationalisation and quality assurance, presentation by Martin Prchal, Chair of the MusiQuE Board and Paulina Gut, Review and Administrative Officer, introduced by Dimitrios Marinos, IRCs WG member
Choosing and Maintaining International Partners: the INTERMUSIC example presented by Roberto De Thierry, representatives of project partners, followed by discussion moderated by Frauke Velghe and Jan Gerd Krueger, IRCs WG members
Digital Tools to foster international Learning and Teaching, discussion introduced and moderated by Matti Ruippo and Miranda Harmer from SMS WG6 on Digitization

13:30 – 14:30 Networking Lunch [HAMU Cafe]

14:30 – 17:30 Networking Activity: exchange of good practices and information in an informal setting

Meeting point: Port Dock

Free Evening

Sunday 22nd September

9:30 – 10:15 AEC Talk 3 [Martinu Hall]

Erasmus 2021 by Mirko Varano, Senior Advisor International Projects at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm
Q&A moderated by Hanneleen Pihlak, Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre Tallinn, IRCs working group member

10:15 – 11:30 Analysing Tendencies in Internationalization in Higher Music Education

Live statistics with Whova

Panel discussion on the Future of Internationalization

Uwe Brandenburg, Director of the Global Impact Institute, Prague
Mirko Varano, Senior Advisor International Projects at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm
Martin Prchal, Vice Principal at the Royal Conservatoire The Hague

Moderated by Bruno Pereira, ESMAE Porto, IRCs wg chairman

11:30 – 12:00 Networking with Refreshments [HAMU Café]

12:00 – 13:00 Parallel Sessions II

International cooperation to foster audience development: the Creative Europe funded projects Opera Out of Opera and Opera InCanto and The Magic Flute Project by Operun, presentations by Michelangelo Galeati, Stefania Abbondi and Sara Primiterra, Veronika Loulová, representatives of projects’ partners
Students’ Perspective, Experiences and Expectations in Mobility: an open dialogue between IRCs and students, with Roberto Boschelli, Baptiste Grandgirard and Isabel Gonzalez Delgado from the SMS Student WG7 and Rachel Sklenickova, HAMU Prague
Entrepreneurship Projects – presentation of the Capacity Building Project “DEMUSIS” by Dušanka Jelenković Vidović, University of the Arts in Belgrade and discussion moderated by Payam Gul Susanni, SMS WG3 on Entrepreneurship
Finding a Sustainable Future for Mobility, discussion moderated by Christofer Fredriksson and Hanneleen Pihlak, IRCs WG members
Cooperation with partner countries: working with refugee camps in Palestine presentation by Slavomir Horinka, HAMU Prague, and discussion moderated by Frauke Velghe, IRCs WG member
Distance Learning in Virtual and Blended Mobility: presentation of the SWING Project and discussion, with Anna Maria Bordin from the SMS WG5 on Learning and Teaching

13:00 – 13:30 Closing and Sharing [Martinu Hall]

News from the AEC by Stefan Gies, AEC Chief Executive
Announcement of the next IRCs Meeting
Closing Remarks by Ingeborg Radok Zadna, AEC Council Member

13:30 Share your food and drink [Café Hamu]

Information on the Participation Fees
Early Bird Deadline: 5 August 2019

Participation fees can be paid in the following ways:
– Manual Payment by Bank Transfer before the event (preferable)
– Ideal, Credit Card, Paypal and Bankcontact Systems Online
– Manual Payment (cash on the spot in Prague)
– Manual Payment (by Credit Card in Prague)

Please note: Only the full price of participation fees is accepted (no early bird price) for manual payment by either cash or credit card in Prague.
For more information and special invoice requests please mail events@aec-music.eu

Category	Payment and Registration by August 5	Payment and Registration after August 5
Representative of AEC member institution (staff)	220 euro (participation fee including networking activity) + 50 euro (pre-conference seminar including lunch)	290 euro (participation feeincluding networking activity) + 50 euro (pre-conference seminar including lunch)
Representative of a non-AEC member institution	420 euro (participation fee including networking activity) + 50 euro (pre-conference seminar including lunch)	520 euro (participation fee including networking activity) + 50 euro (pre-conference seminar including lunch)
Student from an AEC member institution	140 euro (participation fee including networking activity) + 50 euro (pre-conference seminar)	200 euro (participation fee including networking activity) + 50 euro (pre-conference seminar)

The participation fee to the IRCs Meeting includes:
Conference documents (printed version and/or Conference App for Smartphones)
Participation to the EASY workshop
Participation to all plenary and parallel sessions during the Conference
Participation to the networking moments INCLUDING the main networking activity on Saturday afternoon
Possibility to display information brochures posters and materials about AEC members institutions
Possibility to use for free the conservatoire spaces for project meetings
Coffee Breaks
One organized networking dinner during the conference
One organized networking lunch during the conference
Concerts organized by the hosting institution

NB:The rates do not include the participation fee of accompanying partners (25 euros per meal, 40 euro for the networking activity) such as family members, which will be paid on the spot.

The participation fee will not be reimbursed for cancellations notified after August 5, 2019.
Bank details for payments
BNP Paribas Fortis
Account Holder AEC-Music
IBAN: BE47 0016 8894 2980
SWIFT/ BIC Code: GEBABEBB

When making the transfer, please clearly quote:Code of the event (IRC 2019)
Last name of the participant
Name of your institution (if fitting)
Example: IRC 2019, Smith, Gotham Conservatory

The Academy of Performing Arts in Prague (HAMU) suggested the following accommodation possibilities to the guests of the IRCs Meeting 2019.

Please note that there are no rooms pre-booked in those hotels for IRCs Meeting participants.

Conference Venue Address: HAMU, Malostranské nám. 258/13, 118 00 Malá Strana

Thunovská residence – 3 minutes walking

Homepage

Old Royal Post – 4 minutes walking
https://www.oldroyalpost.com/en/

Hotel Augustin – 6 minutes walking
https://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/prglc-augustine-a-luxury-collection-hotel-prague/?scid=bb1a189a-fec3-4d19-a255-54ba596febe2

Hotel Royal Palace – 7 minutes walking
https://www.royalpalacehotel.cz/en/

Hotel Kampa Garden – 7 minutes walking
https://www.kampagarden.cz/en/

Hotel Kampa Stará Zbrojnice – 9 minutes walking
https://www.hotelkampa.cz/en/

Residence Vlašská – 2 minutes walking
http://residencevlasska.eurorentals.info/

Hotel Pyramida – 24 minutes walking
https://www.hotelpyramida.cz/en/

for other hotels please visit www.booking.com

Images

Videos

Opera Out of Opera

Documents