The Ministry of Education showed a responsible attitude towards the student population and worked seriously to improve all levels, with an emphasis on the field of higher education, said Minister Damir Šehović.
He announced that this year 400 euros will be invested in the thorough reconstruction of the Student House in Bar.
The Minister of Science, Sanja Damjanović, said that the department she heads recognizes the importance of young people, especially highly qualified ones.
Damjanović and Šehović participated in the "Ask the Minister" forum, which is organized for the third time as part of the EU4ME project, financed by the European Union, and which, due to the epidemic situation, was organized virtually.
Those interested asked questions to the ministers of education and science via @me4eu social networks, who answered in video form.
Šehović said that in previous years, the Ministry of Education worked seriously on the improvement of all levels of education, whereby "huge steps" were made in the field of higher education.
Speaking about the Professional Training Program for University Graduates, the Minister reminded that half of them continued their employment with the same or another employer after completing the program.
"Understanding its importance, the Ministry of Education will seriously work on improving the existing program," Šehović said, as reported by the General Secretariat of the Government.
Speaking about the expansion of accommodation facilities for students, he recalled the university complex in Berane, in which the state invested about 3,5 million euros, which can accommodate more than 200 students.
"In previous years, the number of student dormitories in Podgorica and Nikšić increased by 700 places, thanks to projects that were implemented according to the principle of private-public partnership, while this year 400 euros will be invested in the fundamental reconstruction of the student dormitory in Bar," said Šehović. .
Answering the question about helping students during the epidemic, Šehović said that around five thousand students who use the accommodation and food service in student dormitories during the June exam period are exempted from this type of cost.
"I believe that a good confirmation of the responsible attitude towards students in this specific situation is that we organized free transportation for all students studying in Serbia so that they could properly attend and attend the exam dates," said the minister.
He announced that the development of the epidemiological situation will be monitored and, accordingly, he will think about whether there is a way to facilitate the functioning of students in these challenging times with some other decisions.
Damjanović answered questions about tuition fees and doctoral scholarships, criteria for attractive scholarships and shortcomings of doctoral studies at certain faculties.
"The Ministry of Science recognizes the importance of young people, especially highly qualified ones. At the beginning of this mandate, we adopted a strategy in which the first pillar highlights the importance of human capacity and research," said Damjanović.
According to her, the programs of the Ministry of Science implement a large number of instruments and in all of them the focus is on young people.
"I can proudly say that in the last two and a half years we have managed to employ as many as 170 young highly qualified people, of whom around 40 are PhD students," said Damjanović.
Damjanović said that the Ministry of Science is not responsible or has authority when it comes to tuition fees, but that, seeing it as a big barrier in the system, they launched a program for attractive European scholarships.
"Since we are dealing with limited funds and all our instruments insist on competition and excellence, we had to introduce certain minimum criteria, which is an average of eight in basic and specialist studies," said Damjanović.
Answering the questions, she said that this criterion cannot be lower.
"We think that average is a minimum. The Ministry does not close the way for them and other people who are interested in doing research, because we have a large number of support instruments, such as scientific research projects, innovative grants, centers of excellence, and in all projects, additional funds are allocated if young people are employed." Damjanovic said.
Regarding the lack of doctoral studies at certain faculties, specifically psychology, she said that the answer to this question is better sought at faculties and universities.
"I assume that it is about the fact that not all the conditions for doctoral studies have been provided. The Ministry of Science is constantly promoting, in order to overcome this problem, the possibility of using the so-called dual PhD," said Damjanović.
She said that faculties, faculty deans and universities should establish such a program.
"This means that in that case students, including those of psychology, could conduct research in Montenegro, and all that is missing in Montenegro could be replaced at another faculty, the university with which the dual PhD is contracted," she explained. Damjanović.
Bonus video:
