Internationalization of pianists training in Austrian higher art education institutions

Abstrakt

The article highlights Austrian experience of internationalizing pianists training in higher art education institutions. The results of the study are achieved through the sequential solution of a number of questions: What is the essence of pianists training internationalization? What practices are introduced by Austrian higher art education institutions to internationalize pianists training? Literature review enabled determining the essence of the phenomenon under investigation which we consider, following H. De Wit, as an “intentional process of integrating an international, intercultural or global dimension into the purpose, functions and delivery of post-secondary education, in order to enhance the quality of education and research for all students and staff, and to make a meaningful contribution to society”. The article considers trends and risks of higher art education internationalization (preference to internationalization abroad and devaluating internationalization at home; fragmentation and marginalization of internationalization policies; involving a small, elite subset of students and faculty rather than providing global and intercultural outcomes for all; predominance of economic motivations embodied in various rankings; inconsistency of international dimensions of education, research, and service to society) and at the same time on the example of the International Academy of Music and Performing Arts Vienna provides overview of the best practices to cope with these challenges: providing equal opportunities for internationalizing education, research and performance (namely piano performance) at home and abroad; implementing holistic internationalization policies; involving all those interested in mobility programs with respect to equality and diversity; coordination of international dimensions of education, research and music performance, etc. Given the fact that experience of internationalizing higher art education, in particular pianists training, of the International Academy of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, can be implemented by Ukrainian higher education institutions, the further studies will be focused on developing guidelines for implementing best Austrian experience in the practice of Ukrainian higher art education institutions.