Action Plan for Research and Artistic and Educational Development 2026–2031

The Research and Development Committee will prepare annual priority actions (and input to the budgeting process) based on this action plan.

1. We explore the power and role of music in society

R&D at NMH shall explore, reflect on and share knowledge about the role and significance of music for people, culture and society by:

1.1 Promoting open research and facilitating strong engagement with society through a clear profile, dialogue and public dissemination of results, processes and working methods.

Actions

• Develop guidelines for open access to scholarly publications and the results of artistic development and educational development work.
• The R&D centres will encourage, facilitate and support staff in actively participating in national and international R&D arenas.
• Dedicate periods during teaching-free weeks in the academic calendar to the dissemination and sharing of R&D activities with students and staff.

1.2 Strengthening specialised expertise in artistic development, educational development work and scholarly research.

Actions

• Develop understanding of what R&D activities involve, and may involve, at NMH through cross-cutting projects, R&D groups, sharing and dialogue.

2. We are a leading R&D actor and an attractive partner for collaboration

NMH shall be a driver of quality and an attractive partner for collaboration for other research institutions, individual artists and other societal actors within artistic development, educational development work and research, nationally and internationally. In this way, the potential of our R&D activities will be made visible and activated in innovation processes and in social, economic and environmental sustainability perspectives by:

2.1 Promoting collaboration, within NMH, nationally and internationally, and building relevant professional networks that join forces on larger projects.

Actions

• Strengthen and develop a more systematic approach to R&D groups, and encourage artistic and academic staff to initiate and participate in interdisciplinary projects and project collaborations.
• Strengthen our capacity for academic leadership and administration of R&D projects.
• Play an active role in international alliances (IN.TUNE, ELIA, AEC and others).

2.2 Working to increase the number of externally funded projects within our music disciplines.

Actions

• Allocate more resources and expertise to developing proposals and coordinating applications for larger projects.
• Initiate and support applications for recruitment positions within national and international research programmes under the Research Council of Norway, EU framework programmes and other relevant programmes.
• Establish more systematic information flows and coordinate work related to external funding opportunities and the academic and administrative development of projects.

2.3 Facilitating student involvement and collaboration in R&D activities and strengthening the connections between R&D and teaching.

Actions

• Include students in R&D groups that are relevant to their study programme or area of specialisation.
• See also the Action Plan for Education 2025–2030.

2.4 Further developing platforms for sharing, methods and channels for artistic development (KU), educational development work (PU) and scholarly research.

Actions

• Be an active contributor to the development and use of the Norwegian Scientific Index Archive (NVA) and Research Catalogue within our disciplines.
• Strengthen coordination between the research centres and the dissemination committee in the development of platforms for sharing and dissemination

3. We contribute to solutions to societal challenges

NMH's R&D activities shall contribute to the development of knowledge, expertise, new ways of thinking and new practices by:

3.1 Promoting performing, creative, educational and therapeutic musical practices as important contributions to knowledge and societal development.

Actions

• Work strategically and on matters of research and arts policy with authorities, institutions, portfolio boards and other key actors in order to improve framework conditions and strengthen the research systems within our fields.
• Organise interdisciplinary workshops and seminars for idea exchange and R&D project development.

3.2 Facilitating a clear profile and sharper strategic priorities within selected R&D areas.

Actions

• Give centre leaders the mandate and opportunity to develop and communicate priority areas in collaboration with the academic and artistic communities.
• Use PhD and postdoctoral positions to drive and catalyse the further development of R&D in strategically selected areas.

3.3 Increasing awareness of ethical dimensions of R&D activities and actively contributing to the further development of research ethics across NMH's fields of research and development.

Actions

• Develop a more systematic approach to training in research ethics guidelines for R&D, particularly within artistic development and educational development work.
• Provide suitable forums for reflection on ethical issues in R&D activities.
• Actively contribute to the further development of ethical guidelines for artistic research and development through Universities Norway – Arts, Design and Architecture (UHR–KDA).

3.4 Promoting diversity in recruitment to R&D activities in order to broaden perspectives.

Actions

• Review job advertisements and recruitment procedures to ensure that recruitment practices do not create unnecessary barriers to diversity.
• Broaden recruitment to the PhD programmes through openness, clear information and stronger alignment with the master's programmes.

4. We encourage and support high-quality R&D

NMH shall motivate and facilitate high-quality R&D by:

4.1 Clarifying responsibilities, mandates and leadership roles within the R&D area.

Actions

• Establish a working group to review mandates and role descriptions across academic and administrative functions within the R&D area.
• Review the needs for, and structure of, administrative support services for R&D activities.
• Use and further develop digital solutions for planning, conducting, disseminating and reporting R&D activities.

4.2 Further develop capacity and expertise in career development, dissemination, project development and R&D supervision.

Actions

• Actively use guidelines developed by UHR–KDA for the assessment of academic career pathways in the performing and creative arts and in scholarly research.
• Participate in HK-dir's national network for career guidance.
• NordART will prioritise forums for discussion and courses that deepen understanding of artistic R&D, strengthen the connection between R&D and teaching, and clarify what artistic development can mean in different disciplines.

4.3 Developing and adapting NMH’s physical facilities to meet infrastructure needs of R&D activities.

Actions

• Continue work on campus development.
• Contribute to the preparation of an application to the Research Council of Norway for digital infrastructure for artistic research and development.

• Stronger research environments, with clear strategic focus areas, that include and involve staff with R&D responsibilities, postdoctoral researchers, PhD candidates and students.
• Greater breadth in projects, higher quality, and a clearer profile as a socially relevant and highly specialised R&D institution within our fields of expertise.
• More R&D groups with a strong, confident and inspiring mix of expertise, a high degree of autonomy, and effective academic support structures that help ensure project progress.
• Greater predictability and clarity regarding responsibilities, framework conditions and organisational support for R&D activities.
• Easier access to effective planning and dissemination of R&D activities for staff.
• Better understanding among staff and students of the many forms research and development can take, and stronger interaction between R&D and teaching.
• A significant knowledge contribution to a sustainable society characterised by inclusion, diversity, ethical reflection and democratic development.
• High-quality physical and digital working conditions and infrastructure supporting R&D activities.