European Association of Conservatoire AEC

The European Association of Conservatoires AEC - supporting student mobility worldwide 

The European Association of Conservatoires (AEC) is a European cultural and educational network, established in 1953, which represents the interests of institutions that are concerned with training for the music profession. Today, the AEC includes 269 member institutions in 55 countries.

AEC aims to  

• Stimulate and support international collaboration between member institutions  
• Realise various international projects about relevant subjects in professional music training  
• Organise an Annual Congress and various specific seminars for its members  
• Represent the interests of the professional music training sector on national, European and international level.     

In order to realise these aims, the AEC is pro-active towards maintaining and creating a broad network of relations with European institutions (European Parliament, European Commission and Council of Ministers), national governments and institutions and networks in the field of music and education at national, European and international level. In order to make the voice of the sector heard, it is also publishing policy papers and recommendations on a regular basis dealing with relevant European issues.  

In line with these aims, AEC focuses on mobility issues for music students and teachers. One of the ways to support mobility, AEC has developed a website hosted called the "Study Music in Europe", which is specifically aimed at students outside Europe interested in studying music in Europe. This website is available in five languages (English, French, Spanish, Portuguese and Chinese) and focuses on providing concrete information to music students on studying in European conservatoires and music academies. "Study Music in Europe" contains access to websites of higher music education institutions and information on national higher education system. It also offers practical information that music students need to take into consideration. AEC has also realised the Do-Re-Mi-Fa-SOCRATES project (2005) aimed at the development of an informational website for students, teachers and the general public on music activities in the SOCRATES programme. The website is updated regularly and contains a vast amount of information about European cooperation activities in the field of higher music education. Furthermore it offers information to music students as well as teachers on various topics such as recognition of studies, and practical details regarding the ERASMUS exchange programmes. A section of the website is dedicated specifically to music students, including a weblog by music students currently on exchange and personal stories by students based on their experiences as exchange students.