International coordinators of European music universities met at the Liszt Academy
The experts of the AEC, a prestigious organization bringing together institutions, held their 25th annual meeting at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music, with great success.
The Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen (AEC) is one of the world's largest professional organizations of higher education institutions in the field of music, with approximately 300 member universities in more than 50 countries. The association regularly discusses trends in higher education, analyzes issues arising at the international level, and works through working groups to find adequate responses and solutions to the challenges of the changing higher education environment.
The meeting of international coordinators is one of the most important events of the AEC, held in a different country each year, where professionals responsible for international mobility at member institutions can meet in person. Over the past 25 years, it has become clear that despite the rise of online platforms, these annual forums that provide opportunities for face-to-face meetings remain essential for smooth and effective inter-institutional communication and for launching and implementing joint programs.
AEC IRC annual meeting 2025 / Photo: János Posztós
Liszt Academy won the right to host this year's anniversary event in 2023, and it was one of the international milestones in the series of events celebrating its 150th anniversary. Nearly 250 professionals participated in the meeting at the end of September, entitled "Exploration, Navigation, and Direction in the Future of Internationalization," where delegates discussed the opportunities for internationalization. The workshops provided an opportunity to share best practices and experiences, as well as to establish new partnerships and deepen existing ones.
The program was organized jointly by the AEC office and the IRC Working Group, the body of coordinators responsible for international relations within the organization, in collaboration with the Liszt Academy. Topics included the digitization of Erasmus+ program processes, best practices for the Erasmus Blended Intensive Program (BIP) for intensive cooperation, and methods for evaluating projects. There was an exchange of views on how artificial intelligence can be used in international relations and how well-being and health can be promoted in postgraduate training, but many other useful issues affecting the everyday life of institutions were also discussed.
During the multi-day event, Liszt Academy gave tours of its building, which has been recognized with the European Heritage Label and the Europa Nostra Award, and its palace on Liszt Ferenc Square, and organized a boat trip combined with a walk through the city center for those interested in discovering Budapest's unique treasures.
According to on-site and online questionnaire feedback, the AEC and participants were extremely satisfied with the assistance provided by the Liszt Academy in organizing the event and with the work done by the institution in running it. They also expressed their sincere admiration for the main building of the academy, with particular regard to the unparalleled beauty of the Grand Hall, so the university, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year, has every reason to be proud.
Short video about the event: