Erasmus Policy Statement (EPS)
Institution’s international strategy
The Conservatory of Music “Niccolò Piccinni” has the highest number of students and teachers in Italy. It has inherited its distinctive artistic and pedagogic qualities from its most famous Director, Nino Rota. These qualities have been developed even further by one of its most prestigious composition teachers, Raffaele Gervasio, and are founded on the collaboration between teachers and students in performance activities, which start at the very early stages of their studies. They are also grounded on the creation of specific compositions and form, still today and despite a renewed vocation of University Education, a founding value and a strong teaching principle of this Conservatory of Music.
The Conservatory has been fairly present on the international scene for many years: a scene in which it has promoted its activities by using networks and European Community projects. For this reason, the Conservatory’s new management has decided to change direction, as regards its international policy, by setting up an international relations office staffed by people who have had experience in the sector and who fully believe in what international cooperation can offer. In fact, this change has led to a 120% increase in mobility compared to last year.
The choice of partners is therefore wide and open in order for there to be a fruitful exchange of study choices, methodology and of reciprocal benefits.
The main aim of staff mobility is that of disseminating good practice, exploring different pedagogical approaches, the production of new artistic, cultural and research material and the consolidation and expansion of relations, between departments, in order to work on future cooperative projects.
Student mobility, planned together with partners who have similar teaching methods, will be promoted by taking into consideration the students’ needs so as they can study effectively, obtain the necessary credits and grow professionally. These placements give work opportunities and link their studies with the working world thus helping the students in the often traumatic move from studying to the reality of the working world.
The partnership, together with the University of Bari and the Petruzzelli Theatre Foundation, one of the most famous in Europe, will further enrich the proposal for the international partners who would like to compare their artistic and professional experiences with ours.
For the reasons stated above, the research that the partners will carry out will not focus on pre-set areas but on the possibility of establishing a continual exchange of ideas in order to consolidate educational paths, learning results and the possibility of cooperating on intensive projects.
Our main aim is to obtain a high international standard by exchanging good practices, through a pedagogic, artistic and organizational comparison on both a European and non-European level. We intend to obtain a high standard by implementing a radical policy in order to reach our students and increase student mobility (the beneficiaries of the opportunities that international exchanges can offer, both for study purposes as well as placements). We also hope to obtain high standards through staff mobility and training which are important for identifying new partners who will take part in intensive projects, appreciate education paths, carry out research and publicize projects of common interest.
Institution’s strategy for the organisation and implementation of international cooperation projects in teaching and training in relation to projects implemented under the Programme
Our strategy is to use everything at our disposal in order to improve what we have to offer both from a teaching and performing point of view. We aim to encourage talent, export specific cultural experiences and cooperate on the basis of quality and professional development.
The organizational sector of the Conservatory of Music, which consists of specific schools, departments,and academic and administrative boards, carefully analyses proposals for projects that are in line with the Conservatory’s needs and expectations.
Feedback from the students and teachers enables the Conservatory to channel and alter its strategies by implementing the actions needed for the internationalization process.
Cooperation with the University of Bari, private companies and local political institutions enables the Conservatory of Music to integrate and strengthen the actions for disseminating the results and finding additional funding for specific performing activities and research.
Institution’s partecipation in the Programme on the modernisation of your institution (for each of the 5 priorities of the Modernisation Agenda in terms of the policy objectives you intend to achieve)
The main impact that the Niccolò Piccinni Conservatory of Music expects from taking part in the Programme and thus from the internationalization process is that of increasing the interest in a transcurricular education though foreign institutions’ study paths. The innovation of the content, the in-depth analysis of different methodological approaches in order to improve the quality of education, could allow the students to acquire excellent competences which they could use in the working world.
Therefore the Conservatory’s involvement in various mobility programs should proceed towards an implementation in the curricular programs which takes international collaboration into consideration.
The Conservatory is already undergoing modernization by planning partnerships with the main local institutions (the University of Bari and the Petruzzelli Foundation) as well as using modern technology such as a Web-radio.
The instruments offered by participating in the program are an essential support in the modernization plan so as education- research-employment prove to be the foundations of the renewed educational approach.