Universities are the drivers of change and their role is crucial not only in overall social processes, but also in the process of European integration, and therefore the future of Europe will not be built only in Brussels, Paris and Berlin, but also in Montenegro.
That is the message from the Ulysseus International Networking Conference, as part of the second day of the 10th Rectors' Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans, jointly organized by the University of Montenegro and the Rectors' Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans.
Rector of the University of Montenegro, Prof. Dr. Vladimir Božović, said that European universities are required to be faster, more open, more innovative, while still remaining true to their academic essence.
"A demanding task, even for institutions accustomed to long-term thinking. What gives me hope is that we are not approaching this task alone. We are part of something bigger - a network, a shared space of ideas and initiatives. Ulysseus is more than a project. It is a reminder that cooperation is not an exception, but a condition for relevance," said Božović, as reported by PR Center.
He emphasized that Montenegro is a small country in size, but never in spirit.
"Montenegro may be a modest dot on the map, but it is a place that understands complexity, because we live it. And that, I believe, is a valuable perspective that we bring to the European conversation about innovation, inclusion and resilience."
The President of the Rectors' Forum, Rector of the University of Rijeka, Prof. Dr. Snježana Prijić-Samaržija, recalled that the Rectors' Forum of Southeast Europe and the Western Balkans was founded in 2018 as an expression of the desire of university rectors in the region for cooperation and mutual empowerment in fulfilling university missions.
Over the past three years, efforts have been particularly focused on the European Universities Initiative and the theme of European networks, which is a flagship program of the European Commission, she added.
“European universities have a special role and place in the European University Strategy, as well as in the Action Plan of Roxane Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for People, Skills and Readiness, who promised stronger funding for the Erasmus+ programme after 2027 and highlighted the priorities of the European diploma and legal status for alliances of European universities. Ekaterina Zaharieva, Commissioner for Start-ups, Research and Innovation, highlighted the role of European alliances in FP10 and Horizon Europe. In her political guidelines for 2024-2029, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that the aim is to enhance cooperation between research institutions, higher education and industry, in particular by strengthening our university alliances,” she said.
He believes that European alliances will serve as the most relevant instrument for promoting internationalization and establishing a new social contract for European universities of the future.
The President of the University of the Côte d'Azur in Nice, Jean-Claude Briswalter, explained that Ulysseus is a network of eight universities from different parts of Europe, united by a common vision of what a 21st century university should represent, which is - a university open to the world, connected through the socio-economic needs of its regions and able to respond to Europe's key scientific and technological challenges, especially in terms of competitiveness and sovereignty.
"It is precisely from that vision that in 2024 we were pleased to accept the University of Montenegro and entrust it with an important role in the development of the Cybersecurity Innovation Center," said Briswalter.
Maintaining stability in the academic world is achieved, he said, through two main strategies.
"The first is academic diplomacy, which involves increasing student and staff mobility, developing joint projects, organizing conferences and workshops, and increasing the number of joint degrees. The second is scientific diplomacy, which involves bringing important social issues to the political sphere, while emphasizing positions based on scientific facts."
Regarding the debate "The Role of Universities in the EU Accession Process", Deputy Prime Minister Filip Ivanović said that the Government believes that the role of universities is crucial not only in overall social processes, but also in the process of European integration.
"Universities educate experts who lead the process of European integration, or negotiations with the European Union. The expertise that universities provide to our experts will be even more important in the coming period, when Montenegro achieves its goal and becomes a member of the European Union. Then our experts will work not only in Montenegro, but also in the institutions of the European Union," said Ivanović.
He pointed out that the Government will work to increase the funds allocated by the state for research, because they are currently, as he said, at a significantly lower level than the European Union average.
"We will also work to create an environment in which our universities will be able to freely partner with other universities in the region and the European Union, so that they can jointly and synergistically apply for various funds that exist in the EU, with the aim of increasing their capacities and research results," said Ivanović.
The Ambassador of the European Union to Montenegro, Johan Sattler, said that universities are not just educational institutions, but also drivers of change.
“As you continue to shape the minds of the future, I ask you to consider how your leadership, your research, your educational programs, and your international cooperation can best be used to ensure that the Western Balkans and Montenegro are ready for the EU, not only in a political sense, but as an integrated, prosperous, and dynamic part of our community,” Sattler said.
He told the students that a changing world needs new perspectives, in order to together shape a Europe that will be more just, fair and sustainable.
"Europe needs you. It needs your ideas, your energy and your curiosity. The future of Europe will not be built only in Brussels, Paris and Berlin, but right here - in Podgorica, Bijelo Polje, Bar", Sattler is convinced.
The Secretary General of the Rectors' Forum from the University of Ljubljana, Prof. Dr. Ivan Svetlik, pointed out that, although European universities are not directly involved in negotiations with the European Union, they possess a significant number of experts and expertise that they can provide to negotiators at the state level.
"Universities need to prepare for the new situation. They are already preparing now, because they are involved in numerous European programs, such as the European University Alliance. In this way, they are training themselves and their employees to be successful both after joining the European Union, but also before that," said Svetlik.
Speaking about transferring good practices to universities from the Western Balkans, he said that the Rectors' Forum is continuously working on that mission.
"We try to do this several times a year within the Rectors' Forum, because we organize various workshops for universities in this area. Through such gatherings, like the one in Podgorica, we bring together rectors from a large number of universities and in this way spread information about these practices, so that they can follow them and adapt to new circumstances," said Svetlik.
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