The College of Music, Mahidol University has become the first university music program in Asia to gain accreditation through the European “MusiQuE” Accreditation Process. The College of Music, Mahidol University underwent a program review for the Bachelor of Music (B.M.) program and received top marks across all standards from the European quality review. The accreditation report stated that the College’s Bachelor of Music program was “Fully Compliant” with all the MusiQuE quality standards. The report further stated that “building upon what the College of Music has already achieved, there is great potential for developing the quality of the program, its international position, the level of its applicants, its impact on the creative industries and its role as a key cultural agent in Thailand.” The accreditation of the B.M. program will be valid until the year 2025.
Speaking about the importance of the College of Music achieving accreditation through MusiQuE, Dr. Narong Prangcharon, Dean of the College of Music stated that “It is important for organizations to continue to strive for excellence and to put their processes and practices up for evaluation. It allows us to focus on constant improvement, which is a main goal for the College of Music. Gaining accreditation from MusiQuE is another important step for the College of Music to lead in music higher education.”
MusiQuE (Music Quality Enhancement) is an independent external evaluation body dedicated to the continuous improvement of the quality of higher music education across Europe and beyond. Originally a part of the Association of European Conservatories, MusiQuE became an independent body in 2015. In 2017 the College of Music, Mahidol University underwent an institutional review which credited the College with being a “truly exceptional institution”. This positive review prompted encouragement for the College to pursue individual program accreditations.
“The accreditation by MusiQuE affirms our readiness to provide a top-quality education for Thailand and international music students, as well as benchmarks the College against many other internationally respected music institutions. Being recognized by the European quality assurance organization, the College of Music remains committed to delivering highest quality music education.” stated Darin Pantoomkomol, the Associate Dean for Academics and Research at the College of Music. He went on to add that “In addition, through our ongoing commitment to quality development, the College of Music looks forward to extending accreditation in other programs in the graduate levels in the very near future.”
The College of Music, Mahidol University will next prepare for program accreditation for both its Master of Music and Master of Arts programs, with the review visit scheduled to take place in November2019.
