The future Faculty of Technology of the University of Montenegro will most likely enroll the first generation of freshmen in new academic study programs in June - Food and Bioprocess Engineering, Technological Engineering, and Environment and Sustainable Development.
This is not a new state university unit, but rather an innovation of the program of the Faculty of Metallurgy and Technology (MTF), which plans to abolish enrollment in metallurgy studies after it receives the necessary approvals for the operation of new study programs.
New directions, the dean of the MTF told "Vijesti" Irena Nikolić, expand the offer of modern and attractive study programs, strengthen the interdisciplinary character of higher education and improve the University's connection with the economy and society.
"Through improving the teaching content and processes at the faculty, graduates will be enabled to be competitive and ready for the challenges of the modern labor market. The proposed study programs are based on the integration of knowledge from the fields of chemical and technological sciences, environmental protection and sustainable development, as well as food processing technologies and bioprocess engineering, which will enable better understanding and solving complex problems, as well as generating innovations," said Nikolić.
High school graduates bypassed metallurgy
Nikolić says that for years there has been little interest among high school graduates in the Metallurgy and Materials study program.
According to her, this situation is conditioned by "the economic environment in Montenegro, namely the situation in the metallurgical sector."
"This study program was last revised in 2017, when a shift was made from traditional education predominantly in the field of metallurgy to a broader field of materials, which again did not yield satisfactory results. This was a signal that this study program needed radical changes and that it was necessary to review the justification for the existence of this study program. In addition, the decline in interest in enrolling in applied studies in Environmental Protection indicated the necessity of improving this study program to the level of academic studies, given that the competencies of students after completing these studies did not meet the current needs of the labor market in Montenegro," explains Professor Nikolić.
According to her, given that Montenegro adopted the National Strategy for Sustainable Development until 2030 in 2022, which is based on three pillars - economic development, social development and environment - with the aim of balancing the needs of current and future generations through sustainable management of human, social, natural and economic resources, it was necessary to completely revise this study program.
"And further improve it through the implementation of key elements of this Strategy in curricula," Nikolić specified.
That is why, she emphasizes, the MTF embarked on radical changes that included a revision of all existing study programs.
"We began by analyzing the justification for the existence of all study programs from the perspective of labor market needs, but also scientific research work and the inclusion of the faculty in the European research and innovation space. The faculty strives to become a competitive and internationally recognized higher education institution in the field of technological sciences - chemical and food technology, biotechnology, bioprocess engineering, materials engineering and environmental protection," explains Nikolić.
According to her, last year, MTF initiated procedures for establishing new study programs in line with the development trends of the European higher education market.
"Which includes improving and innovating teaching content and applying modern methods and techniques in education, raising the quality of the scientific and research base, as well as strengthening international cooperation and inclusion in the European innovation space. Given that the MTF is moving away from the traditional metallurgical narrative, the Faculty Council recently adopted an initiative to change the name to the Faculty of Technology. The proposed name of the faculty encompasses all areas of activity, affirms the interdisciplinary character of the new study programs and is in line with modern academic standards," said Nikolić.
Responding to the needs of the country
The procedure, she says, began in May last year, when the MTF Council adopted the initiative to establish three new academic study programs - Food and Bioprocess Engineering, Technological Engineering, and Environment and Sustainable Development.
"The food industry and agro-sector have significant potential in Montenegro, but their further development requires highly educated engineering staff trained in improving production processes, food quality, as well as the application of modern biotechnological solutions, which will be provided by the Food and Bioprocess Engineering study program through the synergy of engineering disciplines, microbiology and biotechnology. The Food and Bioprocess Engineering study program is also of particular importance for sustainable development, because bioprocess engineering encourages the application of environmentally friendly technologies, efficient use of resources and the development of a circular economy. In addition, the establishment of the Food and Bioprocess Engineering study program is a response to the real needs of the labor market and the strategic goals of Montenegro in terms of strengthening domestic production, reducing import dependence and increasing the competitiveness of the domestic food industry," explains Professor Nikolić.
Montenegro, she emphasizes, has extremely valuable natural resources, the preservation and sustainable use of which requires professional staff with interdisciplinary knowledge in the fields of environmental protection, natural resource management and sustainable development.
That is why, he says, the need to establish a study program in Environment and Sustainable Development arose.
"On the labor market in Montenegro, there is a pronounced need for highly educated personnel trained in planning, implementing and monitoring environmental protection policies in accordance with national and European regulations. The special importance of the program is reflected in its contribution to sustainable development, through the education of personnel for climate change management, biodiversity protection, air and soil protection, waste management, water and energy resources, sustainable management of forest ecosystems, for the development of sustainable smart tourism, as well as the application of the principles of the circular economy," Nikolić points out.
The establishment of the Technological Engineering study program is a response to the needs of modern industry and economy of Montenegro for highly educated engineering staff qualified to design, manage and improve technological processes.
"Industrial development, modernization of production and introduction of new technologies require experts with broad knowledge in the fields of process, chemical and technological engineering, as well as quality management and environmental protection. The existing offer of study programs does not fully cover these needs, especially in the integration of fundamental disciplines, engineering, technological and organizational knowledge," emphasizes Nikolić.
It is recalled that the establishment of new study programs is a standard institutional model that includes launching an initiative at the faculty, analyzing labor market needs, analyzing the comparability of study programs with programs abroad, analyzing compliance with the UCG development strategy and the national qualification framework, preparing a study for the accreditation of study programs and their internal adoption at the sessions of the Faculty Council, Senate and the UCG Board of Directors.
"This is followed by external evaluation and accreditation, as well as licensing of study programs. In November 2025, the Board of Directors of the University of Montenegro adopted the Elaborations on the Establishment of New Study Programs and a request was sent to the Agency for Quality Control of Higher Education for external evaluation and accreditation of study programs. We expect that all activities related to the accreditation and licensing of new study programs will be completed in the next few months and that the University of Montenegro and the future Faculty of Technology will enroll the first generation of freshmen in the new study programs in June," says Nikolić.
New laboratory equipment purchased
In preparation for the new study programs, the MTF has acquired modern laboratory equipment, which will enable teaching and scientific research. In 2025, she says, funds in the amount of around 417.000 euros were spent for this purpose.
"Part of the funds, in the amount of around 232.000 euros, were provided for this purpose by the University of Montenegro, while the remaining part of the funds in the amount of 185.000 were provided from the funds of innovation and scientific research projects currently being implemented at the faculty. Through various project activities, the Faculty has provided additional funds for the purchase of scientific and research equipment in the amount of around 130.000 euros this year. In response to the aforementioned changes, in 2022, with the support of the University of Montenegro, the Faculty began infrastructural changes related to the reconstruction of laboratory space that will meet the needs of teaching in new study programs, as well as the needs of scientific research work," explained Nikolić.
Internship in government and private institutions and companies
Students will carry out the practical part in state and private institutions and companies.
"The faculty has signed cooperation agreements with some of them, which, in addition to the possibility of professional practice for students, also imply cooperation in the field of scientific research. Some of the institutions where future students will do their professional practice are the Center for Ecotoxicological Testing, the Institute of Public Health, the Institute of Drugs and Medical Devices, IPC Tehnopolis from Nikšić, Chemical Industry "Poliex", the Environmental Protection Agency, the Institute of Hydrometeorology and Seismology, the Institute of Metrology, the Brewery "Trebjesa", "Plantaže", "Deponija" Podgorica, the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant, the civil sector, as well as private companies that operate in the fields of chemical engineering, materials engineering, environmental protection and food, or bioprocess engineering," Nikolić pointed out.
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
