CARE/SS sought to 1. Develop a transformative pedagogical framework for online and blended learning or modify an existing model, specifically for arts education and contemporary developments characterised by experiential/ practical components of the field and the creative production of messages that are socially negotiated and culturally formed. 2. Develop localised training programs for student-teachers and in-service teachers according to the proposed framework for online and blended learning (specifically for arts education) and the synergies of arts education with socially engaged arts or education for sustainable development. 3. Evaluate local teacher courses/training programs based on the innovative educational practices emerging through online and blended learning as well as education through the arts. 4. Create a culture of collaboration to promote excellence between participants through establishing professional communities of learning as a means of professional development. 5. Produce a handbook to support academics/ Higher Education Institutions and other important stakeholders in developing and implementing innovative arts education courses in an online and blended environment.
Recent education policy debates in Europe emphasise the need for competency-based education to cultivate personal fulfilment, employability, active citizenship, social cohesion, and lifelong learning. Digital and sustainability competencies are pivotal for building sustainable societies. Within this context, arts education is significant because of its experiential nature, engaging learners intellectually, emotionally & ethically. Arts education can be an education that promotes a different kind of education, one that invites learners to widen their horizon of what is thought possible, imagine hopeful possibilities, and act upon their thoughts and experiences through arts creation. There is a need to support in-service teachers & educate future teachers to realise the potential of arts education in engaging learners in meaningful ways in real-life situations. Further, despite challenges noted in Emergency Remote Teaching, the OECD predicted that there would be a higher demand among students and prospective students for more flexible study options, including digital learning. Leveraging distance learning technologies in universities can expand access to high-quality arts education for both conventional & non-traditional learners.