Wednesday 4 September
Registration opens (with welcome coffee)
Workshop on the new EASY Mobility Online System
This hands on, technical workshop is a must for IRC dealing daily with the management of mobilities through the new EASY Mobility Online System. Knowledge of the two parts of the user manual are compulsory to attend the workshop. Basic functions on the system, settings, tips and tricks, logic, process, common mistakes and changes for next years will be addressed. The workshop will be given by Sara Primiterra, EASY Project Manager, together with the EASY Task Force. Laura and Ivan from SoP will be there to answer to technical questions and solve individual issues, if any.
This workshop is meant for internal institutions only, but externals are welcome to come as observers.
Please register to the workshop by clicking on the relevant box of the registration form. The workshop is free of charge.
Users are welcome to give suggestions on the workshop via the survey sent to all internal users in June.
Structure:
14:00 Registration
14:30 – 16:00 Presentations and Q&A
16:00 – 16:30 Coffee break
16:30 – 18:00 Presentations and Q&A
18:00 End of the workshop, free evening
Thursday 5 September
Registration for pre-conference workshop participants (with welcome coffee)
Pre-conference Workshops
Moderated by Oana Balan-Budoiu, National Academy of Music in Cluj Napoca, IRC wg member
The 2024 survey on BIPs launched by the IRC working group showed how IRCs of higher music education institutions share common challenges when it comes to the implementation of such programmes. In fact, many of the issues listed by AEC members are not mentioned in the official EU documentation: the need to come up with sectorial guidelines – defined by those who already experienced challenges and opportuties as leaders or partners – has become evident. By sharing insights and working together, we, as a community, can overcome common obstacles and create a successful model for implementation.
During this 3-hours workshop, experienced and less experienced IRCs will explore together key topics such as funding strategies, selecting relevant BIP subjects, organizing networking activities, utilizing effective tech tools, creating a comprehensive event calendar, and finding partners.
Experienced IRCs from Rome (Carla Conti), Hamburg (Christiane Brück), Ghent (Frauke Velghe), The Hague (Elsa Ferreira) and Helsinki ( Leena Veijonsuo and others TBC) will contribute with their experience to facilitate group discussion and to develop guidelines that will enhance the effectiveness of BIPs in conservatoires.
Presentation and moderation by Gretchen Amussen, PRIhME Project
What impact do power relations and hierarchies of power have on IRCs, on international students or students and/or teachers participating in exchanges? How might understanding power relations and hierarchies of power empower us to be better supported and to better support the international student experience? What tools might we use to address the challenges we face in this regard? We all have examples of international students receiving less attention or opportunities, or of others suffering from a lack of language skills… and in our own professional hierarchies, we may feel our voices are not valued as they should be.
This highly interactive session, focused on the specific nature of international relations and inspired by the recently completed PRIhME (Power Relations in Higher Music Education) Project, seeks to help participants recognize and understand different types of power to better cope with challenges as they arise. We will explore the specific power-related challenges and imbalances faced within international relations offices. Ultimately, the session aims for each participant to define several concrete actions to improve power relations in his/her international relations environment.
Registration opens (with welcome coffee)
Session for first time delegates
Presentation about the AEC and ice breaker exercise
moderated by Frauke Velghe and Dimitrios Marinos, IRC working group
The Introductory Session for First-Time Delegates serves as an essential orientation for new participants. This session focuses on the general structure of the AEC, a coalition representing Higher Music Education Institutions (HMEIs) in Europe and beyond. It highlights AEC’s mission and vision, its organisational structure, upcoming events, and major projects. The session underscores the importance of networking, exchanging information, and developing partnerships among member institutions, facilitating effective communication and sharing of best practices within the community. The entire session will be delivered in a free and interactive setting, including an ice-breaker exercise.
Opening Session
- Music performance
- Welcome words by
- Deborah Kelleher, Director of RIAM and AEC President
- Jan-Gerd Krüger, IRC Working Group Chair
- Finn Schumacker, AEC Chief Executive
AEC Talk 1 - What is the role of higher music education in developing citizen artists? - Lynsey Callaghan (RIAM)
moderated by Deborah Kelleher
Networking with refreshments
Parallel Sessions I
Payam Gul Susanni (Vietmus Project), Kirsty McCahon (Australia), Stephanie Tan (student from Singapore), moderated by Wei Boon Tan
Kim Fallen Bailey and Jessica Harris, RIAM and Maria Prodromou, European University Cyprus (IncluMusic Project), Margit Dirnberger (Austrian Erasmus National Agency), Aine Sullivan (RIAM student)
Anna Lardi (Cellissimo Festival) and the AEC Goes Green group, moderated by Dimitrios Marinos
a session on power relations and hierarchies of power in international offices by Gretchen Amussen, PRIhME Project
Parallel Sessions II - REPEATED
Payam Gul Susanni (Vietmus Project), Kirsty McCahon (Australia), Stephanie Tan (student from Singapore), moderated by Wei Boon Tan
Kim Fallen Bailey and Jessica Harris, RIAM and Maria Prodromou, European University Cyprus (IncluMusic Project), Margit Dirnberger (Austrian Erasmus National Agency), Aine Sullivan (RIAM student)
Anna Lardi (Cellissimo Festival) and the AEC Goes Green group, moderated by Dimitrios Marinos
a session on power relations and hierarchies of power in international offices by Gretchen Amussen, PRIhME Project
Welcome reception
Friday 6 September
Welcome coffee and registration continues
AEC Talk 2 - Understanding Student Perspective: stories from international students at European HMEIs
by Jing Yi Yang, Casey Trowel, Olesia Borsuk and Andrés Vaccaro, – RIAM Dublin, Stephanie Tan – Singapore
Moderated by Monica Vejgaard and Iveri Gustaffson Kekenadze, EPASA
International students encounter numerous challenges throughout their academic journey. From navigating a complex array of bureaucratic processes, including obtaining essential documents at both the beginning and end of their studies, to adapting to a new cultural and social context, these hurdles can create significant stress and negatively impact their overall experience.
This session delves into the unique experiences of international students at European Higher Music Education Institutions (HMEIs). By sharing their personal stories and insights, we aim to uncover the specific challenges they face and identify strategies to enhance their overall experience.
Together, we will focus on the possibilities for change and how we can help international students feel more welcomed and valued, ultimately enriching the diverse tapestry of our academic communities. Join us as we dive into how to create a more inclusive and supportive environment for all international students, ensuring they can thrive both artistically and personally.
Check out the panellists here.
Presentation on the New EASY Mobility Online System
main updates on the project by Sara Primiterra, EASY Project Manager
Information Forum
short presentations on international projects and initiatives moderated by Sara Primiterra
Group picture
Information Market
Discussion groups on practical issues - questions and solutions on mobility
moderated by Frauke Velghe and Dimitrios Marinos
This session is designed to help IRCs find partners for projects or mobilities, giving them also an insight in establishing and managing project partnerships. Together we will explore methods for finding partners and best practices for collaboration, as well as discuss administrative essentials such as creating and negotiating partnership agreements. Interactive elements include open discussions to tackle challenges and brainstorm solutions for finding project partners, and a case study analysis of a successful Creative Europe project (Self-Curating Musician). During this session IRCs will be empowered with the skills and confidence to create meaningful and sustainable project partnerships, facilitating the search for future partners.
Elke de Roos, The Hague, and Virginia Kerr, RIAM Dublin
by Sara Belfiore, CNSMD Paris
Moderated by Melissa Mercadal and Oana Balan- Budoiu
moderated by Iveri Kekenadze Gustaffson
The Erasmus+ programme offers numerous opportunities to assess students’ experience and compare the differences between home and host institutions. The Participants’ Report analysis can help the institution in monitoring quality and impact of mobilities. Through the study of the various Participant Reports’ sections an HMEI could apply the necessary changes to the management of mobilities. You can get to know how inclusive was your strategy, how green were your mobilities, which were the motivations, some best practices, which were the outcomes of mobilities as for example the improvement of languages skills, how important was the traineeship for improving students’ skills and if they have received some benefits during the mobility from the enterprise. But before, we need to prepare the students on the Survey and on the recognition process.
In this discussion group, we aim at sharing best practices on leveraging these evaluations to enhance the educational experience at your institution and improve the organization of exchange programs within your department. The debate starts from the Italian surveys analysis to stimulate reflections and the brainstorming. The discussion will be kicked off by a presentation by the Italian Erasmus+ National Agency INDIRE
Presentation by Maria Salzano, Italian Erasmus+ National Agency INDIRE, moderated by Jan-Gerd Krüger
by Sara Primiterra, AEC and Jose Luis Fernandez, Conservatorio Superior de Música de Vigo (Spain)
Networking Activity
The Viking Splash (participants split in 2 shifts, 16:00 and 17:30, shift assigned to participants, see badge )
followed or preceeded by a free tour of the National Gallery
THE VIKING SPLASH
Roar your way through Dublin City in a unique Land and Water experience provided by one of Ireland’s most unique sightseeing experiences.
Let Viking Splash Tours take you around Dublin on one of our WW2 amphibious DUKWs. The guides provide a fun, informative and unforgettable experience for all ages and groups taking in our cathedrals, Georgian Dublin and much more before splashing into the Grand Canal basin for a short cruise by the iconic U2 studios.
Voted as one of Dublin’s best tours, this is an experience IRCs won’t want to miss!
Subscribe for this activity in the Registration Form. The cost of this activity is included in the registration fee but please note that there is a limited number of spots available.
Subscriptions for this activity will be closed on 14th August at 12:00 CET.
Concert by the Erasmus Orchestra
Saturday 7 September
AEC Talk 3 - How Classical Musicians Can Engage Their Live Audiences: Learning From Others Who Do It Better! by John Sloboda (UK)
moderated by Deborah Kelleher
Attendance at live classical concerts in many parts of the world has steadily declined over the last 40 years, and the decline is most marked among younger people. A 10-year research project “Understanding Audiences” led from Guildhall School of Music & Drama has provided new understandings of what attracts (or deters) audiences from engagement in live classical concerts. A conceptual framework has been developed in which live events can be evaluated on four key dimensions that affect audience engagement. In general, classical music fares worse on these dimensions than other art forms, including popular music and jazz, theatre, and galleries. The project explored and evaluated a range of practical strategies for audience engagement, including introducing improvisatory elements into concert formats, obtaining performer-directed feedback from audiences, and involving audiences more in the process of creation, rather than just as witnesses of a finished product. Given the mutlidisciplinary nature of many conservatoires, the research suggests that classical musicians can benefit from working together with students and staff from other disciplines whose audience-facing strategies can be more flexible.
John Sloboda is Emeritus Professor at the Guildhall School, where he was founder of its Institute for Social Impact Research in the Performing Arts. He was Principal Investigator on the AHRC-funded project “Music for Social Impact: Practitioners’ contexts, work, and beliefs” from 2020-2023, and from 2009-2019 led Guildhall School’s “Understanding Audiences” research programme. He is Emeritus Professor at Keele and was a staff member of the School of Psychology at Keele from 1974-2008, where he was Director of its Unit for the Study of Musical Skill and Development, founded in 1991. John is internationally known for his work on the psychology of music. He is a Fellow of the British Psychological Society and has been President of both the Psychology and General Sections of the British Association for the Advancement of Science, as well as President of the European Society for the Cognitive Sciences of Music. He served a 3-year term as founding President of www.simm-platform.eu, an international platform for research into the Social Impact of Making Music. He was the recipient of the 1998 British Psychological Society’s Presidents Award for Distinguished Contributions to Psychological Knowledge, and in 2004 he was elected to Fellowship of the British Academy. In 2018, he was awarded an OBE for his services to psychology and music. His books include Handbook of Music and Emotion (co-edited with Patrik Juslin), and Exploring the Musical Mind, both published by Oxford University Press. He continues a close association with Guildhall School, where he is currently co-supervising three doctoral students.
Networking with refreshments
Discussion groups - reflection on the conference and future topics and Safe Space
| A. Whyte Hall – Jan-Gerd
B. Organ Room – Dimitrios C. Lecture Theatre – Frauke D. Early Music Room – Oana E. Irene Sandford (20 people) – Iveri F. Veronica Dunne (20 people) – Melissa G. Board Room 20 people – Wei Boon
|
Safe Space
moderated by Alfonso Guerra and Ashkhen Fixova
ARTEMIS in-presence Safe&Brave space
Have you experienced or witnessed discrimination at the IRCs Meeting 2024 and would like to share about it? Or do you experience or witness discrimination or social unsafety at your own institute? Join us at ARTEMIS Safe&Brave space, the participants are encouraged to give feedback about the IRCs Meeting 2024 with a focus on diversity, inclusion, gender equality and non-discrimination matters in a safe, welcoming and supportive environment. The Safe&Brave Space discussions are confidential. Join us at the Safe&Brave Space on Saturday, 7 September at Vernon Studio.
The session will be facilitated by Steven Faber, ArtEZ University of the Arts (Zwolle, The Netherlands) a member of the Gender Equality and Non-discrimination Mainstreaming Task Force (TF3).
The term safe space generally means an accessible place or environment in which a person or group of people can feel confident that they will not be exposed to discrimination, criticism, harassment or any other risk of emotional (or physical) harm, and is ultimately intended to be free of bias, conflict, criticism or potentially threatening actions. From 2023 onwards, in-presence participants at AEC events are welcome to join the ARTEMIS safe space, shaped as a discussion group and share their experience.
Can’t make it to the Safe&Brave Space session but would like to share your experience related to diversity, inclusion, gender equality and non-discrimination matters? Then write an email to moderator@aec-music.eu for an appointment with the Safe&Brave Space facilitator. Think to do so in advance.
In addition, a room will be available as a Quiet room for anyone needing a brief respite from the busy IRC meeting agenda. Whether you need to focus, find some calm, or concentrate, you’re welcome to the tranquil space of the Quiet Room throughout the entire duration of the IRCs meeting 2024.
We care about your mental wellness!
Attention: Latecomers are not allowed to join this session.
Closing Session
– Music Introduction
– News from the Finn Schumacker, AEC Chief Executive
– Announcement of the IRCs Meeting 2025
– Closing Remarks by Riccardo Ceni, AEC Council
