Education & Profession Working Group
Context
In response to the increasingly complex and peripatetic nature of the musical profession—where the traditional path to employment is shifting—the Education and Profession Working Group (WG) was established to explore ways of bridging the gap between education and professional practice in the arts. The WG also advocates for close collaboration with students, student organisations, and broader societal stakeholders to ensure that music education remains relevant, responsive and impactful.
Work plan
By studying examples of learning & teaching models taking place outside the HMEIs, the WG will develop innovative learning environments that bridge formal training and the realities of artistic work. The WG also aims to set up a Help Desk to give advice and support to AEC members in order to improve teaching practices, shaping institutions’ curricula to be adaptive and aware of the market and help students to enter the professional world. At the same time, collaborations with external partners will expose institutions and students to broader perspectives of employment, encouraging partners to develop more targeted and meaningful opportunities for new generations.
Collaborations within the AEC ecosystem
The group serves as a central point of intersection within the AEC, fostering dialogue through several key partnerships:
- Pop and Jazz Platform (PJP) WG: Collaborating on areas like entrepreneurship, coaching, ensemble work, and innovative teaching methods.
- AEC Mentorship Programme: Working together to identify the specific needs and challenges of alumni as they enter the market, filling the gaps left by traditional education.
- International Relations Coordinators (IRCs) WG: Co-organizing sessions to address how international mobility impacts employability.
Education & Profession WG Members:
Jan Gerd Kruger
Kielzog, Hoogezand, The Netherlands
Sorana Santos
Freelance musician/writer, London, United Kingdom
Oana Balan-Budoiu
Academia Națională de Muzică ”Gheorghe Dima”, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Cecile Rongen
HKU Utrecht Conservatorium, Utrecht, The Netherlands
Ema Proso
Academy of Music, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Iván Álvarez
Musikene, San Sebastián, Spain
Beatriz Laborda
AEC Office (WG Coordinator)
