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The Observatory for Education in the Arts —or ODAS— is a workgroup of the University of Barcelona (Faculty of Fine Arts) that was formally constituted following the inclusion of the research project HUM2005-00245 in the National Plan for R&D (2004-2007) created by the Spanish Ministry for Science and Education. The project was funded by the Ministry for Science and Education and co-funded by the ERDF. Since that time, other research and innovative teaching projects, as well as other subsidiary actions, has been incorporated, all subsidized by the Commission for Universities and Research (Ministry of Innovation, Universities and Enterprise, Generalitat of Catalonia), the Agency for Management of University and Research Grants (AGAUR, Catalan Ministry for Universities) and the Institute of Education Sciences (ICE, University of Barcelona). During the period 2009-2011, ODAS develops two new projects funded by the Ministry of Education and Science with the ERDF and the Institute of Education Sciences (ICE, University of Barcelona). ODAS aims to contribute to the collective project of the continuous improvement of teaching and learning in the university arts studies. From a holistic conception of this process, ODAS carries out its activities in two major areas of work that, being complementary, represent a change of scale and perspective regarding the subject of study and scope. In the first one, actions are developed in the classroom and focus on subjects and disciplines; in the second, actions are already at the level of degree and Faculty, and directed towards the implementation of a system of internal quality assurance at the center —Faculty of Fine Arts. 1. Innovation and research in teaching of the arts Since 2005, ODAS has been working on the discussion, promotion, implementation and dissemination of innovative educational initiatives together with the research projects that involve critical monitoring and accountability for results. Thus, with a focus on how students learn, the actions undertaken revolved around six premises: integration, of work sessions and learning activities; diversity, of teaching scenarios, resources and materials; balance, between specific and cross-curricular knowledge and skills; modularity, of the parts constituting the proposed innovation; applicability, to other subjects and disciplines; and progression, in the project's implementation. The following lines of action were outlined:
2. The quality of teaching and learning in the university arts studies The second line of work shares the same theoretical and practical purpose. In this case, the aim is firstly to venture into the theoretical aspect of the quality of university education to then engage in the collective task of developing the system of internal quality assurance of university fine arts studies. And this, from three main assumptions. First, appeal to a cooperative effort of all parties involved in the process, within and outside the education community, each according to their powers and responsibilities. Second, the need to replace a product-based perspective with other that focuses on the process. Third, stakeholders should determine the commitments, procedures, criteria and indicators that illustrate the continuing improvement of the educational system, and develop the techniques and the most appropriate instruments. Given the number of contributing factors, the Observatory for Education in the Arts will focus on those aspects which relate directly to the role played by the student and the teacher, in close contact with the authorities and the academic community at the Faculty. In this context, the six goals of the project are the following:
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