Dean Popovic: Faculty of Architecture More Recognizable Abroad than in Montenegro
Dean of the Faculty of Architecture of the University of Montenegro, Svetislav Popovic, PhD, says that candidates who want to enroll in the study of architecture should possess developed propensity for space and form, logical conclusion, general knowledge and knowledge from the history of architecture and general culture, as well as inclination for creative work.
‘These preferences and knowledge are determined through the entrance examination when enrolling the first year of study,’ Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Popovic, PhD, explained
We conversed with him about students who are ambassadors of the Faculty abroad, international exhibitions of works, international cooperation and current projects in which students actively participate.
UoM: After 16 years of work and creation of architectural staff, what kind of results can we boast of, both in Montenegro and in the world?
DEAN POPOVIC: In 16 years of its existence, the Faculty of Architecture has become a recognizable unit of the University of Montenegro, which provides education to new generations of architects in accordance with the principles of the European Higher Education Area. The new, integrated, 5 + 0 program is internationally recognized and adapted to the needs of students who opt for the profession of the architect. The Faculty of Architecture has shown and justified the trust for the education of highly skilled personnel based on the highest quality knowledge in the field of theory and practice in the world and its applications in the design and realization of plans and projects. After sixteen years of existence, the National School of Architecture in Podgorica gradually turned into the European school that has and follows the principles of the Manifesto leading European schools.
The recognition of the Faculty of Architecture at the University of Montenegro is larger beyond the territory of Montenegro, a large number of our students is at Master and PhD studies in prestigious schools abroad, they are ambassadors of our school in the countries of Europe, China, Japan, etc.
Students at the Faculty of Architecture achieve outstanding results at domestic and international competitions, fairs in the field of urban planning and architecture, international competitions where they win awards and recognitions.
UoM: The Faculty of Architecture often organizes exhibitions of its students and professors, as well as students and professors from various European countries. There are also frequent lectures of prominent names in the field of architecture...
DEAN POPOVIC: Exhibitions of the Faculty of Architecture students is of a biennial nature and it is held within the DEUS or Podgorica Summer, and represents a section of the best works that were created in our school. This cooperation has been present since 2014. We visit at the architectural faculties in the neighborhood, we recently had a very successful exhibition at the University of Sarajevo. At the same time, we host the faculties on the side who present themselves to the Montenegrin public. The last exhibition presents the works of students and professors from Polytechnics from Poznan (Poland). In this way, we try to animate our students, and at the same time make a comparative analysis of the variety of programs that are being taught at other faculties in the environment.
We have introduced the practice of organizing lectures by visiting professors from the region and abroad, with the introductory lecture of one of the creators from local architectural and urban scene each year in May, in the building of the Rectorate, within the ‘Architecture Forum’ since 2014.
These lectures are significant since the students get introduced with trends of architecture thought of foreign countries through a direct contact with lecturers from those countries as well as at faculties where they are engaged as lecturers, and get acquainted with a concrete assignments they dealt with within the implementation of their works. Foreign lecturers are enabled to be a full guests at our Faculty through the Erasmus programs.
UoM: When it comes to cooperation at the international level, what opportunities are open for students and faculty professors?
DEAN POPOVIC: Cooperation with many European higher education institutions is present and intensive, with them we have signed agreements on cooperation and exchange of teaching staff and students.
The mobility of our students and professors at prestigious European universities in Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, Italy and Turkey, which is currently based on cooperation through the Erasmus + program within post-undergraduate studies - Specialist and Master studies, is being performed.
UoM: What activities of the Faculty of Architecture in the current academic year would you particularly point out?
DEAN POPOVIC: In the first half of this year, our Faculty joined other faculties in the world marking a hundredth anniversary since the founding of the Bauhaus State School, the most important and influential international school of art, design and architecture. The jubilee was marked by the opening of the student replica of the chair and posters in the style of Bauhaus in the Independence Square, as well as the student exhibition of works in the Moderna galerija (Modern Gallery) Podgorica. This exhibition will have the opportunity to see both the academic and cultural public in Poland, as early as the middle of October, when it will be installed in the gallery of the Polish Academy, in Poznan.
In addition, organized by the students of the Faculty of Architecture, the XVIII Architectural Student Congress was organized as an annual scientific-professional conference of students from ex-Yu countries.
We plan to prepare the following number of scientific journals Cities & Futures and the new edition of the Monograph of the Faculty of Architecture, which is published every second year, as well as to present the exhibition of works from the Faculty of Architecture in Podgorica in other cities in Europe. We develop cooperation through exchange programs and international research projects, with two current projects.
UoM: At the end of last year, the first issue of Cities & Futures magazine, was published by your faculty. What are the ambitions of the editorial team of this magazine in the following period?
DEAN POPOVIC: Only the launch of a scientific journal is of great importance for the Faculty of Architecture, University and the scientific community, because there is an extremely small number of scientific journals on the Montenegrin scientific scene, while it is also the only magazine from the architectural and urban area. The importance of establishing a journal is the promotion and encouragement of the academic community and its scientific results through the publication of research, primarily in the field of architecture and urban planning, which are at a very low level in Montenegro.
Our ambitions are aimed at publishing high-quality papers, involving journals in reference scientific bases and achieving a high level of international recognition. The reference international editorial board, which is engaged in this project, will contribute to more efficient promotion and international reputation of the magazine.
Cities & Futures is a multidisciplinary reviewed open access journal with an international editorial board that publishes original and transparent scientific papers from various areas of research, with an emphasis on contemporary urban issues, urban prospects and the future of cities. The journal includes, but is not limited to, the following research fields: urban planning and design, architecture, landscape architecture, urban sociology, urban geography, urban economics, environmental studies, engineering, technology, urban health and urban education.
The magazine is in English with the planned frequency of publication - twice a year.
UoM: What is the role of the Faculty of Architecture of the UoM in the culture of life, housing, spatial cultural and historical authenticity of Montenegro today? How much of today's consumer culture leaves room for re-scrutinizing architectural development?
DEAN POPOVIC: The activities of the Faculty on raising awareness about the area as a basic development potential, the importance and the forms of shaping it, the culture of life, housing, and historical protection of authenticity are great and clearly reflected through various forms of work with future creators of the space, emphasizing the attitude towards the national space representing an important resource that must be exploited reasonably and domestically with its natural beauties and richness.
A new culture of space management reminds us that we must influence the development of a critical level of knowledge that will reverse the trends of space degradation. It is necessary to directly raise and refine the level of national awareness about the importance and arrangement of space, because space is an imperative for the development of the Montenegrin state.