expert meeting on third cycle models in Europe
In the online expert meeting on June 28th, 2021 we looked into the differences and similarities between (artistic) PhD’s and PD’s in Europe, and the insights from the international Creator Doctus project – and what we can learn from this as a community. The meeting was attended by 22 professors, research (policy) supporters.
Guest speakers were:
Prof. Robin Nelson (UK) – author of ‘Practice as Research in the Arts Principles, Protocols, Pedagogies, Resistances’
Robin Nelson explored the shifting field of doctorates, comparing PhD with PDs. In which he sees the PhD as an ‘academic’ degree focused on original research evidencing an inquiry located in a conceptual framework and the PD as typically more focused on designing effective professional practices within the field, formulation solutions to complex issues involving high order technical capacities, and/or applying research to practical problems.
By identifying differences in Artistic Research from his PaR (Practice as Research) approach, he sees these two traditions are coming together insofar as it seems now to be broadly accepted that some kind of framing of an arts process/product is required in an academic research context.
Robin Nelson shared his vision and perspective towards the different models and reflected on the recent 3rd cycle developments in the academies throughout Europe, and highlighted especially the developments in the Scandinavian countries and the UK.
Robin Nelson is Emeritus Professor, Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, University of London & Emeritus Professor, Manchester Metropolitan University.
Jeroen Boomgaard (NL) – project leader of the international Creator Doctus (CrD) project
The aim of the Creator Doctus project (co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union) was to enable Higher Arts Education Institutions in all countries, signed up to the Bologna Declaration, to be able to independently enter into the 3rd Cycle level with an award recognized at the same level of, and equivalent to, a PhD. Jeroen took us along the experiences and lessons learned from this European project: http://creatordoctus.eu/
As part of the project, an extensive inventory and database of third cycle trajectories in Europe was created: http://3rdcycleinthearts.eu
During the last three years, there have been great conferences, training sessions, and other kinds of meetings as part of the CrD project. On Sunday 31 October 2021 a final conference/ exhibition is organized by lead partner Gerrit Rietveld Academie in Amsterdam. Showing the results from doctoral candidates from the included partners.
The event is a milestone moment where the CrD Book and Manual will be presented. The program of the conference will be announced soon. For more information: http://creatordoctus.eu/event/final-conference-in-amsterdam/
Jeroen Boomgaard is professor Art in Public Spaces, at the Gerrit Rietveld Academy, Amsterdam
Both presentations were followed by a short joint Q&A session, where we discussed what Robin and Jeroen’s ideas, insights, and experiences could mean for the 3rd cycle development in The Netherlands, and particularly the PD pilot Kunst + Creatief from the point of view of the researcher(s)/professorships and the platform.
The slides and link to the video registration can be shared upon request.