EUROPEAN POLICY STATEMENT (EPS)
of the Conservatorio di Musica “E.F. Dall’Abaco” , Verona

STRATEGY, OBJECTIVES AND PRIORITIES
International and European co-operation plays a key role in the school’s development plans, especially at a time when the Bologna Process is one of its main strategic goals. The school places a special emphasis on student and teaching staff mobility, curriculum development and active participation in European projects. It participates in - and indeed often promotes - international projects: currently there are various ongoing collaborations in the fields of chamber music, early music and music technology.
The school is also exploring ways of extending the areas of collaboration outside the boundaries of the EU through projects like Erasmus Mundus. The school belongs to the Association Européenne des Conservatoires (AEC) and actively participates at its meetings and seminars.
The school deplores discrimination of all kinds (sex, race, religion) and is committed to breaking down the barriers for the disabled. Through its activities (didactic, artistic, cultural) it aims to create a spirit of cohesion and high purpose and to forge links between musical training, culture and research. International Relations play a very strong role in that plan.
Currently the school has active Erasmus partnerships with 18 European schools. Between the year 2002,when it received its first EUC, the school has moved 17 outgoing students and hosted 35 incoming students; and over 10% of its teaching staff has been involved in teaching experiences abroad. Although these figures are encouraging, the school aims to expand the number of outgoing students and teaching staff and to increase the level of participation in Intensive Programs, Thematic Networks and multilateral projects.
The school’s priorities include those of improving quality, introducing innovation and broadening the horizons of its students, teachers and administrative staff. To this end it strives to establish productive relationships with partners that show a true willingness to share their skills. Being a fairly small school (with about 150 students involved in higher education), it is acutely aware of the benefits of international partnerships and the pooling of complementary strengths.
Visibility is given to international relations and Erasmus activities both through the traditional channels - publications and guides, the international notice-board, the bilingual (Italian-English) website - and also through many activities that involve visiting teachers and students (master classes, concerts, projects). The EPS, published in two languages, and the EUC charter are given due prominence in the International Office, in the ECTS Guide and on the school’s website.

POLICY ON MOBILITY
To ensure the high quality of its mobility activities the school has established an International Office with a Coordinator and the part-time assistance of secretarial and administrative staff. As a relatively small school with about 150 students engaged in higher education, the Office offers ready access to information, counselling and support for its incoming and outgoing staff and students. In areas where the school has logistic limitations (no accommodation office, no intensive language courses), it has established a collaboration with the University of Verona. Extra linguistic tuition is offered at the school.
The school is also committed to improving its use of all the ECTS tools (credits, ECTS grades, diploma supplement, etc.) and systems of accreditation, as well as fulfilling all the documentary requirements. Information on these subjects is regularly updated. In particular, to improve the standard of mobility, the school is committed to:
- exchanging knowledge with its partner institutions and creating solid partnerships;
- developing an international spirit within the school and encouraging the teaching staff and students to play an active role in internationalization;
- monitoring the prospective outgoing students (for musical skills, language skills and motivation);
- increasing language support and social integration for the incoming students;
- improving the school’s services to match international standards;
- developing curricula and programmes in partnership with other European institutions; studying the prospects of implementing joint degrees;
- supporting international projects in its areas of specialist strength;
- developing innovative technological tools to create forms of contact between partner institutions;
- adding an international dimension to musical training, especially through the visits of guest teachers and regular courses offered in English;
- designing feedback systems as an evaluation tool to guarantee continual improvement.

POLICY ON THE INTRODUCTION OF STUDENT PLACEMENTS
The school is well aware of the urgent need to establish closer links with the outside world and to stress the qualities of innovation and competitiveness in the work market. To this end it has initiated plans to include placements in the curricula of certain degree programmes, particularly in the fields of orchestral playing, music technology and music therapy. Placements at an international level, offering similar opportunities, are all the more welcome for the additional advantages that would result from experiences of mobility: the widening of perspectives and competencies; the acquisition of language skills, etc. The school is therefore discussing the various issues with its European partners and exploring ways of making placements an important part of the school’s agenda. To this end it is engaged in:
- creating contacts with suitable companies and institutions in the relevant fields;
- gathering the necessary information to ensure that students make successful applications;
- defining the application processes and clarifying the respective duties of the tutor (in the school) and supervisor (in the company);
- organizing the documentary procedures, from the preliminary documentation to the transmission of regular reports, final reports, company recommendations, etc.