Interview of the Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy Tatjana Novović, PhD: We are Ready for the Beginning of Academic year
EDUCATION LABOR: Being at the top of an educational institution is a great honor, but also a great responsibility. What motivated you to run for the position of dean of the oldest higher education institution in Montenegro, founded in 1947?
NOVOVIĆ, PHD: I would not say that I am "at the top", although I do not want to diminish the importance of undertaken obligations. I highly appreciate the institution where I work and I am very aware of the seriousness and level of my own responsibility in the process of strategic planning and developmental direction of action steps in such a prestigious institution as our Faculty of Philosophy, with a long and respectable tradition. My initial idea was not to be in a separate, centralized management position and my goal was not only to take this prestigious role formally, but, based on my vision in many years of work experience, in different positions in the Montenegrin educational context, I had a plan to together they could improve the quality of work in this important institution. In the development program, which we presented as candidates before the voting and elections, I pointed out what are the crucial segments in our work and how to develop them, as well as to truly count on the team engagement of, above all, my closest associates, and then our entire valuable collective. I believe only in the success of the institution through our joint commitment, harmonization of perspectives, re-examination and functional confrontation of constructive ideas about the vision of our common well-being and progress in the field of teaching and science. Of course, we do not forget that we cannot build without awareness of the importance of the achievement so far, and that on these foundations we rely on development plans to further improve the quality of work at our Faculty.
EDUCATION LABOR: Engaging in scientific work implies a great passion for science. When did you fall in love with science and when did you realize that this is your career path?
NOVOVIĆ, PHD: Social sciences and humanities deal with various life, social, human, spiritual and value phenomena, so any natural immersion in certain segments of the educational system is an encounter with the mentioned social and even scientific phenomena. Since as a graduate prof. pedagogy and psychology, I started working in preschool institutions as an educator and psychologist, then an inspector and counselor in the Ministry and the Institute for Education, and for a decade and a half, at the Faculty, I can say that I have had many questions / phenomena from the educational milieu. to live and see from different perspectives. Necessarily, we gradually dive into certain segments of educational and social life more seriously, more specifically, with organized, systematic and systematic methodological research of various aspects of educational reality. And that search for the reasons for success or stagnation in certain fields, re-examining and comparing officially affirmed educational models with their implicit and real implications in practice, introduces us to the field of science, inextricably linked to life and social reality. Over time, this becomes a field of challenges that motivate a deeper search for theoretical-scientific and empirical indicators of social reality and their "sifting" through a research-methodological sieve.
EDUCATION LABOR: What are the main goals and tasks you have set for yourself for the next term? NOVOVIĆ, PHD: First of all, in the spirit of maintaining continuity, which is a valuable impetus for thorough planning of future activities, we will use all previous positive experiences in the process of designing strategic visions for the development of key segments of the higher education system and our institution. The basic fields of action remain the same, i.e. teaching and learning, science and development, international cooperation, and all that within our unique and in many ways specific institutions anchored in a unique local context.
NOVOVIĆ, PHD: In that sense, in the field of teaching, we strive for a modern, pedagogically individualized approach, which meets the needs of the current social context and student motivation, optimal affirmation of learning outcomes determined by curricula, harmonized with the Montenegrin qualifications framework and labor market needs. At the same time, we must further improve the outcomes, dimensioning them with new components, the so-called transversal skills and key competences for lifelong learning. International comparability of learning outcomes, as well as their competitiveness in the European Higher Education Area will be our tasks in the coming period. The knowledge, skills and competencies of students, which are recognized through the mentioned outcomes, should contribute to a more precise and clearer description of the acquired qualifications and more expedient coping of our graduates in the labor market. Also, in the context of modern innovative methods, but also the present social moment, it is necessary to make new, more intensive, carefully planned steps in terms of more efficient inclusion of electronic media in the learning and teaching process, but also overall communication at all levels.Work on strengthening academic integrity is one of the areas to which we will pay special attention. In that sense, it should be pointed out that within the national scientific research project, coordinated by UCG, which is being implemented at the Faculty of Philosophy, and on the topic of the mentioned AI, an international conference with a large number of important participants, representatives of prestigious university institutions is planned.Cooperation between study programs, as well as cooperation with other university units - both through regular activities and projects - will contribute to further functional interference of scientific fields and their synergy, all in the direction of achieving more efficient interdisciplinarity. We expect our students to be active, involved, interested. In order for them to develop the skills of active social participation, it is necessary to constantly encourage them to do so, to provide them with full support in every situation in which they feel they have something to say or to take, of course, everything in accordance with their competencies, rights and obligations.Science and research, along with teaching and learning, are a basic part of our business. One of our most important goals in the coming period is to improve the practice of publishing our quality scientific research papers. Preconditions for achieving this goal stem from the fact that within this institution we have a variety of scientific research profiles (and different methodologies), which is important as a basis for different scientific approaches and for processing broader research topics, as well as for participation in projects nationally and internationally. Also, it is necessary to improve and enhance cooperation with relevant institutions in the country, as well as to interest teachers in developing project applications for scientific research programs, to join the projects Horizon 2020, COST, etc.In the coming period, we will try to better connect the Faculty with international associations, intensify already established memberships (ATEE-European Association of Teachers' Faculties, ENAI-European Network for Academic Integrity), and achieve participation in similar appropriate associations, etc. Part of the research priorities should certainly be recognized as support for the cultural and social development of Montenegro, and the study, promotion and critical analysis of issues that are important for national identity. In addition, the study and promotion of sustainable development of Montenegrin society and the state is one of the research priorities of the University of Montenegro, and we recognize it as very important for our Faculty.We believe that the intensified work of the existing institutes, of which there are six, will be a significant contribution to the development of scientific and teaching activities at the Faculty.
EDUCATION LABOR: Do you plan to establish any new study programs? NOVOVIĆ, PHD: Since we have a new accreditation in 2021, all study programs, including representatives of the Commission for Quality Improvement at the Faculty of Philosophy, as well as the central commission from this area at UCG, will be required to review in detail all current curricula, outcomes, compliance with CCOs, as well as with the existing needs of the labor market. Taking into account all these criteria, it is possible to propose a new program. In this way, in the previous accreditation into the existing comprehensive curriculum at the Faculty of Philosophy, we co-opted the master study program for inclusive education. If it is assessed that there are needs and conditions (CCO, market, staff capacity), such possibilities will certainly be considered.
EDUCATION LABOR: The study programs of history, geography and philosophy remained unfilled until the fourth enrollment period. What does that tell you? Do you have a strategy for how this problem can be solved? NOVOVIĆ, PHD: After the fourth enrollment deadline, we can talk about a very solid occupancy of study programs at our Faculty. But it is natural that high school graduates, future students monitor the situation in the labor market, so this is one of the important causes of lack of motivation for some programs. However, we believe that we can do something more at our Faculty in terms of animating a larger number of high school students for possible inclusion in the study programs you mentioned. We plan to make a plan within the Commission for Improvement and Quality Assurance to promote study programs in order to present to future students in the best and most objective way the contents of the curriculum of individual study programs. Also, the importance of new entrepreneurial skills and lifelong learning should be emphasized, and the opportunity to point out that basic studies combined with computer skills and knowledge of foreign languages, as well as mobility and interaction with colleagues from related programs in the environment and beyond, enable students to re-dimension the curriculum. revitalizing and creating own programs and profiling specific additional interests and orientations towards different fields of the labor market.
EDUCATION LABOR: The Faculty of Philosophy cooperates with many universities in the region and beyond. What are the concrete benefits of these collaborations and in what ways can students use them? NOVOVIĆ, PHD: Yes, our Faculty has long inherited very intensive and continuous cooperation with numerous faculties / universities through various agreements, international and bilateral projects, and the benefits are numerous, such as mobility of students and professors, creation of new programs, joint diplomas, project creation.
EDUCATION LABOR: In new circumstances caused by the Covid 19 virus pandemic, you have successfully implemented classes using online forms of communication. How will the lectures take place in the next academic year, which starts in a few days, and how to organize work with students in the part where live contact with professors, practical classes is necessary ...? NOVOVIĆ, PHD: In the current situation, we all have doubts and questions about what is the most appropriate solution for students, the quality of teaching, communication between all direct and indirect actors in the educational context. These days, in the closest team, and then with the leaders of all study programs and, of course, with student representatives, we discussed the possibilities of organizing entrance exams for master studies, and then classes in the upcoming academic year. Having in mind the reasons for organizing some of the modalities of teaching, and in constant contact and consultation with the management of UCG, we are still looking for the most expedient option. Yet, most importantly, it should be pointed out that we are ready to apply each of the models in optics, i.e. for live teaching, in the premises of organizational units, online variant or some kind of combination of the mentioned options. At the Faculty of Philosophy, a few days ago, we organized a short training for the application of various digital tools that we can use in our work, so that the teaching process runs as efficiently as possible. It was an opportunity to open and discuss various issues around the organization of classes in all study programs and the functional application of the Zoom application, Moodle platform, Google storage and information sharing. For smaller groups of students and practical activities, we will try to organize activities in direct interaction, while respecting all security measures.