Erasmus Policy Statement (EPS)

Improving the teaching and learning process is the key to be an effective and competitive institution, especially in the field of music; therefore the Conservatoire “Gesualdo da Venosa” of Potenza has started an international route for its higher education students (1st and 2nd cycle, short cycle) taking into account the opportunity for them and their teachers not only to make a fruitful experience abroad but also to match EU recommendations for widening the knowledge of high professional standards, exchanging best practices, lifelong learning, continuous updating processes, which are our strategic key points over the next years.

Our Conservatoire covers an important role in the cultural life of its city, Potenza, which is the administrative centre of Basilicata, a region where of public theatres (intended as public bodies, Potenza owns a nice small theatre “all’italiana” available for performing arts) and public musical institutions (besides Conservatoires of course), are not present. “Gesualdo
da Venosa” Conservatoire has indeed to cover and support the whole musical activity from education to training and performance.
While pursuing our international route, we seize the opportunity to be the only public musical institution of the province. Therefore the concerts and cultural events we organize have an important social impact, and the students are much involved in this process. The same scenario will be offered to incoming Erasmus+ students and teachers.

The strategy for 2014-2020 will be devoted to:

1 - Open and enhance the presence of our students and teachers abroad,

2 - Ease students’ learning process,

3 - Suggest challenging tasks and projects through this seven years Programme.

The Conservatoire of Potenza has already signed an agreement with the University of Basilicata and the Conservatoire of Matera (covering in this way the whole Basilicata) not only for the organization of concerts and events but also for planning and organizing projects at national and international level (this could be an important strategic resource).

As newcomers of Erasmus+ project we are going to choose our partners following two main criteria:

1 – Institutions abroad where our teaching staff has already established contacts and can guarantee the quality of teaching and learning outcomes. We will pay great attention to the right partner for each instrumental school and department.

2 – Institutions abroad in countries well known for their musical culture with special (but not exclusive) attention to new EC countries like Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Hungary, but also Scandinavian countries, Spain, Austria, Croatia, and many others. Of course we are also open to incoming students from non EU countries in order to support at maximum level
the exchange of the international experience in music.


Our Conservatoire will encourage mobility activities for outgoing students and teacher staff as well as it will welcome incoming students and teachers. Since the very beginning we are committed to enhance our educational methodologies and techniques, the teaching skills (ie the five Es), in order to have a more effective teaching as well as offering to incoming
students the educational approaches and methodologies of our teachers. This will apply to 1st and 2nd cycle as well as to short cycle students. At the same time we commit ourselves to the opening of wider perspectives that could make the academic profiles of our students more responding to the actual needs and demands of being a musician today. Our target
groups are motivated outgoing students both for study purpose and for trainership.
Students’ motivation is very important for a successful mobility experience.
First cycle student mobility is devoted to study purpose and the achievement of skills and musicianship, Second cycle students mobility could be mainly devoted to trainership. Outgoing teaching staff mobility could encourage and recruit incoming students and new partnerships, and brings back new teaching methodologies and approaches. Due to the size of the Conservatoire we are able to monitor the progress of each incoming student properly
during his/her study period in Basilicata and the real outcomes of our outgoing students.

During the academic year our students took already advantage from taking lessons with different teachers of the same discipline. This has demonstrated a very helpful and challenging approach for all actors of the learning process (students attending the class, students directly involved in the class, teachers). Music teaching and learning process is always a mix of old and new, and sharing this approach is part of the learning strategy. The side effect is that teachers feel themselves committed in continous improvement of their skills and quality of teaching.
At the moment, our Institute doesn't participate in the development of any double/multiple/joint degrees, but we plan to achieve this if possible within a short period of time.