MusiQuE actively contributed to the AEC Congress with an insightful plenary session titled Quality Enhancement and Quality Culture in Higher Music Education – Celebrating Achievement and Shaping the Future Together, held on 15 November at the Conservatorio di Milano.

The session provided a reflective overview of MusiQuE’s impact over the past decade, highlighting its role in enhancing arts education institutions worldwide by supporting their continuous development and fostering a culture of quality. MusiQuE’s director, Linda Messas, began the session by reflecting on the organization’s growth, its accomplishments over the last ten years, and its future vision.

Following this, two institutions shared their experiences with MusiQuE and the tangible impact the review process had on their practices. Narong Prangcharoen, Dean of the College of Music at Mahidol University, and Helena Gaunt, Principal of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, discussed why they chose MusiQuE for their reviews, focusing on the added value MusiQuE provided compared to their internal quality assurance systems. They also presented specific actions implemented in response to the Review Team’s recommendations, offering valuable insights and practical lessons that could serve as learning points for other institutions.

The session concluded with an interactive group discussion where participants explored the future of quality enhancement in higher music education. In small groups, attendees reflected on their institutions’ priorities regarding quality and quality enhancement, considering how these relate to MusiQuE’s trajectory and contribution to creating an enhancement-led approach to quality in higher music education.

MusiQuE expresses gratitude to all the speakers and participants and looks forward to future collaborations and contributions to the development of quality assurance in music education.