In the interplay of music and education, what do eight arts universities have in common, and what sets them apart?

As part of building up IN.TUNE Research Cooperation Framework, the research landscape across the IN.TUNE Alliance was mapped, setting the stage for deeper collaboration and strengthening research capacity among partner universities.

The following text is republished with kind permission of Uniarts Helsinki. The original article is available at Uniarts Helsinki website. 

The University of the Arts Helsinki leads the development of research capacity related to educational cooperation within the alliance. At the core of this work is an eight-member committee, with representatives from each partner institution. The committee is chaired by Professor Juha Ojala. 

Partner universities' research resources vary

In December 2024, the first report was completed, mapping the research environments and areas at the partner universities, as well as the common research topics they share. Initially, the focus has been on music, but as the collaboration progresses, the aim is to broaden the perspective to include other art and cultural fields. 

The report reveals that the common research areas across the partner institutions include music education, composition, music analysis and music theory, music history, and music technology. However, research resources and practices differ significantly across the institutions. The organisation of research, funding models, staff policies, and the level and scope of research skills taught and conducted at these eight universities also vary. 

Next steps: knowledge hub and the first research event 

The partner institutions of the alliance require flexible tools to discover new collaboration opportunities, as well as more discussion on the balance between research, education, artistic practice, and broader societal impact, artistic research, and securing external research funding. Integrating research and education at all levels is crucial. 

The University of the Arts is responsible for Work Package 4 (WP4) of the alliance, which focuses on strengthening research capacity. This work package will continue by establishing the first collaborative platform, the Knowledge Hub, in spring 2025 and organising the first joint research event of the alliance at the end of 2025.