FRAME

About the project

In today’s rapidly changing society, students in the arts need strong research competencies to navigate complexity, work across disciplines, and contribute to pressing societal debates. FRAME responds to this growing need by designing, piloting, and implementing a comprehensive framework that supports the teaching, learning, and evaluation of research methods and skills across HKU’s educational programmes.

The project runs for 42 months and follows a Design-Based Research approach. Starting with a sector-wide assessment of current practices and needs, the framework will be conceptualised, tested in selected programmes, refined through feedback, and gradually implemented across HKU. Training for educators and continuous evaluation ensure that the framework remains relevant, effective, and adaptable.

FRAME is led by professor Fabiola Camuti (Professorship of Critical Creative Pedagogies) and has been awarded a Comenius Leadership Fellowship, financed by the Nationaal Regieorgaan Onderwijsonderzoek (NRO).

The project has the following objectives:

• Co-design, prototype, and test the framework within four HKU programmes in collaboration with the MA programmes cluster.
• Develop a strategy for HKU-wide implementation, making the framework scalable across disciplines.

• Involve students, teachers, course leaders, directors, professors, educational developers, and external experts in an inclusive collaboration process.
• Document and evaluate this process, creating a transferable model for other institutions in the KUO sector.

• Design a module focused on transferable research skills, methods, pedagogies, and didactics.
• Integrate this into the Center for Teaching and Learning and BDB courses, benefiting both HKU staff and external creative professionals.

Outcomes and impact

FRAME aims to create lasting impact for multiple target groups:

Students:

• Develop a comprehensive set of research methods and skills.
• Build a consistent research learning trajectory from the first year of study.
• Gain preparation for a hybrid, transdisciplinary job market.

Educators:

• Strengthened capabilities to teach and evaluate research methods.
• Opportunities for continuous professional development.

Team members:

• Expertise in research didactics and transdisciplinary methodologies.
• Enhanced competence in guiding students and educators through complex research processes.

KUO sector:

• A transferable, sector-wide framework addressing shared research challenges.
• A sustainable network supporting long-term innovation in research education.

Creative professionals:

• Improved research capacities, fostering innovation and resilience in professional practice.

Project team

The project is led by the Lector of Critical Creative Pedagogies, supported by lecturers-researchers, educational designers, educationalists, and the Heads of Education & Innovation and Educational Quality. A research development expert, project coordinator, and internal and external advisors contribute to evaluation and feedback. Students, teachers, course leaders, and directors ensure practical implementation across HKU.