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A two-year journey of transformation across four European VET institutions
From september 2023 to august 2025, students, teachers, and school leaders across the Netherlands, Germany, and Finland collaborated to create safer, more inclusive learning environments through musical theater.
Project timeline
Kick off meeting
All partners convened in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Finalized curriculum design, research methodology, and timeline. Baseline data collection began.
Curriculum development
Lesson plans created, musical theater materials developed, teacher training delivered. First pilot classes launched in all four partner schools.
First implementation cycle
Full curriculum taught across participating classes. Midpoint data collection (February). Steering Committee #1 in Hamburg to review progress and adjust approach.
Musical theater performances
Students performed original musical theater pieces exploring LGBTQ+ themes. Public performances in Rotterdam, Hamburg, and Helsinki. Final data collection (June).
Data analysis & refinement
Quantitative and qualitative data analyzed. Curriculum refined based on teacher feedback. Expert reviews by Dr. Karen Walker and Bas van den Berg completed.
Scale up & dissemination
Expanded implementation to additional classes. Conference presentations at EARLI. Policy briefs distributed to education ministries. Website and resource platform launched.
Final reporting & sustainability
Final project report submitted to Erasmus+. Sustainability plans implemented at each partner school. Final evaluation meeting in Helsinki (August 2025).
Student experiences
847
Students participated in curriculum
12
Musical theater performances staged
4
Countries represented (NL, DE, FI, UK)
Sophie, 19
"Before this project, I didn't know any other LGBTQ+ students in my class—or at least, nobody was out. Creating the musical together changed that. We had deep conversations about identity, about fear, about belonging. Now we have a whole friend group of queer students and allies. The Musical Connection literally connected us."
Participated in: Curriculum (full year) + musical performance
Lukas, 18
"I'm not LGBTQ+ myself, but this project made me realize how much casual homophobia I'd been ignoring—or even participating in. The lessons about allyship gave me concrete tools to speak up when I hear slurs or jokes. And the musical showed me the real emotional impact of discrimination. I'm a better person because of this project."
Participated in: Curriculum (6 months) + lead role in musical
Elina, 17
"As a trans student, school has always been really hard. But when we did The Musical Connection, my teachers used my correct pronouns in class for the first time. Other students started using them too. The curriculum normalized trans identities instead of treating us like weird anomalies. I actually feel safe at school now."
Participated in: Curriculum (full year) + choreography assistant
Daan, 20
"I came out during this project. The curriculum gave me the language to talk about my bisexuality. The supportive environment made me feel brave enough to tell my friends. Performing in the musical—being visible on stage as a queer person—was incredibly empowering. This project changed my life."
Participated in: Curriculum (full year) + Musical performance + student advisory group
Our Partner Institutions
ROC Mondriaan
Rotterdam, Netherlands | Lead Partner
14,000-student VET college offering programs in creative arts, technology, healthcare, and business. Project coordinator and curriculum development lead.
Project Role:
- • Overall project management
- • Curriculum development coordination
- • Financial administration
- • 240 students participated
Stage School Hamburg
Hamburg, Germany
Renowned performing arts VET institution specializing in musical theater, dance, and performance. Musical theater methodology expertise.
Project Role:
- • Musical theater pedagogy design
- • Performance materials creation
- • Teacher training delivery
- • 180 students participated
Lentiz Flora College
Aalsmeer, Netherlands
Innovative VET and pre-university school with strong focus on arts education and student wellbeing. Pilot testing and evaluation lead.
Project Role:
- • Curriculum pilot testing
- • Student feedback coordination
- • Parent engagement strategies
- • 215 students participated
Helsingin Tanssiopisto
Helsinki, Finland
Helsinki Dance Institute, specializing in professional dance and choreography education. Brought Nordic perspective and embodiment expertise.
Project Role:
- • Embodiment & movement design
- • Nordic context adaptation
- • Cross-cultural comparison
- • 212 students participated
How to replicate in your institution
Step-by-step replication guide
Assess your starting point
Conduct climate survey, review existing policies, gauge staff readiness. Be honest about barriers and resources.
Build your team
Form implementation team with diverse roles: admin champion, teacher leads, student representatives, community partners.
Adapt the curriculum
Use our materials as foundation, but adapt for your local context, language, legal framework, and cultural norms.
Train your staff
All teachers need basic LGBTQ+ competency training. Musical theater facilitators need additional specialized training.
Start small, learn fast
Pilot with 1-2 volunteer teachers and willing classes. Gather feedback. Refine. Then scale gradually.
Measure & communicate
Use evaluation tools to track progress. Share successes with stakeholders. Be transparent about challenges.
Build sustainability
Embed in institutional policy, integrate into ongoing professional development, secure multi-year budget commitment.
What you'll need
- Administrative buy-in and visible support
- 2-3 champion teachers willing to pilot
- Modest budget (€2,500-8,000 first year)
- 0.2-0.4 FTE for coordination
- At least one semester for pilot
What we provide (free)
- Complete curriculum (20+ lessons)
- Musical theater scripts and materials
- Policy templates and implementation guides
- Evaluation tools and assessment rubrics
- Access to online learning community
Beyond the project: sustainability plans
The work doesn't end in August 2025
All four partner institutions have committed to continuing The Musical Connection beyond the funded project period. Here's how:
Institutional integration
- • Curriculum embedded in core course offerings
- • LGBTQ+ inclusion in teacher job descriptions
- • Annual budget line for materials and training
- • Policies formally adopted by school boards
Network continuation
- • Quarterly virtual meetups for educator network
- • Shared resource repository maintained
- • Peer mentorship for new implementations
- • Annual in-person gathering (rotating hosts)
Expansion plans
- • Each partner school recruiting 2-3 new teachers per year
- • Outreach to other VET institutions in each country
- • Translation of materials into additional languages
- • Seeking funding for "Phase 2" Erasmus+ project
Knowledge sharing
- • Open-access publication of all research
- • Website maintained with updated resources
- • Conference presentations and workshops
- • Policy advocacy with education ministries
Bring The Musical Connection to Your Institution
Access replication guides, curriculum materials, and connect with our network of educators transforming VET education across Europe.