VMI-Vienna Music Institute

House of Europe - International Songwriting Project

"House of Europe” brings together six European music universities in a songwriting programme that promotes digital collaboration, intercultural exchange, and inclusive artistic encounters.

House of Erope Project Vienna - Final Concert

Objectives

Against the background of the objectives of internationalisation, social responsibility, diversity, and the promotion of intercultural and artistic competences, the BIP “House of Europe – International Songwriting Project” aims to develop sustainable formats of transnational collaboration in higher arts education and to advance the internationalisation of curricula. A key objective is the establishment of a mobility window that enables music students to participate in flexible short-term mobility experiences. Due to concert activities and project-related commitments, longer periods abroad are often difficult to realise for many music students. The BIP therefore combines international learning experiences with the specific requirements of artistic study programmes. The programme creates spaces for artistic dialogue and diverse perspectives by bringing music students from Europe together with guest musicians – many with experiences of displacement or migration – in a shared creative process. Through collaborative songwriting and workshops, works are created that connect different musical traditions and biographical experiences and are presented publicly. The collaboration fosters artistic, intercultural, and cooperative competences. The primary target groups are students from the partner universities as well as the participating guest musicians, many of whom have migration experiences and live in Europe. Teaching staff and higher education development representatives are involved in the implementation and benefit from international exchange as well as the further development of innovative teaching and learning formats. The digital teaching component is open to all students of the six partner institutions and enables international collaboration independent of physical mobility. Through curricular integration and the awarding of ECTS credits, the internationalisation of the curriculum is sustainably expanded beyond traditional mobility formats.

Background

Based on the objectives outlined above, the Vienna Music Institute (VMI) developed the programme in close cooperation with five international music higher education institutions: Metropolia University of Applied Sciences Helsinki, HKU Utrechts Conservatorium, Conservatorio di Musica “Luisa D’Annunzio” Pescara, Centro Superior Música Creativa Madrid, and Viljandi Culture Academy. The development process was carried by the resulting “House of Europe” consortium, which is responsible for the joint design, implementation, and continuous development of the BIP. The implementation is supported by the internationalisation strategies of the participating institutions, existing Erasmus+ structures, and the established network of the consortium. One challenge was to develop a stable programme structure while maintaining thematic flexibility. The structure consisting of an online course, Intensive Week, and postproduction phase remained consistent, while the thematic focus could be adapted to the respective host institution, teachers, and guest musicians. In particular, the design of the online course required innovative didactical approaches to enable interactive collaboration and shared creative processes despite physical distance. Through modular content, digital collaboration tools, and regular coordination within the consortium, a transferable yet flexible format was developed. The BIP was initially designed as a time-limited format over six semesters with a rotating host institution. Due to positive evaluations, the programme was continued and continuously further developed. Since its first implementation in 2021, ten BIPs have been successfully realised, with further editions planned for 2026/27. The VMI has already taken on the coordinating role as host institution twice, being responsible for overall coordination and the organisation of the programme implementation.

(Implemented) Activities

BIP activities based on the example of the most recent programme coordinated by VMI: 1. Online Course “Artist Identity & Cross-Cultural Storytelling” (1 ECTS) The course is open to all students from the six partner institutions and provides a low-threshold entry point into international collaboration. It introduces fundamental concepts of intercultural competence, digital collaboration, and creative teamwork, as well as skills in songwriting, music production, and the use of digital tools. At the same time, it prepares participants for collaboration in international teams and encourages reflection on their own artistic identity. 2. Intensive Week (2 ECTS) The first day of the intensive week focuses on getting to know each other, team building and introducing constructive feedback methods. A “sound tour” through Vienna combines urban soundscapes with sound recording techniques, while a yodelling workshop and a visit to a piano maker provide initial artistic and intercultural connections to local musical traditions. During the following days, students and guest musicians work together in international teams through workshops, rehearsals and live sessions. Through collaborative songwriting, new works are created that foster artistic, intercultural and social competences. A public final concert showcases the outcomes, strengthens intercultural dialogue and extends the project’s reach through media multipliers such as livestreaming and broadcasting by a local television station. 3. Online Post-Production (2 ECTS) Following the Intensive Week, the collaboratively created works are further developed during a supervised online post-production phase. Using digital music production and communication tools, students prepare their songs for publication. Guided by experts in music production, this phase strengthens digital competences and sustains international collaboration beyond the physical mobility period.

Results

In the House of Europe BIPs implemented to date, 200 student participations in the physical mobility phases, 40 guest musician participations, and 60 teaching staff participations have been achieved. During the Intensive Week, teaching staff were actively involved as coaches, supporting the participants throughout the creative process. The open digital learning component has additionally reached around 500 students from all six partner institutions since its implementation across ten project editions, extending the programme’s international reach beyond traditional mobility formats. For evaluation purposes, continuous feedback is collected and analysed from students, teaching staff and guest musicians. The feedback indicates that participants particularly value the intercultural exchange, collaborative artistic work and encounters with diverse perspectives. The collaboration is based on equal exchange and fosters knowledge transfer, cultural dialogue and shared artistic development. A challenge in previous project implementations was ensuring that virtual collaboration remained interactive and participatory despite geographical distances. Through collaborative digital methods, flexible teaching formats and a focus on peer learning, these challenges were successfully addressed. The BIP “House of Europe” acts as a long-term catalyst for international collaboration and Erasmus+ mobility. It provides accessible opportunities for international learning experiences, strengthens artistic, intercultural and collaborative competences, and contributes to the sustainable integration of international cooperation within the participating institutions. Through the establishment of a strong network between six European partner institutions and the curricular integration of the format, the project has created a transferable model for inclusive, creative and forward-looking mobility formats in higher music education.

Lessons learned & transferability

The implementation of the BIP demonstrates that successful international formats rely on transparent communication, clear allocation of responsibilities, and a shared commitment among all partners. The continuous involvement of lecturers and Erasmus+ coordinators in the planning and delivery of the projects has proven essential. A key insight concerns the design of the intensive week: dedicating sufficient time to getting to know each other, team building, and establishing a trusting working environment is crucial. Welcome activities, icebreakers, and workshops on feedback culture foster the development of inclusive and productive international teams. An added value of the project lies in the connection between artistic collaboration and social participation. Students expand their artistic, intercultural and collaborative competences through working with guest musicians from diverse musical traditions and biographical backgrounds. At the same time, guest musicians gain access to international higher education and music networks and contribute their expertise as equal partners in the creative process. This creates spaces for knowledge transfer, cultural exchange and joint artistic development. As a best practice, opening the digital learning component to all students of the six partner institutions has proven highly effective. The online course enables international collaboration beyond physical mobility and contributes to the sustainable internationalisation of the curriculum through peer-learning elements and curricular integration. A VIS research study (Virtual International Collaboration Projects) conducted by partner university HKU Utrecht on the online course confirmed the particular value of small-group work, interactive formats, and the exchange of artistic and cultural perspectives. The findings are continuously incorporated into the further development of the format.

Intensive Week: Getting to know each other

Intensive Week: Session at Café Carina

Intensive Week: Discovering Yodeling

Intensive Week: First Encounters

Intensive Week: Soundcheck & Live Stream

Intensive Week: Feedback Session

Further links