Learning Through Dialogue: Student Reflections from AIRE 2026

Ana Blagojević and Eva Marković from the Faculty of Music in Belgrade joined students, researchers and educators from across Europe in Oslo for AIRE 2026 (Annual IN.TUNE Research in Education), hosted by the Norwegian Academy of Music. Focusing on supervision in higher music education, the event brought together inspiring presentations, discussions and new collaborations within the IN.TUNE Alliance. In this student perspective, Ana and Eva share their impressions of presenting at the conference, connecting with colleagues from across Europe, and discovering how international exchange can open new ways of thinking about music, research and learning.

Presenting Student Perspectives on Supervision

In April 2026, we had the opportunity to participate in the second IN.TUNE event titled AIRE (Annual IN.TUNE Research in Education), held at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo (Norges musikkhøgskole). Bringing together research and education in music and the arts, the event took place on 8–9 April and gathered students, researchers and educators from across Europe.

The focus of this year’s gathering was supervision. Representing the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, we had the honor of presenting our work titled "When Supervision Opens the Mind: Reflections from a Master’s Programme in Applied Music Research." Our presentation was based on both personal and academic experiences from the master’s program Applied Music Research (PRIMA). In our work, we emphasized that supervision should not be viewed as a rigid hierarchy, but rather as an open, dynamic process that continuously evolves through collaboration and dialogue – precisely as it functions within this master’s program.

Inspiring Lectures and International Exchange

A particularly significant moment during the first day of the conference was the keynote lecture delivered by Kristina Mariager Anderson, dedicated to collective perspectives in artistic supervision. Her presentation provided all participants with highly valuable insights into contemporary practices. We also attended an excellent session presented by Dejan Subotić, Head of the Department and Full Professor of Chamber Music at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, together with colleagues from universities in Vienna and Barcelona.

Building Connections Across Europe

Participation in such an event enabled us to gain valuable insights into how master’s studies function across higher education institutions throughout Europe. Networking with colleagues, including a particularly meaningful connection with Filip Babić from the University of the Arts in Helsinki, brought new perspectives and opened space for discussion on important professional topics. Experiences like these clearly demonstrate that supervision opens minds – for both students and mentors – transforming into an equal exchange of knowledge oriented toward innovation. We would warmly recommend that all colleagues, students, and professors benefit from the opportunities offered by the IN.TUNE Alliance, as this level of knowledge exchange represents an invaluable step in further professional and personal development.