The fact that he knew almost nothing about Montenegro did not stop the 21-year-old Lithuanian student Martinas Arlauskas to decide to spend part of his studies at the Faculty of Fine Arts (FLU).
"When I was looking at the list of universities that have a partnership with the Academy of Arts in Vilnius, I noticed the University of Montenegro. To be honest, my knowledge of Montenegro was very, very bad... almost none. That was one of the reasons why I was looking for more information. I was looking for a country with beautiful nature and which is in the south, for the sake of cultural and geographical experiences", Arlauskas told "Vijesti", adding that the fact that the offered scholarship was much better than those that had influenced him in making the final decision were offered to him in other countries.
He is one of the eight foreign students who are currently staying at the FLU in Cetinje, which also includes two lecturers from the Italian Albertina Academy. On the other hand, two female students from FLU are spending this semester at the Lisbon Academy of Fine Arts.
Dean of Marko Markovic he told "Vijesti" that "he is particularly pleased with the fact that we are the faculty in Montenegro with the largest number of foreign students" and that he is proud of the partnerships achieved through the "Erasmus+" program.
The European Commission points out that the "Erasmus+" program offers many people a "unique experience to expand personal horizons and strengthen their abilities, but also helps to strengthen European integration and a sense of belonging".
"'Erasmus+' is one of the most successful programs of the European Union, which for years offers the opportunity to thousands of young Europeans, among them Montenegrins, to study at European universities or do an internship in another country," said the interlocutor of "Vijesti" from the Commission.
Montenegro has been participating in EU programs in the field of education for more than two decades. The success in this program is also mentioned in the annual reports on Montenegro, in the part that concerns the negotiation chapter 25 - Education and culture.
In the latest report, it is pointed out that the participation in the "Erasmus+" program in 2020 increased to less than 1.550, which is an increase of 170 participants compared to the previous year. The document points out that, in addition, Montenegro participates in two "Erasmus Mundus" joint master's programs, but also that four such scholarships have been awarded.
A combination of Montenegrin culture and contemporary artistic expressions
A stay at FLU gives foreign students the opportunity to get acquainted with Montenegrin culture and heritage, as well as contemporary artistic expressions, the dean points out.
"Students are involved in a different work system that implies a more direct relationship, work in smaller groups, individual approach and commitment to each student. We had a situation where students extended their stay at our Faculty even after completing the mobility program, which indicates that FLU can attract students from the EU with its program.
This, of course, is not about imposing one's own way of working, but about dialogue, exchange and partnership that enriches every party that participates in it," explains Marković.
Student mobility is about 30 percent at the level of the study year. In the past five years, he points out, there were 106 outgoing and 62 incoming mobilities.
Until now, students from Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Slovakia, Lithuania, Poland, Bulgaria...
This semester there are four students from the Albertina Academy from Turin, two students from the Academy of Arts from Lithuania, and one student each from the ESAL Academy from Metz, France, and from the University of Arts from Belgrade.
Two lecturers from Albertina Academy also stay at FLU, Salvo Bitonti i Gabriele Romeo. Romeo is doing a workshop in the field of phenomenology of contemporary art, while Bitonti is preparing a performance with students that will be realized on the stage of the Summer Stage in Cetinje.
FLU has established cooperation with 17 art faculties and universities from 12 different EU member states.
Exchange programs imply compatibility and comparability of study programs of partner institutions.
"The faculty cooperates with schools that have different programs, and we have the opportunity to host students in all majors that exist at the faculty. Our programs are designed in such a way that there is a lot of flexibility and interdisciplinarity, because we offer both optional and joint subjects for different study programs, and this provides the possibility that incoming students are not only tied to one media or field, but can try different media in relation to their interests", explains Marković.
We exchange meanings about culture and experiences
There are currently exchange students from FLU in Lisbon Nina Pejović i Lana Vukcevic. They agree that it is very important for young people in Montenegro to spend part of their studies abroad in order to gain a more diverse experience and better develop their personality and work ethic.
"Mobility allows us to get to know new cultural and historical heritage, as well as the mentality of people in Portugal. Also, in addition to the opportunity to travel and discover new places, you have the opportunity to meet local and international students who come from all over the world," said Pejović.
As for the approach of professors to students, Vukčević believes that it is quite similar to that in Montenegro.
"Here, as in Montenegro, you can talk to professors about your projects and work, as well as get the necessary proofreading. Sometimes it can happen that there are language barriers, which can be easily overcome with the help of colleagues or other professors," she said.
When it comes to the attitude towards foreign students who come to Cetinje, Pejović and Vukčević state that other students as well as professors and colleagues at the faculty are always at their disposal.
"We constantly learn from each other about different work processes, as well as various techniques and styles of creation. We exchange acquired knowledge about culture, personal development and experiences", said Vukčević.
The dean is convinced that the large participation of FLU students in the Erasmus program and the experiences they gain at art faculties in Europe "will certainly be significant for the development of the contemporary art scene in Montenegro."
"Today, mobility is an integral part of the professional development of every artist. Opportunities to access mobility programs are especially important in smaller European countries such as Montenegro, where artists must be mobile in order to establish the possibility of networking, communication and opening up to new audiences and contemporary artistic trends," he told "Vijesti".
Marković added that young artists cannot remain concentrated only on the local scene, but need to gain new experiences, which they can later apply in their environment or continue to build on in a European or international context.
Montenegro is exciting, every day offers different experiences
The Lithuanian Martinas Arlauskas points out that Montenegro is exciting and offers different experiences every day.
"Cetinje is small and welcoming. Montenegro itself is very compact and perfectly positioned for travel and sightseeing. The environment here is always changing, every now and then I come across mountains", said this student, comparing it to the mostly flat Lithuania.
On the other hand, the interlocutor of "Vijesti" points out that it is difficult for him to get used to the fact that Montenegrin society is not very ecologically minded.
"I don't understand why there is such a need for plastic bags. It's hard for me when I see people who take plastic bags in stores just for a bottle of water," he said, adding that he hopes that this will change, that society will focus on recycling, but also that soon there will be more choices when in terms of food for those who are vegetarians and vegans.
When it comes to the study process, he points out that in the short time he spent at Cetinje, it is difficult to comment on whether the structure of the lectures is better than the one in Vilnius, but that he initially had some difficulty getting used to the new system. What, in his opinion, is better in the education system of Lithuania is that the bachelor's degree is obtained after four instead of three years of study.
Essential programs in English
"Erasmus+" is the largest EU program in the field of education, training, youth and sports. Montenegro has been participating in this program since the very beginning, i.e. since 2000, but at that time it was known as Tempus.
Head of the National Erasmus+ office in Montenegro Vanja Drljević points out that "Erasmus" has become a recognizable "brand" among young people, which is celebrating its 35th anniversary this year.
"The total number of outgoing exchanges of students and academic/administrative staff is really large, so for the period from 2014 to 2021, this number is close to 2.000. Students, participants in the mobility, really achieved unforgettable experiences, not only because they improved their knowledge and skills, but also because they got to know different cultures, made acquaintances and friends around the world, improved their knowledge of foreign languages, learned some life lessons, became independent themselves, they learned to manage themselves and face life's challenges. "Young people significantly broadened their horizons, learned to think critically, as well as to observe the bigger picture, and they also broke established prejudices about many cultures and peoples," Drljević pointed out.
The countries most often chosen by Montenegrin students are Spain, Italy, Poland, France, Germany, Austria, Romania, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Slovenia and Turkey. Recently, they have also noticed that they are increasingly choosing other countries, such as Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, the Czech Republic, Finland, etc. Montenegrin students opt for exchange the most when it comes to Philology, then the Faculty of Political Sciences, the Faculty of Polytechnic Sciences, the Faculty of Economics, the Faculty of Information Systems and Technologies, the Faculty of Maritime Affairs, the Faculty of Tourism, and recently the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering.
The total number of incoming mobility of students and teaching/administrative staff for the period from 2014 to 2021 is about 1.000. Incoming mobilities mainly take place at higher levels of study, such as master's and doctoral studies, mostly due to the lack of study programs in English at the undergraduate level.
However, Drljević points out that with the introduction of study programs in English at the Faculty of Maritime Affairs and Economics, the exchange opportunities offered by Montenegro will be significantly improved. In fact, all units of Montenegrin universities are working on introducing as many subjects as possible in English, in order to facilitate and improve incoming mobility, she said.
"The results of our country when it comes to participating in the program so far are truly exceptional, especially considering that it is a small country and a small educational system," Drljević points out, adding that "Erasmus+", as the slogan of the program itself says, really "enriches people's lives and broadens horizons".
This text was awarded at the competition for the best journalistic story about the process of accession of Montenegro to the European Union. The competition was implemented by the General Secretariat of the Government, as part of the EU4ME project, funded by the EU.
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