IncluMusic: Enhancing Inclusivity in Higher Music Education
IncluMusic is an EU-funded project coordinated by five prestigious European universities in Romania, Italy, Ireland, and Cyprus, with the support of the Association Européenne des Conservatoires (AEC).
This forward-thinking initiative aims to create a self-paced e-learning course tailored to help tutors, teachers, and administrative staff in higher music education institutions better support students with additional needs and neurodivergence. The project seeks to foster inclusivity and accessibility within music education by equipping educators with the tools and skills necessary to cater to a diverse range of student needs.
Currently, the IncluMusic project is in the midst of its third work package. The focus at this stage is on developing the e-learning course, which is on track for internal testing within the project’s partner institutions. This internal testing phase marks an important milestone as it will pave the way for external testing in 2025. The e-learning course will be freely accessible on a dedicated platform from 2025 until 2030, making it available to all professionals in the field of higher music education across Europe.
A Highlight at the AEC’s International Relations Conference
On September 5th, 2024, the IncluMusic team presented their work at the AEC’s International Relations Conference at the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM) in Dublin, Ireland. The conference, attended by representatives from higher music educational institutions across Europe, centered on the theme “The Space in Between.” It featured a wide array of engaging speakers, including notable figures such as Lyndsey Callaghan from RIAM and John Sloboda from the Guildhall School of Music.
As part of the conference, the IncluMusic team conducted a well-received interactive workshop that showcased various aspects of the project. The workshop brought together several expert speakers who provided valuable insights into the intersection of music education and support for students with special educational needs (SEN).
Insights from the IncluMusic Workshop
The first speaker, Margit Dirnberger from Austria, is an expert in working with international students through the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). She discussed how grants are accessed by students with special education needs and provided statistics on the cohorts of students applying for the Erasmus+ program. Margit’s insights highlighted the vital European supports available to aid the studies of these students abroad, emphasizing the need for continued and enhanced support.
Next, Jessica Harris, a senior music therapist from RIAM, delved into the therapeutic connection between music education and student well-being. She offered a preview of Module 5 of the IncluMusic course, which focuses on music therapy and health. Jessica explained how taking a therapeutic approach to teaching and learning can greatly benefit both students and educators in higher music institutions.
The third speaker, Maria Prodromou from the European University Cyprus (EUC), gave participants an overview of the e-learning platform that will host the IncluMusic course. She walked through how educators can access the course materials and resources online, and explained how this course will be a valuable asset for those working in Higher Education Music Institutions (HEMI).
Finally, Áine O’Sullivan, a visually impaired graduate of RIAM, shared her personal experiences of navigating higher education as a student with a visual impairment. Áine’s powerful testimony shed light on the barriers that students with disabilities can face in higher education. She urged international officers to be mindful of these challenges when supporting students with SEN, particularly in relation to the Erasmus+ program. Her insights provided an important reminder of the work that still needs to be done to create fully accessible educational environments.
Interactive Workshop: Brainstorming Solutions
The workshop concluded with an interactive brainstorming session led by Kim Fallen Bailey, a specialist music educator from RIAM, and coordinated by Alfonso Guerra from AEC. Participants were divided into groups and tasked with discussing how their institutions could better support students with various needs, such as wheelchair access and mobility, visual and auditory impairments, mental health challenges, and socio-economic circumstances.
In this dynamic setting, each group was rotated to a new topic every ten minutes, allowing participants to share their insights and experiences from different perspectives. The brainstorming session provided a wealth of ideas, underscoring the importance of collaboration in tackling the complex challenges faced by students with special educational needs.
Looking Ahead
As the IncluMusic project continues to progress, the team is excited about the upcoming external testing phase in 2025. The project will culminate in the public launch of the e-learning platform at the AEC’s next International Relations Conference in Budapest in September 2025. This launch will mark the beginning of a new era for inclusivity in higher music education, ensuring that educators across Europe are equipped with the knowledge and tools to support all students, regardless of their individual needs.
The IncluMusic team remains committed to fostering inclusivity and creating a supportive environment for students with additional needs in music education. With the course set to be available from 2025 to 2030, this initiative will make a lasting impact on the future of higher music education across Europe.
Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the National Agency for Community Programs in the Field of Education and Professional Development. Neither the European Union nor ANPCDEFP can be held responsible for them.