Oppaat: Sibelius Academy Guide for Doctoral Studies in Music: Assessment guidelines for demonstrations of proficiency in the applied study programme

Assessment guidelines for demonstrations of proficiency in the applied study programme

1.1. ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES FOR DEMONSTRATIONS OF PROFICIENCY IN THE APPLIED STUDY PROGRAMME

1.1.1. General

(This is an English translation of the assessment guidelines originally written in Finnish. In the event of any conflict between the English language version and the original, the Finnish language version shall prevail.).

An applied study programme degree may be either research-orientated or artistic. The core content of the degree is called the development target. The demonstration of proficiency is comprised of outputs connected to the development target in such a way that is appropriate for the nature of the development target. The development target consists of new and tested methods, applications and practices. Development work and testing are described in written work.

In the applied study programme, the demonstration of proficiency for a doctoral degree completed as an artistic degree includes the following:

a development project, the results of which are
- intangible (insight, knowledge and skills, competence and abilities), and
- material (concerts, recordings, sheet music, teaching materials, online materials, methods, programs, instruments, databases), and
a description of how the development project results were tested and the comprehension obtained was utilised as well as a summary of other parts of the development work

In the scientific degree, a description of the project’s starting points, development process background and frame of reference, development and results as well as the utilisation of comprehension obtained is compiled in the demonstration of proficiency.

1.1.2. Demonstration of proficiency assessment stages in the applied study

The demonstrations of proficiency for the doctoral degree are pre-examined and examined. The purpose of pre-examination is to ensure that the material intended as a demonstration of proficiency meets the formal requirements and that its level is sufficient. The pre-examiner is appointed by the Academy board of the Sibelius Academy.

The pre-examiners of the development project and its summary assess the demonstration of proficiency on the basis of the assessment criteria described below and give a written, reasoned statement, which is provided to the Academy board of the Sibelius Academy within three months. The doctoral student is entitled to respond to the statement.

Any artistic component included in the demonstration of proficiency in artistic applied study will be pre-examined separately. The preliminary examination of the artistic component is a preliminary assessment, in which the pre-examiner assesses the doctoral student's capabilities for completing the component. Separate guidelines have been issued for the pre-examination of the artistic component.

If the statement of the pre-examiner does not support the granting of an examination permit due to deficiencies in the work, then the pre-examination procedure shall expire without a separate decision. However, the doctoral student can bring the matter to the Academy board of the Sibelius Academy, who will decide whether the examination process continues or expires. After the pre-examination procedure has expired, the doctoral student may request a new pre-examination when the demonstration of proficiency has been modified based on the rejecting statements and the supervisor-in-charge is in favour of initiating the pre-examination procedure.

The Academy board of the Sibelius Academy issues an examination permit for a demonstration of proficiency based on the pre-examination statements and the language examiner’s statement. In scientific applied study programme, the actual examination of the demonstration of proficiency is the responsibility of an examiner or examiners of the development work and its summary. In artistic applied study programme, it is that of an assessment committee. The examiners and the assessment committees are appointed by the Academy board of the Sibelius Academy. In addition to these assessors, the Academy board appoints the chair of the examination event and members to be separately appointed to the Grading committee. The Grading committee also includes the examiner or examiners, or the chair of the assessment committee.

Once the Academy board has issued an examination permit, the development project and its summary will be examined at a public examination event. See the Guidelines for the public examination event. The purpose of the examination is to assess how well the demonstration of proficiency, which is modified on the basis of the pre-examination process, meets the criteria described below, including how well the doctoral student defends their demonstration of proficiency orally at a public examination.

After the examination event, the examiners issue a written, signed statement on the demonstration of proficiency to the Division of doctoral education and research within one month of the examination event. The statement also addresses the examination event. The doctoral student is entitled to respond to the statement.

The Division of doctoral education and research approves the demonstration of proficiency and decides on the grade based on the statements provided. When handling the matter, the Division may request a hearing from the chair of the examination event or the examiners or opponents of the demonstration of proficiency.

1.1.3. Assessment of demonstrations of proficiency in the applied study programme

The assessors assess the demonstration of proficiency as a whole in relation to the objectives of the degree and the demonstration of proficiency. The general objective of doctoral education at the Sibelius Academy is to produce music sector experts who are capable of high-level creative and critical work and who operate in demanding art, research, development and educational positions. Doctors of Music graduating from the Sibelius Academy act as societal contributors promoting an ethically sustainable future.

In the applied study programme, the primary focus is on becoming a specialist through carrying out a development project that builds the specialist knowledge and skills in a particular topic within the music field and the development work related to this topic. The specific objectives of the applied study programme are to to provide the students with

a high-quality combination of scientific, methodological, pedagogical, artistic or technical skills
the ability to develop new, high-quality methods, capabilities, materials and tools
the ability to gather, critically evaluate, apply and produce knowledge
the ability to work in cooperation with Finnish and international actors within their own field and also outside it
the ability to communicate the results of their work to different audiences

Assessment criteria

A demonstration of proficiency with a grade of Pass is based on independent research and development activities, contains new information and, with clear argumentation, meets the objectives of the development project arguments. The quality of the demonstration of proficiency sufficiently meets the requirements set for it.	A demonstration of proficiency with a grade of Pass with distinction is based on independent research and development activities, contains new information and, with comprehensive argumentation, meets the objectives of the development project. The quality of the demonstration of proficiency meets the requirements set for it with distinction.
The demonstration of proficiency comprises a uniform, well-managed, consistent, and appropriately defined entity.	The demonstration of proficiency comprises a uniform, well-managed, consistent and appropriately defined entity that clearly shows the significance of different parts of the project.
The topic, goals and new knowledge produced by the demonstration of proficiency have sufficient significance and applicability in their field.	The topic, objectives and new knowledge produced by the demonstration of proficiency have notable significance and applicability in their field.
The demonstration of proficiency is a meaningful and contextualised continuation of the previous discussion and research and development.	The demonstration of proficiency is a meaningful and contextualised continuation of the previous discussion and research and development, and it is a practical and visionary reform of the field.
The methods for research, development and testing the development target have been presented and justified. They are suitable and appropriate for the topic and objectives, and have been used consistently and reliably.	The methods for research, development and testing the development target have been presented and justified. They are especially suitable and appropriate for the topic and objectives, and have been used consistently and reliably to a laudable degree.
The demonstration of proficiency is constructively critical in relation to prevailing practices, previous research, and the research, outputs or outcomes of one’s own work and their significance.	The demonstration of proficiency is, in a commendable way, constructively critical in relation to prevailing practices, previous research and the research, outputs or outcomes of one’s own work and their significance.
The demonstration of proficiency is clearly communicated. Previous research and sources as well as the theory, methods and materials of the demonstration of proficiency are systematically structured and argued.	The demonstration of proficiency is very clearly communicated. It is laudable how previous research and sources as well as the theory, methods and materials of the demonstration of proficiency are consistently structured and argued.
The demonstration of proficiency adheres to the norms of research ethics and responsible artistic and research practices. Any ethical challenges related to the demonstration of proficiency have been adequately addressed and reported.	The demonstration of proficiency adheres to the norms of research ethics and responsible artistic and research practices. Any ethical challenges related to the demonstration of proficiency have been laudably addressed and reported.
If the demonstration of proficiency includes collaborations (such as jointly created works or joint publications), the creator's primary contribution is clearly demonstrated.	If the demonstration of proficiency includes collaborations (such as jointly created works or joint publications), the creator's primary contribution is clearly demonstrated.
The doctoral student has successfully defended their demonstration of proficiency at a public examination.	The doctoral student has insightfully defended their demonstration of proficiency at a public examination.

1.1.4. Pre-examination and pre-examination statements

The purpose of the pre-examination is to ensure that the material intended as a demonstration of proficiency meets the formal requirements and that its level is sufficient.

The pre-examiners of the development project and its summary prepare a written, reasoned statement and provide it to the Academy board of the Sibelius Academy within three months of receiving the materials to be assessed. The pre-examiners may also issue a joint statement. The signed statement(s) are to be delivered to the doctoral school office. The assessment criteria for the grade of Pass described above are used as the criteria for pre-examination, with the exception of the criterion of defending the demonstration of proficiency at a public examination event.

For the pre-examination of the artistic component included in the demonstration of proficiency in artistic applied study, see the Guidelines for pre-examination of an artistic component.

It is preferable that the statement has a summary, which contains the following:

a brief description of the nature of the development work and testing
key findings and the highest merits
the quality of the demonstration of proficiency
a general description of the deficiencies identified and their rectification

The examination permit statement must not be conditional – it must be either affirmative or negative. The pre-examiner may include suggestions for corrections and additions in their approving statement, but in this case, any deficiencies in the materials to be assessed may not be so extensive that they would lead to rejection if they were not rectified. Suggestions for rectification may include e.g. additional materials that can be produced with reasonable effort or additional familiarisation with research literature. A statement of rejection shall be issued if there are such serious deficiencies in the work that they cannot be rectified with a reasonable amount of work.

At the end of the statement, the pre-examiner must state unambiguously whether they propose issuing an examination permit or rejecting the work. If desired, the pre-examiner may append a separate list of minor deficiencies and errors in their statement to be provided to the doctoral student. This should be mentioned in the pre-examination statement.

1.1.5. Examination and examination statement

In the applied study programme, the development project and its summary are examined at the public examination of the demonstration of proficiency. The criteria for grades Pass and Pass with distinction are used as the assessment criteria for the examination of the demonstration of proficiency. The assessment criteria are uniformly focused on the entire demonstration of proficiency and all of its components.

Meeting as soon as possible after the examination event, the Grading committee proposes to the Division of doctoral education and research of the Academy board of the Sibelius Academy, that the. demonstration of proficiency be approved, and a grade for it, or that it be rejected. The proposed grade can be “Pass” or, when the demonstration of proficiency clearly meets the relevant requirements for high quality described in the assessment criteria, “Pass with distinction". The grades Pass with distinction and Fail generally require that each member with voting rights in the Grade committee proposes the grade in question. The Grade committee does not need to be in consensus. If the Grade committee is not in consensus, each member with voting rights shall give a separate written justification for their views. The grade proposal is made under the direction of the event chair.

After the examination event, the examiners issue a written, signed statement on the demonstration of proficiency to the Division of doctoral education and research of the Academy board of the Sibelius Academy within one month of the examination event. The statement also takes into account the examination event and records the proposal provided to the Grade committee for approval of the demonstration of proficiency and its grade, or its rejection. For reasons of legal protection, the examiner may not introduce any new criticism in their statement – only the criticism to which the doctoral student has had the opportunity to respond at the examination event may be included. Examiners may each issue their own statement or a joint statement.

It is preferable that the statement has a summary, which contains the following:

a brief description of the nature of the development work and testing
key findings and the highest merits
quality of the demonstration of proficiency and identified deficiencies

The examination statement must clearly indicate whether the statement proposes the approval of the demonstration of proficiency or not. It cannot be conditional. The examination statement is addressed to the Division of doctoral education and research of the Academy board of the Sibelius Academy and provided to the office of the doctoral school.

1.1.6. Further information

These guidelines are part of the Sibelius Academy Guide for Doctoral Studies in Music. The Guide for Doctoral Studies contains additional information on doctoral education and additional information on its related demonstration of proficiency.

This decision enters into force on 29 May 2023 and apply to all students who commenced their studies on or after 1 January 2021. For students who started their studies at an earlier date, these guidelines apply in accordance with the separately issued transitional provision. The transitional provision is appended to the doctoral degree guidelines, which were concluded on 10 December 2021.