Erasmus + programme Contributes to internationalization of the University of Montenegro

The University of Montenegro is striving to improve its academic offer through accreditation of interdisciplinary study programmes and to expand the offer of existing programmes in English language, led precisely by the values promoted by Erasmus+ programme. This was said by the Rector of the University of Montenegro Prof. Dr. Vladimir Božović at the Erasmus+ Information Day held today in the Rectorate of the University of Montenegro.

„Also, one of the priorities will be strengthening of inclusiveness and ensuring good quality education for wider categories of society. We believe that in the following period, using all the oppotunities of the Erasmus+ programme we will grow together, promote education, science and culture as drivers of significant and positive social changes “, said rector Božović.

He pointed out that the projects funded by this programme have contributed to internationalization of the University of Montenegro through capacity building projects, projects for exchange of students and staff, Jean Monnet projects and other actions university units take active part in.   

„We are proud to be a part of a successful and for us very important and useful Erasmus+ family“, Rector Božović said.

Director General of the Directorate for National and EU Science Programs at the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports Dr. Branko Bulatovic said that the Erasmus+ program was a strong support to higher education in pursuing the European trends.

What is a novelty in the current call for Erasmus + is capacity building in vocational education, so that both public and private institutions in Montenegro that implement vocational education will be able to apply for project funding. As far as the Western Balkans is concerned, the priority will be the mobility of students and teachers, insofar as they contribute to the goals of the call," said Dr. Bulatović.

He added that the strategic framework that defines priorities for vocational education in Montenegro also recognizes mobility and defines that schools should be trained to use EU funds, cooperate with countries from the region and Europe in the field of vocational education, and support teacher mobility. The Head of the National Erasmus+ office, Vanja Drljević, said that higher education institutions in Montenegro, in the period from 2014 to 2020, participated in 35 projects in the field of capacity building in higher education, coordinating eight of these projects, with a budget exceeding 23, 4 million Euro. Drljevic assessed that this is a success that even larger countries than Montenegro could be proud of.

She said that there are a total of 475 international credit mobility agreements with over 200 EU universities adding that Jean Monnet activities are also important, and she is proud that three faculties of the University of Montenegro, the Faculty of Law, the Faculty of Economics and the Faculty of Philology, participate in them. The following year is also the 35th programme anniversary, and what marks the new phase of the Erasmus + 2021-2027 programme are the principles of social inclusion, diversity, digitalization, environmental protection, and the fight against climate change. The new Erasmus + program is based on the principles of the Education Strategy 2030, the Digitalization Action Plan 2021-2027, the EU Strategy for Youth and Sport 2021-2024. During the info day, in addition to showing the video of the Western Balkans Alumni Association, a discussion was opened on the expectations in the new cycle of the Erasmus + program.