Erasmus Policy Statement
The Conservatory of Milan, founded in 1807, with over 1,700 students, 234 teachers and more than 100 study programs, is one of the most important institutions for the study of music, with national and international prominence.
The strategic plan for internationalization aims to place the Milan Conservatory among the reference institutions for Higher Music Education at European and world level, strengthening its network of contacts, exchanges and collaborations with the major institutions of the sector.
For this reason, the Milan Conservatory intends to join the Erasmus+ program, and in particular to take part in the Key Action 1 and Key Action 2, with the following objectives:
In the context of Key Action 1:
- Increase mobility of students and teachers, both incoming and outgoing, by 25% in the next seven years;
- Enhance quality and flexibility of the education offer, through the exchange of experiences between teachers and comparison of different methodologies and educational systems;
- Develop joint productions with Italian and foreign teachers and students.
In the context of Key Action 2:
- Consolidate expertise gained in managing strategic partnership projects during the previous program edition;
- Internationalize the curriculum;
- Develop and enhance online teaching and blended learning;
- Promote distance learning and smart working best practices, fostering virtual networks between institutions from different countries;
- Improve and rationalize administrative management, facilities and student services, ensuring transparency, fairness and inclusion;
- Strengthen and expand the network of agreements beyond European borders, with particular attention to Far East countries.
Goals
The primary goal of the Milan Conservatory, as defined in its mission, is to train instrumentalists and composers by developing each student’s potential, in the belief that art – and mainly music – represents the pinnacle of human thought and the main tool for the growth of individuals and society.
The Conservatory is one of the leading institutions for the study of music, renowned nationally and internationally, with over 1,700 students, 234 teachers, 25 adjunct professors and more than 100 programs (I and II level degrees, master programs, workshops, master classes and seminars with internationally renowned teachers).
The internationalization and modernization strategy aims to strengthen the position of the Institute among the most representative Higher Music Education institutions in Europe and worldwide. The four pillars of this strategy are based on:
- International cooperation;
- Development of distance learning;
- Digitization;
- Continuous monitoring and improvement of the training offer.
The internationalization process focuses on:
- Developing curricula of excellence and actions that meet the needs of a dynamic, globally connected musical environment;
- Promoting “global education” through bilingual and intercultural approaches based on dialogue and civil coexistence;
- Enhancing cultural dialogue and diversity as a core value of the Institute’s identity, aligned with European pluralism and multiculturalism.
The Milan Conservatory recognizes the synergy between these goals and those of the Erasmus program, which has always been a key instrument in its internationalization strategy. Through Erasmus, students and teachers access global networks of artistic and educational exchange.
The Erasmus program contributes to:
- Consolidating strategic partnerships with outstanding institutions (e.g., INTERMUSIC project 2017-1-IT02-KA203-036770);
- Exchanging good practices in teaching and administration;
- Internationalizing curricula;
- Expanding cooperation beyond Europe, especially towards Far Eastern countries.
Strategy
In the next years, the Conservatory plans to continue participating in Key Action 1 and Key Action 2, further developing its expertise in strategic partnerships and related initiatives.
Key Action 1
Mobility of students and teachers has always been a strength of the Milan Conservatory, supported by an extensive network of contacts and consistent quality monitoring. Future efforts will focus on improving the impact and inclusivity of mobility actions, expanding opportunities to all departments and including administrative staff through targeted training.
The Conservatory also emphasizes student traineeships, monitoring professional development outcomes and ensuring high-quality standards. Expansion of partnerships with non-European countries such as China, Korea, the USA and Japan is part of the seven-year plan, with Erasmus playing a strategic role in facilitating these collaborations.
Key Action 2
Under Erasmus, the Conservatory has gained significant experience through the INTERMUSIC project, dedicated to distance learning, research and network music performance. This initiative has been crucial in developing digital learning and transnational teaching. Future plans include continued investment in virtual learning and sustainable partnerships of excellence.
Impact
Based on past experience, the Conservatory is confident that Erasmus will continue to have a strong impact on internationalization and modernization, enhancing multiple aspects of institutional life:
Increased attractiveness
The Conservatory boasts the highest number of interinstitutional agreements among Italian Higher Music Education Institutes. Erasmus mobility now represents over 90% of its exchanges. The goal is a 25% increase in mobility within the first two years of the new program. Both quantitative and qualitative indicators (satisfaction, employability, integration) will be monitored.
Improvement of the educational offer
International mobility enriches teaching quality through exposure to diverse educational systems. Plans include launching English-taught courses and expanding online learning using expertise from Key Action 2 projects.
Multilingualism
The Conservatory promotes learning of multiple EU languages. Through Erasmus, it aims to support a third language, assisted by the Online Linguistic Support (OLS) platform to ensure timely completion of preparatory language training.
Management of processes
Participation in strategic partnerships has improved the management of complex processes, requiring detailed planning across administrative, financial and decision-making areas. Collaboration with institutions such as the Royal Danish Music Academy and the Lithuanian National Academy of Music remains a key element in ongoing development.
Improvement of student facilities and services
The Conservatory continues to improve support for Erasmus students, focusing on accommodation assistance and better access to information (course catalogues, schedules, curricula). Satisfaction levels will be the primary indicator of success.
Recognition procedures
The Milan Conservatory ensures transparency and fairness in credit recognition. The adoption of automatic recognition mechanisms under the new program will further streamline this process. Monitoring will focus on satisfaction levels and the speed of administrative credit registration.