What troubles students in Montenegro: Between ambitions and reality

Ahead of April 4th, Students' Day, we spoke with young people from different parts of Montenegro - from Bijelo Polje, Tivat and Nikšić.

Emina Kešmer, a final-year student at the Faculty of Political Sciences, speaks openly for Boje jutra about a problem that, as she says, is not talked about enough - what after graduation?

"A large number of students stay in Podgorica because the opportunities in the north are significantly fewer. I would return to Bijelo Polje myself, but only if job opportunities opened up," she says.

Her story is not an exception - but the rule. Young people often choose between staying in their hometown and pursuing a professional future.

Matej Vučković, a freshman from Tivat studying multimedia design, is at the beginning of his academic journey. He says that studies are demanding, but also motivating.

"Leaving our comfort zone forces us to discover ourselves. Podgorica welcomed me warmly, I made many friends, and I can already see how important internships are for what awaits us after college," he points out.

For him, like many others, balancing exams and personal interests is a key challenge.

Tijana Vučković, from Nikšić, who is studying law, points out the financial reality of student life.

"Student loans can help, but they are often not enough. Many students work alongside their studies, which makes everything even more difficult, especially during exam periods," she says.

And exam deadlines, as her colleague Damir Pilica adds, bring a special kind of pressure:

"The exam lasts a few hours, but the deadline lasts for weeks – and that's what's most exhausting."

One of the key messages students send is the need for more practical knowledge.

While Emina believes that through her studies she has gained basic job readiness, Tijena emphasizes that theory is often not enough:

"Without practice, it is difficult to gain real insight into what awaits us after college."

Damir points out that professors can have a great influence – but only if they know how to convey knowledge:

"It is not enough to have knowledge, it is important to be able to convey it. When this is achieved, the material becomes much closer and more understandable."