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.
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:
Within the programming track, the following career paths are available:
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.
The program lasts approximately 9 months and consists of three phases:
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.
The educational programs are aimed at:
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.
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.
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.
