JAM Vice Rector Monika Herzig at the AEC Pop and Jazz Platform Meeting in Helsinki

Vice Rector and Professor of Artistic Research, Monika Herzig, participated in the AEC Pop and Jazz Platform Meeting at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences in Helsinki from 12–15 February. The event brought together more than 400 faculty members and students from European higher music education institutions.

The programme included workshops, presentations, and keynote lectures, offering a valuable training and professional development opportunity. Participants engaged in the exchange of best practices in popular music and jazz education, with a focus on pedagogical approaches, artistic research, and current developments in the field. Key highlights included a keynote on improvisation by Finnish composer and pianist Kari Ikonen, as well as a presentation by Minna Huotilainen on recent research in neuroscience and music, providing new insights into the relationship between music, cognition, and learning.

The participation enabled active knowledge exchange, networking, and the exploration of future collaborations with European partner institutions. Monika Herzig contributed to the Information Forum by presenting updates on the Creative Europe project “New Standards in Europe” and promoting its outcomes within an international academic context.

Furthermore, she announced the upcoming publication of the Real Book of European Female Jazz Composers (April 30, 2027) and encouraged participating institutions to develop activities for International Jazz Day 2027.
The mobility contributed to professional development, strengthened international cooperation, and supported the ongoing internationalisation of teaching and artistic practice at the home institution.