The Largest Free IT Education Program in Montenegro
The Largest Free IT Education Program in Montenegro Cortex Academy was established as a response to the urgent need for rapid and efficient development of qualified IT professionals in the Montenegrin labor market. It enables the country to address the challenges brought by the accelerated development of information and communication technologies, as well as the growing demands of digitalization across all sectors of society. The Academy is positioned as a bridge between the formal education system and the ICT industry, while simultaneously serving as a support platform for member companies of the ICT Cortex cluster. ICT Cortex Cluster Goals: Strengthening the IT industry through strategic initiatives Encouraging education and employment Improving internationalization and export competitiveness Accelerating the digital transformation of society Promoting innovation and competitiveness Affirming socially responsible business practices About Cortex Academy Cortex Academy was launched at the beginning of 2022 with the support of Crnogorski Telekom and the organization Help Montenegro. Each year, training programs are organized in the following areas: Programming (backend, frontend, mobile applications) Software testing Project management in the IT sector Digital marketing and design Technologies and Career Paths Within the programming track, the following career paths are available: Backend: Laravel, Node.js, ASP.NET Frontend: Angular, React Mobile applications: Flutter The structure and content of the program are defined based on the expressed needs of member companies, while changes to the Academy’s concept are implemented based on evaluations conducted during and after each cycle. Program Structure The program lasts approximately 9 months and consists of three phases: Online Phase I – Basic content and elimination tests Online Phase II – Advanced tasks and candidate selection Practical Phase – Project implementation with mentor support The mentor team consists of experienced professionals, with special emphasis on practical understanding of programming concepts and teamwork. Only candidates who demonstrate a high level of knowledge, motivation, and commitment during the online phases are granted access to the practical phase. This ensures quality and provides companies with the opportunity to work with the most promising participants, who can later be hired for junior positions. Target Groups The educational programs are aimed at: High school students from vocational schools and general education schools Computer science students Adults seeking to retrain or further develop their skills Employees of ICT Cortex member companies By participating in the programs, students gain additional professional knowledge, practical experience, and so-called soft skills, reducing the gap between labor market needs and formal education. Collaboration with high schools focuses on vocational schools that educate IT professionals, as well as general education schools (gymnasiums) that gather the most talented students. So far, students from Podgorica, Nikšić, and Bijelo Polje have participated in the programs. Role in the Education System Cortex Academy also contributes to the higher education system through cooperation with universities, establishing a reliable link between formal education and industry needs. Through modern content and industry involvement, the Academy contributes to curriculum modernization and better preparation of young people for the labor market. Industry Support The education program is supported by the following member companies of the cluster: Amplitudo, Bild, Codeus, Codepixel, Coins, Cikom, Fleka, First Line Software, Data Design, Oykos Development. Cortex Academy in Numbers Over 2,000 applications for participation More than 20 mentors from the private sector 50 high school students involved in soft skills development 3 programming competitions for high school students 114 participants successfully completed the training 33% of participants employed after graduation The fourth cycle of the Academy (2024/2025) is currently ongoing
Specialized Courses and Workshops within the Cortex Academy
Specialized Courses and Workshops within the Cortex Academy “Software Testing” Course One of the specialized courses within the Cortex Academy is the Software Testing course, primarily intended for adult participants who want to start a career in manual software testing. This year, 7 participants have enrolled in the course, and mentorship is provided by Marko Dragović, a software testing expert from Amdocs Montenegro. The course lasts for 9 months and covers all key aspects of manual testing, which is an essential part of the software development process. Unlike the hybrid format typical for programming courses, this course is conducted entirely in person. Last year’s generation included 9 participants from ICT Cortex member companies. “Introduction to Bioinformatics” Workshop As part of expanding educational activities into other scientific fields, Cortex Academy, in partnership with the NGO Bioinformatika, organized a one-day workshop titled “Introduction to Bioinformatics,” held on May 11, 2024. The workshop was intended for students of biology, computer science, chemistry, physics, mathematics, pharmacy, and medicine. Prior to the workshop, a two-week social media campaign attracted 20 registered participants. During the workshop, participants refreshed their knowledge of basic molecular biology concepts, learned about next-generation sequencing (NGS), explored biological databases, and gained an understanding of protein structures. Through solving a mysterious case using bioinformatics tools, they applied databases such as UniProt and the Protein Data Bank (PDB). In addition, they were introduced to potential career opportunities in the field of bioinformatics. The workshop was led by Katarina Elez, co-founder of the NGO Bioinformatika and a PhD student at the University of Berlin, whose research applies molecular simulations and machine learning to drug discovery.
