Erasmus Policy Statement 2007-2013

As more and more European music academies provide higher education in pop and jazz renewed collaboration between music academies is called for. With its unique position as a music academy specialising in contemporary music RMC has a natural interest in developing and promoting up-to-date education in pop and jazz at a European level.

RMC is a member of the AEC, with a regular attendance at the annual AEC Congresses and meetings for International Relations Coordinators. RMC is also participating in the AEC ERASMUS Thematic Network for Music ‘Polifonia’.

In 2003 RMC, with the support of the European Association of Conservatoires (AEC), initiated a European platform with the overall objective of promoting jazz and popular music education in European institutions of higher music education. The platform provides a natural backdrop for RMC’s Erasmus activities.

The primary aims of the RMC international strategy are:

• To give students and staff an international perspective on all areas of studies and administration;
  
  
• To increase the quality of the institution’s education and research activities through committed collaboration with European partner institutions;
  
  
• To promote a European dimension in contemporary music and music education;
  
  
• To take up a leading position in European higher education in the field of contemporary music.

In order to achieve these aims RMC has identified a number of strategic actions to be pursued through Erasmus activities 2007-2013:

• RMC wishes to develop partnerships with selected institutions with programmes in contemporary music. Partnerships will be based in typical Erasmus activities such as: Teacher exchanges, intensive projects and curriculum development projects seeking to create joint programmes and/or degrees.
  
  
• RMC wishes to continue its general commitment to student mobility by increasing the number of exchanges, increasing reciprocity, and developing module-based programmes to promote student mobility. RMC also wishes to work towards a language policy in the institution.
  
  
• RMC wishes to monitor and further develop the quality assurance in its international activities and procedures, and to implement the use of the Danish Qualifications Framework in all programmes.
  
  
• RMC wishes to increase the international marketing with reference to attracting highly talented students from the EU and other countries.

Erasmus activities such as student reports, project outcomes, new programmes etc. will be published on the RMC website.

The Erasmus University Charter and the EPS will be published on the RMC website, and the original charter will be displayed at a prominent spot.

RMC’s overall policy in non-discrimination issues is governed by Danish legislation on public administration. The admission of students and selection of teachers are entirely based on musical and professional skills without regard to sex, race, belief or social background.

Quality Assurance

During recent years RMC has entered into an increasing number of bilateral agreements with other European academies about mutual recognition of studies. The bachelor-master structure and the use of ECTS are implemented in all programmes. RMC supports the procedures laid out by the LLL programme, and the use of ECTS-related documents of the programme.

Detailed information on all RMC programmes and subjects is available in the ECTS Student Information Guide in the RMC website.
All outgoing students are offered personal counselling during the process of application and during the exchange. To ensure the level of qualifications outgoing students have to pass a rigorous in-house assessment before an exchange is approved.

Incoming students are offered personal counselling throughout their exchange, and they are involved in all activities of the academy. RMC does not offer any accommodation for students, but we do facilitate contacts to student hostels and other public suppliers of accommodation.
Both incoming and outgoing students are informed about available language courses, and RMC has an agreement with the University of Copenhagen about participation in language courses.

Teacher exchanges are actively supported and initiated by the academy. RMC wishes to increase the number and quality of teacher exchanges by preparing teacher exchanges in the annual planning of teachers’ work schedule.

International Work Placements

Some RMC programmes have international work placements included in the curriculum. Modules of placement are fully recognised as part of the degree programme. Some placements are organised by he academy, others by the students themselves.

Before an international placement can take place an Internship Learning Agreement (ILA) has to be signed by the student, the academy and the provider of the placement. The ILA describes the duration of the placement, weekly workload and specific work tasks of the student, learning outcomes, supervision given to the student, etc.

Student placements are monitored by internal and external supervisors. At the end of the placement the students has to submit a report to be approved by the academy as part of the recognition procedure. An assessment form signed by the external supervisor is included in the report.

The students’ placement experiences are relayed to younger students at compulsory student seminars. The academy also maintains a database of placements available to the students.

«