AEC-SMS (2017 – 2021) – Creative Europe Network

STRAND 7: Involving Youth – Student’s input in shaping their education

The Student Working Group (SWG)’s objectives were achieved through the presence of SWG members in six other AEC-SMS Working Groups and through connecting with student participants at AEC events both online and in presence. The importance of student voice was soon recognised and two members of the SWG were co-opted to take part in AEC Council meetings from 2019.

Objectives

• Strengthen student voice within the Association and within all AEC member institutions and to establish a European network of Higher Music Education students.

Outputs

Students at AEC events

The SWG largely contributed to building student presence at AEC events, both through their own participation as well as through building an informal network of students and inviting them to events. In addition to their contribution in other SMS working groups, the SWG members have independently hosted event sessions during AEC events, namely during the Annual Meeting for International Relations Coordinators and the Annual Congress. The topics covered were addressed not only to students but also to a wider audience and ranged from power relations through encouraging international collaborations to entrepreneurship.

AEC Annual Congress

At each Annual Congress, the SWG members connected with student participants, guided them through the event, and organised ‘Student wrap up’ sessions where they provided information on how to set up and run student councils – as described in the handbook “Increasing student voice in Higher Music Education institutions – tips and guidelines from the AEC Student WG”, and asked for input from other students with regard to the establishment of a European network. The WG stayed in close contact with participants by connecting on social media, namely through the Facebook page (previously called AEC Student & Alumni Network), and continued regularly inviting peers from all over Europe to AEC events.

European Performing Arts Students’ Association (EPASA)

In the final year of the project, the WG focused on the establishment of the European Performing Arts Students’ Association (EPASA). The Association will soon be legally established and focus on further encouraging the student voice and promoting their interests.

Working Group members