Within the ZHdK, the IAE constitutes a centre of excellence for didactics, whose staff works cross-departmentally. They contribute to research-based teaching in the Master Art Education, specialisation Curatorial Studies, the Bachelor of Arts in Theatre, specialisation Theatre Education, as well as the Master in Transdisciplinary Studies. In addition, the IAE contributes to the research foundation of school-related master studies: Master Music Pedagogy and Master Art Education, specialisation Teaching & Learning. With this, the IAE guarantees the recognition of the teaching diplomas by the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Ministers of Education (EDK).
The main goals of the IAE are to establish and promote historiography and critical research in the field of Art Education in the German-speaking countries. This includes the collaboration with and promotion of practitioners in research. Within the ZHdK, the IAE contributes to quality-focused teaching standards, to teaching research competencies to teachers and students of the ZHdK, and also to a culture of intensive and lively discourse.