MY STUDENT MOBILITY IN BUDAPEST: Marija Gluvakov Medenica, Faculty of Music

Marija Gluvakov Medenica
University of Arts in Belgrade, Faculty of Music

Erasmus+ Mobility for Studies at:

Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest, Hungary

As a nominated doctoral student at the Faculty of Music in Belgrade, I spent the spring semester 2020/21 in Budapest, participating in the Erasmus + student mobility project at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music. The main building of the Academy is not only an educational music center but also a prestigious concert hall of the city. Unfortunately, no concert with the audience was held in it this year, due to restrictive pandemic measures.

My mobility is marked by a ten-day quarantine, various restrictive measures, including a curfew, as well as alternative classes. Despite these circumstances, I was lucky enough to share an apartment with musician friends, MA students, former Erasmus students, who helped me a lot. Everyday communication in a foreign language contributed to the fluency of my spoken English. However, in everyday life, I faced difficulties in communication, and it was necessary to learn the basics of the Hungarian language.

Budapest Academy is a multinational and multicultural environment, dominated by a love of music. Classes are held at an extremely high professional level for both domestic and foreign students. The professors are very dedicated and they have clear and precisely set tasks and goals, and the whole educational process takes place with mutual respect. As the only representative of Serbia this semester, I felt like an equal member of this community.

I am grateful for the opportunity to see and participate in the European education system and get to know it from the inside, not only from the perspective of a student but also from the point of view of a lecturer, given his pedagogical career at a higher education institution. For me, two-year Master’s studies are a novelty and a difference in relation to Serbian academies, as well as the importance of the final, graduation exam, which must be organized in the form of a gala concert. А lot of time is devoted to modern classical music.

Thanks to my stay in this cultural environment where the music of Franz Liszt is highly valued, respected and understood, as well as the exchange of experiences with colleagues dedicated to the interpretation of Liszt’s music, soon after returning to Serbia, I will realize my doctoral art project.

I would like to thank the University of Arts and the Faculty of Music in Belgrade for giving me the chance to participate in the student mobility program and gain experience at a foreign higher education institution. I hope that the acquired knowledge will help me in my further education and work.