Vanja Drljevic: All Concluded Mobility Agreements will be Prolonged for a Year
In order to implement period of studies as quality as possible, students are advised to at least part of their academic education spend abroad, in some of exchange programs or programs organized within master studies. Students who have at this moment planned to apply for some of the programs have two challenges - to opt for the program and wait for a better moment having in mind the situation occurred by spreading new corona virus. About all the stated we have talked with Vanja Drljevic, Coordinator of National ERASMUS+ Office.
Since in this moment the current topic about spreading of corona virus, we witness that this disease influenced on many social spheres and educational sphere as well. How will this program influence on implementation of ERASMUS+ program?
Certainly, for the current situation, that has a negative influence on all fields, and on implementation of activities within program Erasmus+, most of planned mobility will be postponed, in order to start in the future. All signed agreements on mobility contain the "force majeure", that relates to limitations in terms of mobility, which is the case with concretely newly occurred situation caused by corona virus. In any case, all signed agreements will be prolonged for a year so all students and other users of mobility will be provided to implement what is planned. However, implementation of individual mobility scholarships that are ongoing will be continued to the extent possible. The same case is with other activities, especially activities within the implementation of projects within the capacity building in higher education, when there will certainly be a temporary abortion of project implementations, which is primarily related to study visits to program countries, and other travels foreseen by projects, arrival of foreign experts etc. that will be definitely continued in a suitable moment, when possible, having in mind the circumstances. There is electronic communication among partners in the projects left for now.
What would you advise to students who in this ungrateful moment wanted to apply for some of the programs offered? Where and how can they find advice and more information?
Since there is a partial abortion of all activities within Erasmus+ program, as well as introduction of new measures by authorities, I would advise students to be patient and wait for the right moment for applying with more information given by the very universities as well as international cooperation offices within universities. Of course, National Erasmus + office, responsible for monitoring all Erasmus +capacity building programs, international credit mobility is available for all additional information. All information may be found at https://eacea.ec.europa.eu/about-eacea/news/news/information-for-beneficiaries-whose-activities-are-impacted-coronavirus_en, as well as on web page of National Erasmus + office www.erasmusplus.ac.me
What are the reasons why students should be interested in ERASMUS+ programs? What are the benefits for student who spend part of the studies abroad in compared to the one with no such experience?
Within Erasmus+ named "international credit mobility" students have the possibility to spend part of study period on some of higher education institutions abroad. This implies selection of suitable program and exams to be taken on the institution with consultation with the vice-dean for teaching, in order to admit them upon arrival to mother university. Before leaving, the student signs Learning Agreement, to precise all the details. Exams, of course, cannot be the same as on the mother institution but there is their compatibility. Participation in international credit mobility for students is not sheer taking the exams. Knowledge acquired by students in institutions abroad, is very precious since they have the opportunity to learn in foreign language with new teaching methodologies, so they can analyze their experience and compare it. However, everything else gained in the mobility is maybe more important than the teaching itself. Students have the opportunity gain many other competences and experiences in terms of professional development. Students improve knowledge of foreign languages. Communication skills are improved, team work, better orientation in everyday life, creative solving the problem etc. Also, students experience new cultures, customs, other lifestyles, making them more flexible and more open for new life challenges. Moreover, there is breaking the prejudice about certain countries and cultures. On the very beginning of international credit mobility students had desire to go to certain countries that are geographically and mentally closer. However, this trend also has changed so there is currently a great number of countries for mobility. These are just some of the reasons why this experience is important for students for whole life since it presents the experience as motivation for further progress personally and professionally.
When is the best time for student to start exploring taking part in some of your programs?
I think it never can be too soon for a student to be informed about the possibilities offered within this program. However, it especially important to know that mobility is not possible on the first year so we may say that the first year is the tight time to inform about the mobility. This the time when the student may start thinking about the country, university compatible with the one in Montenegro.
How to find the program?
Students look for the university according to personal affinities having in mind many factors such as compatibility of programs, language of studying etc. In order to provide mobility, it is needed that the mother higher education institution has a signed bilateral agreement on mobility with higher education institution abroad. I think every student may find the mobility program, since the Erasmus + program offers a wide range of studying on a great number of program countries with all EU countries as well as countries such as Iceland, North Macedonia, Norway, Turkey, Lichtenstein andSerbia. Only last year, Montenegro has signed 69 new mobility agreements. From the very beginning of the Program this number is 227.
How often opportunities you offer are updated?
Information about the mobility calls students may find on sites of universities in Montenegro, where information is regularly updated. More information may be found at the university International Cooperation Office. Also, on each of the university unit, there is a person in charge of international cooperation as well as vice-dean for teaching who may help the students in selecting the program or exam so they may be acknowledged upon coming back into mother institution.
What documentation and qualifications are needed for the stunted to apply for some of ERASMUS+ programs?
As previously stated, students may be informed in the International Cooperation Office and the usual documentation needed includes transcript of grades, the letter, recommendation letter, certificate on extracurricular activities is the advantage for each potential mobility participant.
What is the interest in such programs in Montenegro?
We may say that interest of our students has been increasing year by year, greatly thanks to great number of positive experiences brought by their colleagues. We expect in the next period the interest to increase since opportunities are really extraordinary, therefore I deeply recommend to students one such experience. The experience of former mobility participants is positive we may say that there is no student who had regretted for mobility. National Erasmus + office conducted a little research about the influence of mobility to personal and professional development and data are impressive. There is no student who made a negative statement on the mobility. Positive influence of mobility is visible also in employing. As the very name “changing lives, opening minds”, program Erasmus + changes life positively, and expand their perspectives. Also, students of Montenegro are also great ambassadors abroad.
What experiences bring students who took part in your exchange programs or master programs?
Most students who once stayed in mobility applied again within the same or next cycle of studies. I will take this opportunity to mention positive experiences of students in the program Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (EM JM), that provides studying in different countries. These kinds of scholarships are independently applied for, students study minimum in two universities in two different consortium countries obtaining joint or dual diplomas. EM JD are programs who are competitive and open for students worldwide. For students from the Western Balkans, EC has donated additional 5 million euros.
How this experience helps in later employment?
We do not have precise data but we have many positive experiences of students that witness the greater possibilities. Mobility prepares every student for requirements of the employer. I shall recall again the research conducted by Erasmus+ office where students say that employers always gave the advantage to students with international experience in employment. “Employers wanted the ones who experienced the world and carried the world inside”, as stated by one of Montenegrin students, user of Erasmus+ mobility.