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Exploration and innovation
HKU’s research is directed at performative creative processes, centred on themes such as healthcare and wellbeing, identity and inclusion, and circulation and sustainability (the three Guiding Lights of HKU). The academic research of HKU is practice-oriented, which means that the research is conducted via experiments, with methods that involve the researchers themselves in the research as creators.The research at UoH is about urgent and topical questions in society, such as the future of our democracy, the structure of our healthcare practices and ethical questions about living a meaningful living, birth and death. Various empirical and methodological approaches are combined from the humanities and social sciences.
In practical terms, the partnership creates the opportunity to conduct a PhD track in artistic research within UoH’s Graduate School. Practical and creative work can be part of the research track. It also creates opportunities for collective fundraising at the intersection between art and science. Moreover, the Meaningful Artistic Research track can lead to innovation of educational practices in both institutions, or the development of cooperative transdisciplinary education. Lastly, the partnership means that both universities will share each other’s networks.
PhD tracks
Currently, two PhD tracks have already been initiated. Marloeke van der Vlught conducts artistic research to get to an ‘aesthetic of touch’, which she names Healing Art (‘Genees-Kunst’). And Simona Kicurovska does research into modern design practices: how can designers keep using automated design tools in a critical way?Merel Visse (Senior University Lecturer at UoH adds: ‘’The artistic processes are very promising for improving science, because they propagate a broad perspective on our society.’ Art is more than just ‘fun’, as the famous arts educator Harry Broudy once proclaimed. The arts are essential for a ‘good’ society, because they help us come to new modes of thinking about how to live together. And vice versa, the researchers at UoH can enhance the artistic practices with their scientific approach.’