The Faculty of Economics Celebrated 85 Years since its Foundation – Change is the only Constant in Developing First Faculty of Montenegro
In honour of the 65th anniversary of the Faculty of Economics, a prestigious International Conference on Economics and Business – MICEB 2025 – was held in Budva. The conference gathered more than 200 participants from all over the world, offering them the opportunity to attend business and academic sessions with outstanding panelists. The conference, whose theme was Shaping Sustainable Economies – The Path to EU Membership, opened a dialogue on the most important topics for Montenegro’s economic and social progress toward the EU.
The special guest of the MICEB conference was Professor James A. Robinson (University of Chicago), Nobel Prize winner in Economics for the year 2024. Professor Robinson received the award together with D. Acemoglu and S. Johnson from MIT for their fundamental contribution to the research of how institutions influence economic and social prosperity.
The conference was opened by the Dean, Mijat Jocović, PhD, who on that occasion emphasized that this year celebrates an important jubilee – 65 years since the founding of the Faculty of Economics – the first faculty in Montenegro:
"With the changes in society, the state, the environment, and the world – from that year 1960 until today – the Faculty of Economics has also changed, accepting as its guiding idea and mode of functioning the fact that change is the only constant in the development of humanity and society. By instilling this attitude in generations of students and devotedly passing on knowledge to them, the Faculty of Economics has sown the seeds of more than 12,000 graduates who have held or are today holding the most responsible positions in the economy and the state. That is one of the reasons why the Faculty of Economics is not, nor should it be, viewed merely as one of the organizational units of the University of Montenegro, but rather as one of the key institutions in the development of this country.
Understanding time is perhaps one of the most serious challenges that a person and organizations face in their existence. In the years of challenges during its decades-long existence, the Faculty of Economics had the wisdom to recognize the time that was coming and the courage to adapt to it – through curriculum reforms, initiating scientific research work, and developing international cooperation. One result of such reflection and action is today’s conference, which we proudly present to the Montenegrin and international public. Its initiation, the topics it addresses, the participants who will speak to you, and the way these topics will be analysed, all reflect our intention – not to be passive observers of the most important economic processes, but to initiate academic dialogue and give impartial – scientifically grounded – recommendations for the improvement of economic policies in Montenegro," he emphasized.
Dean Jocović concluded by highlighting the importance of the MICEB conference which, in his words, besides all other messages and its values, carries three most important messages:
"The first is that Montenegros path to the EU has no alternative. Montenegro – spiritually, historically, culturally, legally-economically, and perhaps most importantly, in terms of values – belongs to Europe and the European Union. The second is that on this path we need inclusive and open political and economic institutions. And the third, equally important, is that besides membership in the European Union, it is necessary to strategically conceive and continuously implement policies of sustainable economic development," he concluded.