In addressing this task the group stresses its commitment to valuing and promoting cultural, artistic, and pedagogical diversity, placing particular emphasis on securing and enhancing the student learning experience that supports students to become creative mediators and producers in today's rapidly changing societies and communities. It also places a strong emphasis on promoting student-centred approaches to learning, teaching, and assessment, and the constructive alignment of learning and assessment.
The framework builds on the work of the previous Tuning process of 2007, which resulted in the creation of the learning outcomes framework for Design, Fine Art, Film, Music and the Performing Arts, and also involved contributions from the same major CPAD discipline networks and representatives of the professional organisations and employers. The current process builds on the skills and competences identified during the Tuning process, but includes five major societal topics, which reflect the diverse ways CPAD can contribute to societal well-being, public discourse, and the development of the creative industries. The current process continues with this approach and makes every effort to represent the diverse values of the CPAD sector by involving networks, professionals and student contributions. This inclusive approach ensured that the perspectives of the various stakeholders were considered and integrated into the development of these frameworks.
The CPAD SAG process respects the autonomy of the institutions and encourages them to develop their distinctiveness and a quality culture that underpins their mission and vision.
The overarching aim is not to create a prescriptive framework, as all arts institutions must be free to decide how they design and implement their programmes and curricula. Instead, it is intended to provide institutions with frameworks that will allow them to map their programmes against the level descriptors and learning outcomes for the three cycles (Bachelor, Masters, and Doctorate) to ensure the quality and level of the student learning experience. The student perspective is an essential component of the framework, ensuring that learners' needs and aspirations are considered when developing and implementing programmes and curricula in the CPAD sector.
The Creative and Performing Arts and Design Subject Area Group (SAG) was invited by the Tuning CALOHEE ERASMUS+ Programme, whose task is to serve as a sound basis for defining the programme learning outcomes of individual degree programmes of the first, second and third cycle (Bachelor, Master and Doctorate), to represent the CPAD sector. The aim was to address two main objectives, firstly to review and further develop the Subject Area Qualifications Framework for the Bachelor, Master and Doctorate levels for the CPAD sector and secondly to produce Subject Area based Assessment Frameworks, including identifying appropriate strategies and approaches/methodologies for student-centred learning, teaching and assessment.
It is important to stress the intention is not to create a prescriptive framework, but to be used as guidelines, as all arts institutions must be free to decide how they design and implement their programmes and curricula.
The CPAD SAG was coordinated by EQ-Arts (an independent, international arts specialist Quality Assurance and Enhancement Agency, based in the Netherlands) and Dublin Technical University (DTU). The coordinators invited the international arts discipline networks CUMULUS (Design), the European League of Institutes of the Arts (ELIA - Arts), CILECT (Film) and the Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen (AEC – Music) to nominate appropriate discipline experts, as well as the European Students Union (ESU) to nominate students, along with highly experienced arts specialists from other CPAD disciplines to work on the project. The CPAD group has 17 members including a student representative, from 12 European countries, 13 arts universities, and representatives from 3 international creative and performing arts and design discipline networks.
The group was convened through a combination of live and virtual meetings over a period of two years, fostering collaboration and reflection, enabling the representatives to obtain feedback from the networks, and ensuring that all perspectives were considered and integrated into the development of these frameworks.
Creative and Performing Arts and Design (CPAD) is a central part of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), encompassing a diverse range of disciplines including the visual/fine arts, music, dance, theatre, film, and design. As an integral component of the broader educational landscape, CPAD contributes significantly to European societies' cultural, social, and economic development. Through fostering creativity, critical thinking, and innovation, CPAD has the potential to inspire positive change, substantially enhance well-being and enrich the lives of individuals and communities across Europe and beyond.
The CPAD sector works closely with the wider professional cultural sector, playing a vital role in the ongoing development of a vibrant arts and culture scene as well as the expansive creative industries. The impact of the creative industries is realised in its ability to drive innovation and development is a key driver of economic growth and employment. The sector is known for its creativity, diversity, and ability to adapt to changing trends and technologies. CPAD fully recognises the needs of society and the world of work for the development of creativity and generative critical thinking, which are key attributes of higher arts education. It is widely acknowledged and recognised that the European Higher Arts Education (EHAE) sector has a major role in, and makes a considerable impact on, public discourse, creativity, cultural and societal inclusion, the environment, the economy and business including the creative industries, public policy, professional practices, industry, public health and significantly, wellbeing.
About CPAD
CPAD Qualifications Reference Framework (QRF)
Introduction to the CPAD QRF
Developing a comprehensive Qualification Reference Framework (QRF) with associated assessment frameworks that represented the diversity and contested nature of Creative and Performing Arts & Design (CPAD) higher education practices was the main task of the CPAD group. The process was coordinated by EQ-Arts and TU Dublin and the group was made up of higher arts education representatives from Norway, Finland, Czech Republic, Slovakia, United Kingdom, Lithuania, Ireland, Greece, Portugal, Sweden, Austria and The Netherlands.
The challenge facing the group was multifaceted. Unlike unitary subjects such as History, the CPAD subject area included disciplines that were obviously co-located in the creative academic domain but had significant differences in form and expression. In addition, each individual discipline displayed considerable diversity in teaching, learning and assessment methodologies/practices depending on history, tradition and geographical location. Developing a single or set of QRFs that acknowledged not only the diversity of practices, but also the continuous debate over these practices that are a hall mark of disciplines in the creative academic sector was particularly difficult. In order to address this complex challenge, the coordinators decided that they would invite the main representative arts discipline networks the Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen (AEC) for music, the European League of Institutes of the Arts (ELIA) for contemporary performing arts and design, CILECT for film, CUMULUS for design to nominate experts to be part of the CPAD SAG. These experts would pass on all its deliberations and initial drafts of the QRF to be forwarded to the networks for comment and endorsement. The group had 3 physical meetings lasting 2 – 3 days each and supplemented these with 10-12 virtual meetings over an 18-month period. Additionally each SAG discipline group worked extensively in between meetings developing, debating and drafting parts of the QFR.
The task set by the CALOHEx Steering Group was twofold. Firstly, the SAG groups were asked to develop a grid based on the dimension descriptors used by the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and the descriptors used in the European Qualification Framework (EQF) that would capture the main Learning Outcomes achieved by a student on completion of a Level 6, 7 or 8 degree programme. The five EHEA dimensions are listed on the vertical axis of the grid, while the three EQF descriptors are listed on the horizontal axis. The CPAD SAG group adjusted the vertical axis to reflect the nature of the CPAD subject area, Subject Qualification Framework (SQF), including dimensions familiar to the creative arts. Learning Outcomes were then drafted for each section of the grid under the EQF descriptor headings. The second task was to expand this generic QRF grid into an Assessment Framework by specifying more detailed discipline specific learning outcomes (subsets) that are aligned to the QRF, to enable them to be used in an assessment exercise. See Generic tables of Qualifications Reference Frameworks: Bachelor/Master/Doctorate and the individual [Design, Film, Fine Art, Music, Performing Arts] Discipline Qualification Assessment Reference Framework tables for the three cycles.
An initial meeting at the University of Pisa produced a draft general QRF for BA (Level 6) and MA (Level 7) and in the subsequent discussions online it quickly became apparent that the generic framework did not fully capture or represent the diversity of teaching, learning and assessment practices in the CPAD subject area. The QRF for Level 8 (Doctorate/PhD) studies was drafted after the first meeting in Pisa and was surprisingly more uniform probably reflecting the more generic qualities of an advanced research degree. The level of difference and diversity at Levels 6 and 7 became very obvious when the CPAD SAG began work on the 2nd task of developing the discipline-specific competences/learning outcomes (subsets), and it was decided after discussion and consultation that the development of a set of discipline specific learning outcomes would be required. The subsequent meetings at the University of Coimbra and UNED Madrid focused on creating and testing an assessment framework for each discipline, using the generic CPAD dimensions and discipline-specific subsets. The process of seeking feedback and extensive consultation with colleagues continued and the discipline groups in the SAG involved their own networks and home universities in a matching exercise (see the link to the Tuning CPAD Matching Exercise document) to see how closely the proposed QRF grids resembled (or not) current practice in the field.
The Qualification Assessment Reference Frameworks presented here are intended primarily as a tool that will help colleagues who wish to develop programmes in the CPAD area, and inform students what their learning experience will involve.
Click below to view and download the Generic tables of Qualifications Reference Frameworks: Bachelor/Master’s/Doctorate:
Discipline tables of Qualifications Assessment Reference Frameworks: Bachelor /Master’s/Doctorate
The CPAD SAG has located the discipline Qualification Assessment Reference Framework tables for the three cycles within the disciplines ,see: Design, Film, Fine Art, Music, Performing Arts. The aim is to expand the generic QRF grid into an Assessment Framework by specifying more detailed discipline specific learning outcomes (subsets) that are aligned to the QRF, to enable them to be used in an assessment exercise.
Film
Music
Film
CPAD encompasses a diverse range of disciplines and for this exercise we have focussed on the following discipline cluster groups:
Disciplines
Design
Fine Art
Performing Arts
The Creative and Performing Arts & Design Subject Area Group (SAG)
Professor John Butler +
CPAD SAG co-Coordinator, Fine Art, CEO EQ-Arts & Professor Emeritus of Art,
The Netherlands
Marijn Abbink*
Music, Policy Officer Education, Royal Conservatoire, The Hague, Association Européenne des
Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen (AEC), The Netherlands
Dr. Sarah Bennett
Dr. Sarah Bennett
Fine Art, Artist & Visiting Fellow, Kingston University, UK
http://sarahbennett.org.uk
Kieran Corcoran
Co- Chair CPAD , Head of TU Dublin School of Creative Arts and Senior Research Fellow ,TU Dublin School of Art and Design
Manuel Jose Damasio**
Film/Media, Head of the Film and Media Department, Universidade Lusofona, Portugal
Professor Anthony Dean
++
Theatre, Professor Emeritus of Performing Arts, University of Winchester, UK
Leander Gussmann
Fine Art PhD student, Academy of Fine Arts Vienna, Austria
Dr. Sarah Bennett
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Aija Freimane ***
Design, Associate Professor, Fellow postdoctoral researcher in Design, TU Dublin School of Creative Arts, Ireland
Georgios Papadopoulos
Fine Art, Adjunct researcher - Lecturer Artistic Research, Athens School of Fine Arts, Greece
Kjetil Solvik*
Music, Special Advisor, Norwegian Academy of Music,
Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen Norway
Paula Tuovinen
Dance, Director, Arts Promotion Centre Finland
Micol Manuta
Review and Project Assistant
* nominated by the Association Européenne des Conservatoires, Académies de Musique et Musikhochschulen (AEC)
** nominated by the International Association of Film and Television Schools – Cilect
*** nominated by the global association of art and design education and research – CUMULUS
+ member of the Tuning Fine Art Group
++ member of the Tuning Theatre Group
+++ member of the Tuning Theatre Group
CPAD Terminology
Click the image to view and download a table of terminogies used throughout the text within the Creative and Performing Arts & Design section of this website
Teaching & Learning Examples
Learning that takes place through both online platforms and face-to-face environments.
Bringing together students, staff, and industry professionals to discuss current research topics and trends in the creative and performing arts and design sector
Projects or practice that provide students with opportunities to develop professional skills and experience in working with others in a specific social or community context
Visual and/or aural presentations of a technique or process, often accompanied by a discussion of the underlying principles and concepts.
Delivering education and support through online platforms, enabling students to study from remote locations or flexible schedules.
This term has two possible meanings in a performing arts context. Firstly, that an audience itself is constituted by a diverse (heterogeneous) range of individual audience members. Secondly, that a performance may be given to different audiences that are comprised of individuals with similar (heterogeneous) characteristics (e.g., children or people drawn from a specific community).
A type of knowledge that resides in the body and is also gained through the body, and that enables an individual to produce a constant flow of senses and actions, where the body, not the mind, is the knowing subject.
An agreed period of study undertaken in another institution and country, usually as part of a recognised programme e.g., Erasmus
Organised visits (national or international) to cultural sites and institutions, galleries, museums, auditoria, screenings, and other relevant locations to gain exposure to different styles, techniques, and presentation contexts in art and design.
Organised visits (national and international) to cultural sites and institutions, theatres, concert halls, opera, festivals, auditoria, dance centres and other relevant public venues to gain exposure to different styles, techniques and performance practice in dance, drama, music.
Group discussions and evaluations of student work to provide constructive feedback and encourage growth.
A collaborative event where students work together to find creative solutions to a problem or challenge.
Encouraging students to take responsibility for their own learning through self-directed study and exploration.
Regular individual learning through self-directed study and exploration.
A programme of workshops and activities designed to help students develop essential study skills and familiarise themselves with workshops, health and safety, library resources and services.
Hands-on work experience in the creative and performing arts and design sector offering students opportunities to apply their skills and knowledge in a professional context.
Dedicated and equipped spaces for students to experiment, explore and create work in a hands-on environment.
Presenting information and knowledge on a specific topic through lecture and visual and/or aural aids, with optional Q&A session.
Visit from an external professional expert, a visiting teacher, who teaches a selection of students individually in a public setting.
Educational teacher-student setting commonly used in most creative and performing arts and design programmes, to teach and develop technical and creative skills catered to the individual student’s needs.
Facilitates learning through shared online space for commentary and discussion.
Small-group sessions led by students to provide support and feedback to their peers.
A structured programme of work placement that provides students with opportunities to develop professional skills and experience in the creative and performing arts and design sector
Collaborative team-based or individual period of study that enable students to explore a particular topic or area of interest in depth and explore technical and artistic skills. Projects can be self-initiated or set as part of a curriculum.
Organised, regular practice sessions for chamber music ensembles and orchestral projects. Chamber music can be rehearsed with or without a coach, orchestras rehearse with a conductor.
A space for students to come together to share their research and explore different perspectives, methods and theories.
Focussed small group discussions and presentations led by both staff and students.
Facilitates networking and collaborations among wider educational and cultural sector groups.
Dedicated space for creative and performing arts and design students to experiment, explore and create work in a hands-on environment, usually following project and challenged-based methods. In music studio also refers to a recording studio where performers and audio technicians collaborate to record music.
In a performing arts context, tacit knowledge refers to the knowledge, skills, and abilities that an individual gains through the practical experience of working alongside others who are co-contributors to the shared realisation of a performance outcome, often from a different discipline base
In a performing arts context the word text, as source material for the construction of a performance, should be understood in its broadest possible meaning. Therefore, ideas, concepts, images and sounds, in addition to literary text, can all potentially be regarded as texts for performance.
One-on-one or small-group sessions to provide support and feedback on student work.
Used for connecting individuals or groups of students and tutors for collaborative projects or educational events.
Utilising online platforms and tools to deliver content, facilitate discussions, and support student collaboration and interaction in real-time (synchronous) or at their own pace (asynchronous).
Practical sessions focused on learning and applying specific technical skills, taking place in dedicated and equipped spaces or exterior settings.
Assessment Examples
A critical evaluation of an artwork, analysing its formal elements, conceptual framework, and contextual relevance.
A student’s reflection about their artistic processes and results, presented in written, oral or other suitable form.
A list of sources with brief descriptions and evaluations, demonstrating the student's understanding of the relevant literature and other sources, and their application to their research or creative practice.
A detailed analysis of a specific example, event, or situation within a creative or artistic context, requiring the student to apply theoretical concepts and critical thinking.
A structured oral argument, in which students defend or challenge a specific position on a relevant topic.
A practical assessment in which students showcase their proficiency in specific artistic or creative skills and techniques.
A written work presenting a student's analysis or argument on a specific topic requires a clear thesis, supporting evidence, and logical structure.
A test or assessment designed to evaluate a student's ability to apply their skills and knowledge in a real-world or simulated setting.
A display of a student's creative work, showcasing their artistic achievements and development in a chosen field. May be a public space.
A presentation of a student's film or video work, showcasing their technical skills, creativity, and storytelling abilities.
An assessment tests students' ability to apply their skills and knowledge in a real-world or simulated setting.
A formal presentation by an individual student, in which they present their artistic research, using live performance
A comprehensive and critical examination of the existing research, sources and literature on a specific topic, highlighting gaps and areas for further investigation.
A verbal assessment in which students answer questions or discuss their work, demonstrating their knowledge and understanding of course content.
A process in which students provide constructive feedback on each other's work, fostering critical thinking and collaborative learning.
A live presentation or enactment of a student's creative work, such as fine art, music, dance, or theatre, to demonstrate their skills and artistic expression.
An evaluation of a student's performance during an internship or work placement, based on feedback from supervisors and peers.
A formative or summative evaluation of a student's or team’s portfolio, providing feedback on the quality and relevance of their work.
A visual display summarizing a student's research or creative project, presented at conferences or exhibitions for discussion and feedback.
An assignment that challenges students to apply their skills and knowledge to solve a specific problem or issue within an artistic or creative context.
A proposal and/or report on a specific production project (i.e. short film) including managerial, conceptual and artistic elements highlighting the affordances and distinctive characteristics of the proposed project.
A document outlining a student's career goals, strategies for achieving them, and reflections on their progress so far. It may also involve a skills audit.
A student-led investigation or creative exploration, which may involve primary or secondary research, analysis, and the production of an outcome or artefact.
A (normally) written proposal that sets out a plan, or suggested set of aims and objectives, ideas, themes, methods, for a specific period of learning. It is for the consideration of others - used specifically for projects and external placements.
A formal assessment of a student's knowledge and understanding of specific course content, usually in the form of multiple-choice, short-answer, or essay questions.
A student's creative output captured in a recorded or rendered format, such as video, audio, or digital media, for evaluation and critique.
A record of a student's thoughts, feelings, and reflections on their learning experiences, encouraging self-awareness and personal growth.
A structured, evidence-based document that presents the findings and conclusions of a research or creative project.
A comprehensive, well-reasoned, and thoroughly researched written work that contributes to the knowledge in a specific field of study.
A simulation exercise in which students assume specific roles and interact in a scenario to demonstrate their understanding of concepts and ability to apply skills.
A curated selection of a student’s or students’ video/film work
A computer-based or role-play exercise designed to replicate real-world scenarios, allowing students to apply their skills and knowledge in a controlled environment.
An assessment conducted at a specific location or context relevant to the student's field of study. May be a public space.
A continuous record of a student's thoughts, ideas, and progress in their creative or research process, usually submitted periodically for assessment.
A presentation of a student's creative work in a studio setting, allowing for discussion and critique of the artefacts produced.
An evaluation of a student's ability to work effectively within a group, considering factors such as communication, collaboration, and problem-solving.
A substantial piece of original research, typically undertaken as part of a higher degree, significantly contributes to knowledge in a specific field. A thesis at Masters or Bachelor level would be expected to use primary and secondary sources but would not necessarily comprise original research.
A collection of a student's visual and written work, exercises, and reflections, demonstrating their development and learning throughout a course or project.
