Prorector Maren Schmohl as a Evaluator in Astana and Rotterdam

24.03.2017
Delegation with prorector Maren Schmohl (second from left)

As members of a delegation from EQ-Arts and MUSIQUE, the two European institutions for quality assurance at art colleges and music academies, Prorector Maren Schmohl made her longest-ever official trip to the Academy of Art and Music in Astana, Kazakhstan, last week.

“With outside temperatures around minus 20 degrees, we were not unhappy to spend most of our time in intensive discussions with our Kazakh colleagues. We were able to gain a profound insight into the management structure, the organization of studies, the quality assurance procedures and the university’s plans for the future. Particularly impressive was the warmth and openness of all university members and the many students we met. Kazakhstan is looking for contact with Western Europe and the framework of the ESG, the European guidelines for quality assurance, gives us a common frame of reference to discuss our work, even across geographical and cultural borders,” explains Maren Schmohl.

The Bajterek Tower, the landmark of the Kazakh capital Astana

The return trip led the prorector via the Willem de Kooning Academy in Rotterdam, also as part of a visit to EQ-Arts. The last six working days included more than 20 meetings and encounters with the various groups from the two universities, plus countless working sessions with the other evaluators, presentations of student work, guided tours and concerts. A tight schedule, but Maren Schmohl sums it up: “I come back to the Merz Akademie inspired and with many new ideas, and I’m looking forward to starting the new semester with the students and colleagues.”

She won’t be putting her suitcase away too far, though, because her next trip is already coming up: in May, she’s off to the art academy in Tallinn, Estonia.

13.03.2024

Stellenangebot: Sachbearbeiter/in für das Studienbüro mit Prüfungsamt

An der Merz Akademie ist zum nächstmöglichen Zeitpunkt die Stelle einer/eines Sachbearbeiter/in (m/w/d) für das Studienbüro mit Prüfungsamt (50%) zu besetzen. Das Aufgabengebiet umfasst: Prüfungsamt Vorbereitung der Eignungsprüfung und Zulassung...

16.02.2024

Best Film, Best Director, Awards for graduate Phoebe Ammon at the “Blaue Blume Award” 2024

Best Director, Best Film for graduate Phoebe Ammon’s film “Long Night Stand” at the Blaue Blume Award! Congratulations! Romance TV hosted the BLAUE BLUME Award for the 13th time on...

15.02.2024

Impressionen – Abschluss 2023/24

Congratulations, dear graduates of the winter semester 2023/24! On February 9, 2024, we said goodbye to our new Master of Arts and Bachelor of Arts students. The ceremonial presentation of...

11.01.2024

Information for students changing programmes

If you started your Bachelor’s degree at another university, you can complete it at the Merz Akademie with a Bachelor of Arts in “Design, Art and Media”: As we are...