CHARACTERISTICS OF BOLOGNA PROCESS IMPLEMENTATION IN MONTENEGRO HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEMS

Socio-economic changes of Montenegro, as a young democracy, have introduced need for reform of educational system, specially higher education, to support and faster process of transition of its economic, political and social system. Highly educated young individuals are the most important factor for building one modern, democratic society, with strong EU integration aspiration, able to implement and develop European values as democracy, rule of low, respect to minorities. Bologna process was one of the basic frameworks for transformation and reform of higher education at the European continent. Accession of a new member country to the EU involves a complex process of its adjustment to the "rules of the game" for new member states. In that regard the Bologna process has offered perfect instrument for the essential reforms in higher educational system for all accession countries. For the Montenegro as a new country, skills and experiences acquired under the communist system became less marketable in the new market environment, compared to human capital acquired during the transition. For the higher educational system in Montenegro, Bolognareform of higher education towards more competitive and knowledge based economies, was the major reform path. All these have created urgent need for the high educational reform to enhance growth and increase the competitiveness. Thats why Montenegro has introduced intensive high education reform package, signing of the Bologna Declaration in 2003. This paper will try to give answers to: Will Montenegro be able to compete in the knowledge economy and develop skills required for the twenty-first century? What are the major obstacles that higher education faces in Montenegro?