As part of the First Montenegrin Security Academy for Youth, twenty students had the opportunity to get to know the NATO alliance and its foreign policies better, to learn how to recognize disinformation in traditional media and on social networks, identify bots and trolls, and learn how to verify information.
The Academy was organized by the Center for Civic Education (CGO) within the project of the same name with the support of the NATO Department for Public Diplomacy, and the participants were awarded diplomas today.
Through interactive lectures by lecturers from Montenegro and abroad, students also learned about Russia's role in the Western Balkans, the position of religious organizations in growing extremism among young people, and about the competences of institutions in processes that are particularly vulnerable to foreign influences.
"Participants had the opportunity to learn how to recognize misinformation in traditional media and social networks, identify bots and trolls, learn how to verify information, get acquainted with the basic concepts of cyber security, ways to protect privacy in the online environment, but also with communication NATO's policy in Montenegro," said project assistant Nikola Obradović.
Participants at the opening greeted Deputy Assistant Secretary General for NATO Public Diplomacy Carmen Romero, who emphasized the importance of Montenegro's participation in the joint activities of the NATO alliance.
"NATO does not seek conflicts, nor does it pose a threat to Russia, but we will continue to respond to Russian threats and actions in a united and responsible manner. Unity and responsibility are key messages today as we celebrate the 74th anniversary of its founding," she said.
Given that Montenegro is a member of the NATO alliance, with the Academy they want to interest young people in these issues in a more meaningful and closer way, stressed the coordinator for development in the CGE, Damir Nikočević.
"We live in a dynamic age, and knowledge in these areas should be constantly upgraded, regardless of the fact that sometimes we think that we have mastered some topics. This is especially important due to the ongoing security challenges in the country, the environment, and beyond - especially when it comes to Russian aggression on Ukraine. We at CGO are sure that the first generation of the Montenegrin Security Academy for young people is only an initial capsule for new generations who will acquire knowledge in areas that concern their present, but also the future, because this form of informal education is important for them." he assessed.
Academy participant Sandra Rajković said that during the Academy they had the "privilege and pleasure of talking with top experts, learning something new and exchanging opinions".
"The main goal of the Academy was to strengthen the resistance of young people to foreign malignant influences and to motivate them to respond to those influences, and I believe that this goal has been achieved and I am completely satisfied with the knowledge and experience gained. I encourage all young people to apply to one of the following Academies, because this kind of program contributes to building academic integrity and helps us young people to learn about different topics," said Rajković.
Participant Vedran Vujisić believes that he gained useful knowledge about strengthening the resistance of young people to malignant foreign influences
He assessed that the two-day program was "extremely well conceived, diversified and adapted to the interests of young people/students".
"Educated and empowered young people can significantly contribute to the resilience and productivity of the wider social community. I see the importance of this and similar programs in strengthening the capacities of young people in the context of critical observation and reflection on the socio-political and security situation: locally, regionally and globally," Vujisić said. .
The CGO said that the participants of the Academy applied for the program through a competitive process that generated significantly more applications than the expected number of participants.
The lecturers at the First Montenegrin Security Academy were: Nikoleta Đukanović, professor at the University of Donja Gorica (Humanities), Radmila Perović, head of the Directorate for NATO and the EU in the Ministry of Defense, Boban Batrićević, historian, Milica Kovačević, program director of the Center for Democratic Transition ( CDT), Oleg Gerasimenko, ambassador of Ukraine in Montenegro, Milan Jovanović, analyst at the Digital Forensic Center (DFC), Filip Milošević, community development coordinator of the SHARE Foundation, engineer for audio and video technologies, Filip Adžić, Minister of Internal Affairs and coordinator of the Ministry of Defense in the Government of Montenegro and Raško Konjević, former Minister of Defense in the Government of Montenegro and President of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The first Montenegrin security academy was completed by: Aleksandra Janinović, Darko Šćepanović, Edon Čauši, Filip Perić, Iva Jovićević, Jelena Bulatović, Jovan Dabović, Jovana Radulović, Jovana Vučeraković, Neda Srdanović, Nikola Banović, Nikola Vlahović, Omar Lekić, Sandra Rajković, Sofija Kirsanov, Tamara Music, Tamara Terzic, Tijana Vidaković, Vedran Vujisić, Željka Pajović.
Bonus video:
