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Study on abuse of power: Online survey from 4 to 31 May

Study on abuse of power: Online survey from 4 to 31 May

28. April ’26

In 2025, the Rectors’ Conference of German Universities of Music within the HRK (RKM) decided to conduct a cross-institutional study on manifestations of the abuse of power at German universities of music. This study is now being carried out by the external and independent Institute for Applied Research and Project Consultancy Munich (IPP) at the 22 participating conservatoires. The study is funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR).

The study consists of a nationwide anonymous online survey of all students and teaching staff at the 22 participating music academies (including the HMTM), as well as qualitative case studies at four selected music academies (not including the HMTM). The results of the study are expected to be published by the RKM in spring 2027.

Online survey for students and teaching staff

The anonymous online survey will take place from 4 to 31 May 2026 as part of this nationwide study. All students and teaching staff at the HMTM, as well as all students and teaching staff on the joint degree programmes with the Bayerische Theaterakademie August Everding, are invited to take part. Excluded are students of the HMTM Young Academy and students on the junior programme at the Ballet Academy.

Students and teaching staff will receive a link to the questionnaire and a TAN for access from the HMTM. The email will be sent on 4 May to individual HMTM mailboxes or to contacts at the Theatre Academy (sender address: studie2026@hmtm.de). Participation in the online survey is voluntary. There are no disadvantages whatsoever to participating or not participating.

The online survey is completely anonymous. It is guaranteed that neither the IPP Munich nor the HMTM nor the Bayerische Theaterakademie August Everding will be able to link individuals to their answers. It is impossible to identify specific individuals. The university and the Theatre Academy will not receive any information about who has participated.

The HMTM processes email addresses solely for the purpose of sending the invitation and access code, as well as to remind participants to take part. The IPP’s privacy policy can be found below under the links.

Connection to the IPP Study 2023/2024

For the HMTM, this survey represents a further step towards creating a respectful, non-discriminatory and safe study and working environment, and towards promoting an open discussion of power relations. Following the first scientifically robust study on abuse of power, discrimination and sexualised violence at the HMTM, which was conducted in 2023 and published in 2024, this survey, commissioned by the RKM, is the next survey at the HMTM and thus follows the recommendation of the Holzheid Commission from April 2019, which had advocated for regular repetition of surveys. By participating in this study, the HMTM also hopes to draw conclusions regarding possible changes over the last three years.

Further information (in German):

Zum Forschungsprojekt der RKM

Datenschutzkonzept des IPP München (PDF)

HMTM gegen Machtmissbrauch: 7-Punkte-Plan (April 2024)

Bericht der Holzheid-Kommission zu Machtmissbrauch an der HMTM (April 2019)