Teaching mission statement

Preamble
The mission statement for teaching summarizes the principles that guide the actions of all those involved in academic teaching. It was developed in a multi-stage and public university participation process. The Hamburg University of Music and Drama sees itself as a training and research institution in which music, theater and cultural and media management are learned and reflected upon together. The wide range of courses on offer pursue the goal of providing the best possible artistic, academic and pedagogical training in line with international standards, balancing the teaching of technical and artistic skills, academic reflection and the promotion of creative approaches. Academic education is work with and for people. It has a dynamic character and reacts to social and technical changes. For this reason, the teaching mission statement represents a snapshot in time. The teaching staff reflect on the relevance of the common principles at regular intervals and adapt them to new conditions. The mission statement for teaching is a specialized sub-concept that, together with other concepts (e.g. diversity management concept, digital concept), forms the foundation for a modern artistic and scientific university.

Principles
Teaching is based on a shared understanding of values within the university community and is carried out with mutual respect for the diversity of students, teaching staff and employees with their different life plans. The HfMT Hamburg fulfills a cultural mission in a diverse (urban) society in which Music and Drama are perceived in a wide variety of forms. This also means that the exchange of open and critical positions is not only possible, but expressly encouraged. The artistic-pedagogical work is based on the principle of sustainability, mutual appreciation and communication free of domination. Teachers and students treat each other professionally and oppose discriminatory behavior. Teachers are committed to fair and transparent performance assessment.

The university is committed to the following principles:
- The preservation of cultural heritage and its interpretation in the present
- The opening of spaces for experimental and innovative research projects
- The responsibility for cultural education and cultural diversity
- The promotion of individual personal development and creativity as a lifelong process
- The encouragement to take a stand on current social and political developments, to take a stand on current social and political developments
- Respect for diverse biographies
- Lively exchange with cultural and research institutions at local, national and international level

Teaching
Teaching at the HfMT Hamburg is not only oriented towards the students' future professional fields, but also conveys content and skills that go beyond a specific professional perspective. This dynamic process requires a polyvalent professional perspective within the course of study. The training at the HfMT, with its focus on small group and individual artistic tuition, offers a good basis for this. Self-directed and intrinsic learning promotes students' individual learning and skills development. Permeability between the individual subject groups enables interdisciplinary and reflective formats. The teaching and learning objectives in all degree programs are based on high artistic, scientific and pedagogical standards and at the same time also offer space for exploratory experiential processes in joint education. The regular evaluation of degree programs, modules and individual courses is an important part of quality assurance. Learning in the analog-digital space as well as context-sensitive learning (e.g. historical, cultural, social or technological contexts) is supported by a modern and well-equipped library.

Vision
The Hamburg University of Music and Drama has set itself the goal of constantly questioning its educational standards and forms of mediation in order to open up artistic spaces of experience for social processes. Art must have an impact, which is why the idea of transferring artistic-scientific results should already be considered in teaching. In the spirit of social diversification, the university develops strategies to increase social participation for all social classes and age groups and, above all, to inspire children and young people as well as people with special needs for Music and Drama. The university remains true to the innovative spirit of the past decades and educates with passion and joy for the open and unpredictable future.