Call to Action
working towards inclusiveness and recognition in the new Erasmus programme
AEC IRCs Meeting 2021
The last one and a half year had been challenging for all of us: very few trips and no presential events, reduced human contacts and endless online meetings have changed our private and professional life. Now things are slowly going back to a new normal with new challenges coming up: a brand new Erasmus programme generation in a blended/hybrid world, where diversity, inclusiveness and recognition are increasingly important. Are we ready to take an active part in this brave new world? It is finally time for the international relations coordinators to get together again and celebrate the 20th anniversary from the very first IRC Meeting, that took place in 2001. September 2021 was the “IRC month” with a complex and rich programme which included plenty of presential and online activities spread between 3 and 24 September with a culmination in the in-person gathering taking place on 16-18 September at the Conservatorio Superior de Música de Vigo, Spain which had been looking forward to hosting international colleagues since a long time: this year this long-awaited plan became a reality! This edition of the IRC meeting was therefore very special for many reasons: besides its truly hybrid format and the IRC anniversary year, this gathering was the last IRC meeting taking place in the framework of the Creative Europe funded network project “AEC – Strengthening Music in Society” (SMS Project). We were going to close a chapter while already looking at the future!
On 3 September the IRC month opened with an online day dedicated to New Opportunities: there was an introductory session to newcomers and sessions focusing on blended intensive courses, cooperation partnerships, and possibilities for music education institutions in the upcoming Erasmus+ and Creative Europe Programmes. In the afternoon we reflected on the “Zoom fatigue” we all suffered from in the past months and we looked together at new ways of dealing with it in the post-pandemic future. On 13 September the online workshop by the SMS working group on Identity, Diversity and Inclusiveness entitled “Re-Thinking and Opening Curricula within the new EU mobility programmes” made participants reflect on what being inclusive and diverse means for higher education institutions.
This new and prominent aspect of the new Erasmus+ Programme addressed during the first day of our in-person event in Vigo on 16 September, fully dedicated to the diversity and inclusion topic, included gender issues, sustainability and student involvement. On 17 September, the second day of our in-person event in Vigo was dedicated to a fundamental issue in international relations, somehow related to the concept of diversity and inclusion: Recognition. A panel of experts, including representatives of the Erasmus+ Students Network addressed the recognition issues coming with mobility, both in student and staff mobility and also in vertical international mobility. What was the story of this issue and the state of the art in the new Erasmus+ Programme? Which solutions could be offered by new technologies to overcome recognition issues? Recognition is also a matter of trust, and trust is fed by well-established interpersonal relations that foster mutual understanding and cooperation. That is why, in the best IRC tradition, good practices and information were exchanged also in the informal setting of a boat Networking Trip to the charming Cies Islands, a unique real-life opportunity to catch up with old colleagues and get to know new ones to set the basis for new collaborations! During the third and last day of our in-person event in Vigo, Saturday 18 September, we remained on the inclusion topic by addressing the specific and delicate issue of the continuation of international collaborations with UK conservatoires. Our British colleagues connected remotely with the onsite audience to us and kept the connection with the EU colleagues alive after Brexit. Finally, during our usual Information Forum we gave updates on the EASY system and its connection with Erasmus Without Paper, and international projects and initiatives by AEC members was also presented. The presential meeting gave plenty of opportunities for group discussion during breakout sessions, networking with refreshments and organized meals.
But the IRC month was not over yet with our departure from Vigo: on 24 September the IRC meeting came to an end with an online half-day dedicated to EASY: Digitization was another prominent topic of the new Erasmus+ programme and the AEC was in the forefront with its unique system dedicated to the management of applications for higher music and art education institutions. This year the webinar focused on the new Learning Agreement and on issues brought up by users especially (but not limited to) the relation with Erasmus Without Papers.
We extend our gratitude to those who joined us for this intense IRC month! We were delighted in you taking part online or both online and in person in Vigo. The main plenary sessions taking place in Vigo were streamed online. At that moment we could welcome up to 90 participants in Vigo (subject to change) so we recommended you to subscribe as soon as possible! This year we had a strict deadline and were happy to receive subscriptions by 31 August.
We were truly thankful to meeting you online and/or in Vigo!
