Learning Outcomes for Higher Music Education and the ‘Polifonia/Dublin’ Descriptors

 

Higher Music Education: characteristics, learning outcomes and competences
The project “Tuning Educational Structures in Europe” aims to contribute to the elaboration of a framework of comparable and compatible qualifications in each of the signatory countries of the Bologna process. These qualifications should be described in terms of workload, level, learning outcomes, competences and profile. For this purpose, the Tuning project has developed a methodology, which will make it possible to develop this overarching European framework of qualifications.

 

The “Polifonia” project has also been involved in Tuning activities: the Polifonia Tuning working group has developed an overview of the Tuning activities in the professional music training sector, thereby using the standard Tuning template. This overview addresses the following issues:
• Distinctive characteristics of professional music training
• Typical degrees offered in higher music education and typical occupations of graduates in higher music education
• Learning outcomes and competences in higher music education– level cycle descriptors
• Workload and ECTS
• Learning, teaching and assessment
• Quality enhancement
• The international dimension of the music sector

 

Downloadable documents
Tuning Educational Structures in Europe - Reference Points for the Design and Delivery of Degree Programmes in Music	English

 

 

AEC Learning Outcomes for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd cycle
The main objective of the Polifonia ‘Tuning’ Working Group was to develop descriptions of learning outcomes for all 3 cycles in higher music education and to study the implications of using such learning outcomes in relation to other issues. These issues include the relation between competences and learning outcomes, the use of credit points, (competence-based) teaching and learning, assessment procedures, curriculum design, modular systems, credit-based structures, internal and external quality assurance mechanisms and more. In addition, the group’s aim was to ensure that the existing learning outcomes meet the requirements of the ‘Tuning’ methodology. Finally, the group monitored and gave advice on various current ‘Bologna’ developments, such as European approaches to external quality assurance and accreditation, the establishment of a European Qualifications Framework (EQF) and the use of the ‘Dublin Descriptors’ for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd study cycles.
The Polifonia 3rd cycle working group developed the learning outcomes for 3rd cycle studies in music.

 

Downloadable documents
AEC Learning Outcomes for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd cycle (July 2009)	English

 

 

‘Polifonia/Dublin Descriptors’
The so-called “Shared ‘Dublin’ descriptors for Short Cycle, First Cycle, Second Cycle and Third Cycle Awards” are general statements of the expected attributes of a student following completion of a short, first, second or third cycle study. The descriptors have been developed by the Joint Quality Initiative with a focus on general higher education.

Within the “Polifonia” project the question was addressed if those descriptors cover the music discipline with its individual requirements. This question has major importance as the connection between the overall frame defined by the descriptors and the discipline-based learning outcomes influences the formulation and validation of the latter.

The Polifonia Tuning working group reflected on this question and formulated the ‘Polifonia/ Dublin Descriptors for First and Second Cycle Awards in Music’. At the same time, the Polifonia 3rd cycle working group formulated descriptors for the 3rd cycle in music studies. The intention of the reformulation is to show clearly that most of the attributes formulated in the original Dublin Descriptors are applicable to the music sector as well. However, the identification with the descriptors is enhanced when terms are being used that describe the reality in the music discipline more accurately.
 

Downloadable documents
‘Polifonia/Dublin Descriptors for 1st, 2nd and 3rd Cycle Awards in Music’ (15/01/07)	English  Polish

 

Learning outcomes / competences for pre-college music education
In order to create a link with the work done in the Tuning component of “Polifonia”, in which competences and learning outcomes were developed to act as reference points for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd cycle studies in music, the learning outcomes approach promoted by Tuning was also addressed by the pre-college working group. The Pre-college working group studied the different kinds of admission procedures and standards and their connection to or relevance / compatibility with the use of learning outcomes in the 1st and 2nd cycle. In addition, the working group formulated a set of competences that can be used by pre-college music institutions for the preparation of their students for the higher education level and that are connected to the learning outcomes for the 1st cycle.
 

Downloadable documents
Set of competences for pre-college music education	English