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Twelve Montenegrin IT companies have provided support to schools in securing grants from the Regional Challenge Fund to equip three vocational secondary schools from Podgorica, Nikšić, and Bijelo Polje with modern computer equipment worth over one million euros. This investment is of great importance for improving the educational process in these schools, and the modern computer equipment will directly impact the quality of future professionals in the IT industry.
The Public Institution Secondary Electrical Engineering School “Vaso Aligrudić” from Podgorica, the Vocational Secondary School from Nikšić, and the Secondary Electro-Economic School from Bijelo Polje, in addition to receiving equipment worth over one million euros, will also benefit from three years of support from IT companies through mentorship and student internships within these companies. Through the cooperation between the education sector and the business community, young people are gaining practical knowledge that prepares them for the labor market.
Out of the €508,000 that the “Vaso Aligrudić” school will receive over three years of project implementation, around €350,000 is allocated for equipment, €115,000 will be used for construction works, while approximately €10,000 will be allocated for various types of teaching materials necessary for the delivery of training programs. On April 18, 2024, the school was handed equipment worth €140,000, consisting of 75 high-performance personal computers, and conditions will soon be created for the delivery of the remaining equipment.
Within the third call for grant awards, with the support of the non-governmental organization ICT Cortex, grants were also awarded to the Vocational Secondary School in Nikšić and the Secondary Electro-Economic School from Bijelo Polje. Aiming to improve the working and teaching conditions for the study programs “Electrical Technician for Web and Mobile Application Development” and “Electrical Technician for Computer Systems and Networks Development,” they were awarded a grant totaling €568,000. Through the implementation of another three-year project, member companies of the ICT Cortex NGO will continue to make a direct contribution to the development of a cooperative education system in Montenegro, based on close collaboration between businesses and schools.
“Through this project, companies are sending a message that they are ready to invest in young people, prepare them for the demands of the labor market, and help shape them into young professionals,” stated representatives of the non-governmental organization for information technology, ICT Cortex.
Statement from Ersan Spahić, Director of the Public Institution Secondary Electrical Engineering School “Vaso Aligrudić”:
“The partnership with the Regional Challenge Fund and domestic IT companies represents a historic step forward for our school in the modernization of education. Thanks to this significant investment, our students will, for the first time, have access to equipment and working conditions that are fully aligned with the demands of the modern labor market in the field of information technology.
This support is not just an investment in equipment — it is an investment in knowledge, in competencies, and in young people who will have the opportunity to learn through practice during their education, guided by experts from leading IT companies. I am confident that this project will leave a lasting impact on the quality of education, as well as on the future of our students, who will graduate ready to meet the challenges of the modern digital world.
I would like to thank the Regional Challenge Fund, ICT Cortex, and the companies that recognized the importance of investing in education. Our school is proud to be part of this project and to be jointly building bridges between education and industry.”
The funds for the mentioned projects were provided by the Regional Challenge Fund (RCF), which invests in projects that connect companies with vocational education and training institutions, ensuring that students acquire the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the modern business environment. The RCF is financed by the governments of Germany and Switzerland, and the investments are directed toward vocational education programs designed in collaboration with companies. This approach results in educational programs that meet the specific needs of the industry, helping the economies of the Western Balkans to grow and become competitive in the European market.
Over the course of the three calls for proposals held so far, the Regional Challenge Fund has allocated €3.25 million to support a total of seven vocational education and training projects in Montenegro, involving 40 partner companies.
