Erasmus + Program for Exchange of Students: Foreign Students Chose Montenegro more Often
The fact that he knew almost nothing about Montenegro did not prevent 21-year-old Lithuanian student Martinas Arlauskas from deciding to spend part of his studies at the Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA).
"When I looked at the list of universities with partnership in the Academy of Arts in Vilnius, I noticed the University of Montenegro. To be honest, my knowledge of Montenegro was very, very scarce... almost none. That was one of the reasons why I was looking for more information. I was looking for a country with beautiful nature that is in the south, for cultural and geographical experiences, "Arlauskas told Vijesti, adding that he was partly influenced by the fact that scholarship offered was much better than the ones offered.
He is one of eight foreign students currently staying at the Cetinje Faculty of Fine Arts, which also includes two lecturers from the Italian Albertina Academy. On the other hand, two students from the Faculty of Fine Arts are spending this semester at the Lisbon Academy of Fine Arts.
Dean Marko Markovic told "Vijesti" that he was "especially pleased with the fact that we are a faculty in Montenegro with the largest number of foreign students" and that he was proud of the partnerships achieved through the "Erasmus +" program.
The European Commission points out that the "Erasmus +" program offers many "a unique experience to broaden their personal horizons and strengthen their capabilities, but also helps to strengthen European integration and a sense of belonging."
"Erasmus + is one of the most successful programs of the European Union, which every year offers the opportunity to thousands of young Europeans, including Montenegrins and Montenegrins, to study at European universities or do internships in another country," said the interlocutor of "Vijesti" from the Commission.
Montenegro has been participating in EU education programs for more than two decades. The success of this program is also mentioned in the annual reports on Montenegro, in the part concerning the negotiating chapter 25 - Education and Culture.
The latest report points out that the participation in the "Erasmus +" program in 2020 increased to less than 1,550, which is an increase of 170 participants compared to the previous year. The document points out that Montenegro, in addition, participates in two "Erasmus Mundus" joint master's programs, but also that four such scholarships have been awarded.
A Combination of Montenegrin Culture and Contemporary Artistic Expressions Stay at the Faculty of Fine Arts provides foreign students with the opportunity to get acquainted with Montenegrin culture and heritage, as well as contemporary artistic expressions, the Dean points out. “Students are included in a different working system which implies a more direct relationship, work in small groups, individual approach and commitment to each student. We had a situation where students prolong their stay at our Faculty even after the mobility program is over, which shows that the Faculty of Fine Arts can attract students from the EU with its program. This, of course, is not about imposing one's own way of working, but about dialogue, exchange and partnership that enriches each party that participates in it “, Markovic explains. Student mobility is about 30 percent at the level of the academic year. In the past five years, he points out, there have been 106 outgoing and 62 incoming mobility. So far, students from Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Slovakia, Lithuania, Poland and Bulgaria have attended the Faculty of Fine Arts. In this semester there are four students from the Albertina Academy in Turin, two students from the Academy of Arts in Lithuania, and one student each from the ESAL Academy in Metz, France, as well as from the University of Arts in Belgrade. Two lecturers from the Albertina Academy, Salvo Bitonti and Gabriele Romeo, are also attending the FFA. Romeo is working on a workshop in the field of phenomenology of contemporary art, while Bitonti is preparing a performance with students that will be implemented on the stage of the Summer Stage in Cetinje. FFA has established cooperation with 17 art faculties and universities from 12 different EU member states. Exchange programs imply harmonization and comparability of study programs of partner institutions. “The faculty cooperates with schools that have different programs and we have the opportunity to host students in all fields that exist at the faculty. Our programs are designed in such way that there is a lot of flexibility and interdisciplinary because we offer both optional and joint courses for different study programs and this provides the opportunity that incoming students are not only related to one media or field but take up in different interests", Markovic explains.
We Exchange Cultural and Experience Terms
Students from the Faculty of Fine Arts, Nina Pejović and Lana Vukčević, are currently on an exchange in Lisbon. They agree that it is very important for young people in Montenegro to spend part of their studies abroad in order to gain more diverse experience and better develop their personality and work ethic. "Mobility allows us to get to know the new cultural and historical heritage, as well as the mentality of the people in Portugal. Also, in addition to the opportunity to travel and discover new places, you have the opportunity to meet domestic and international students who come from all over the world," Pejović said. As for the approach of professors towards students, Vukčević thinks that it is quite similar to the one in Montenegro. Montenegrin exchange students in Lisbon photo: Private archive "Here, as in Montenegro, you can talk to professors about your projects and work, as well as get the necessary correction.” Sometimes it can happen that there are language barriers, which can be easily overcome with the help of colleagues or other professors," she said. When it comes to the attitude towards foreign students who come to Cetinje, Pejović and Vukčević state that they are always available to other students as well as professors and associates at the faculty. “We are constantly learning from each other about different work processes, as well as different techniques and styles of creation. We exchange the acquired knowledge about culture, personal development and experiences ", Vukčević said. The Dean is convinced that great participation of FFA students in the Erasmus program and experiences they gain at art faculties in Europe "will certainly be important for development of the contemporary art scene in Montenegro".
“Today, mobility is an integral part of the professional development of every artist. Opportunities for access to mobility programs are especially important in smaller European countries such as Montenegro, where artists have to be mobile to establish networking, communication and openness to new audiences and contemporary art trends," he told Vijesti.
Markovic added that young artists cannot remain focused only on a local level, but also they need to gain new experiences, which they can later apply in their environment or continue to upgrade in a European or international sense.
Montenegro Exciting, Each Day Offers Various Experiences
Lithuanian Martinas Arlauskas points out that Montenegro is exciting and offers different experiences every day.
"Cetinje is small and welcome. Montenegro itself is very compact and perfectly positioned for travel and sightseeing. The nature here is always changing, I come across mountains every now and then ", this student said, comparing it with mostly lowland Lithuania.
On the other hand, the interlocutor of "Vijesti" points out that it is difficult for him to get used to the fact that Montenegrin society is not very environmentally friendly.
“I don't understand why there is such need for plastic bags. It's hard for me to see people taking plastic bags in stores just for a bottle of water," he said, adding that he hoped that would change, that society would focus on recycling, but that there would soon be more options when it comes to food for vegetarians and vegans.
When it comes to studying, he points out that in the short time in Cetinje, it is difficult to comment on whether the structure of lectures is better than the one in Vilnius, but that in the beginning he had little difficulty getting used to the new system. In his opinion, what is better in the Lithuanian education system is that a bachelor's degree is obtained after four, instead of three years of study.
Relevant Programs in English
Erasmus + is the EU's largest program in fields of education, training, youth and sport. Montenegro has been participating in this program since the very beginning, i.e. since 2000, but it was then known as Tempus.
The head of the National Erasmus + Office in Montenegro, Vanja Drljević, points out that "Erasmus" has become a recognizable "brand" among young people, which celebrates 35 years of existence this year.
“Total number of outgoing exchanges of students and academic / administrative staff is really large, so for the period from 2014 to 2021, this number is close to 2,000. Students, participants in mobility, really had unforgettable experiences, not only because they improved their knowledge and skills, but also got to know different cultures, made acquaintances and friends around the world, improved knowledge of foreign languages, learned some life lessons, became independent they have learned to cope on their own and face with challenges of life.”
"Young people have significantly broadened their horizons, learned to think critically, as well as to look at the bigger picture, and they have broken the established prejudices about many cultures and peoples," Drljevic pointed out.
Countries most often chosen by Montenegrin students are Spain, Italy, Poland, France, Germany, Austria, Romania, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia and Turkey. Recently, they have noticed that they are increasingly choosing some other countries, such as Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Finland and the like. Montenegrin students mostly opt for exchange when it comes to Philology, then the Faculty of Political Science, the Faculty of Polytechnic Sciences, the Faculty of Economics, the Faculty of Information Systems and Technologies, the Faculty of Maritime Studies, the Faculty of Tourism, and recently the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
Total number of incoming mobility of students and teaching / administrative staff for the period from 2014 to 2021 is about 1,000. Incoming mobility takes place mainly at higher levels of study, such as master and doctoral studies, mostly due to the lack of study programs in English at the undergraduate level.
However, Drljevic points out that with the introduction of English-language study programs at the Faculty of Maritime Studies and the Faculty of Economics, the exchange opportunities offered by Montenegro will be significantly improved. In fact, all units of Montenegrin universities are working on introducing as many English-language subjects as possible, in order to facilitate and enhance incoming mobility, she said.
"The results of our country when it comes to participation in the program so far are really exceptional, especially bearing in mind that it is a small country and a small education system," said Drljevic, adding that "Erasmus +", as the slogan of the program says, really enriches lives and broadens horizons ”.
This text was awarded in competition for the best journalistic story about the process of Montenegro's accession to the European Union. The competition was implemented by the General Secretariat of the Government, within the EU4ME project financed by the EU.