At the beginning Mr. Skutelic stresses the importance that human capital, defined as recruiting, supporting and investing in people, should constitute skills of analytical and critical thinking, understanding of facts and practical usage of aquired knowledge.

"...when we talk about human capital development, we refer to our intention to enable all citizen to be flexible, adaptable, quick learners and problem solvers."

The minister points at Montenegro, which recognized the necessity for human capital development and built this vision in its long-term strategy for development of education. Designing spesific measures for human capital building in Montenegro was influenced by the main principles of the Bologna process which guided the process of higher education reform in Montenegro.

Further he listed the adopted legal and strategic documents:

• Law on Recognition and Evaluation of foreign Diplomas which is aligned with Lisbon Recognition Convention and which, along with the existence of ENIC of Montenegro, significantly facilitated recognition procedure, and consequently academic and professional mobility,
• Law on National Vocational Qualification, aligned with the best European practice and international conventions, which enables and strengthens links between formal, non-formal and informal learning, and stipulates the procedure for the recognition of non-formal and informal learning, enabling aquisition of knowledge through different paths and validitation of vocational qualifications, regardless the way in which these were acquired,
• The Law on Scientific-Research Activities and Strategy for Scientific-Research Activities for the Period 2008-2016 which considers the HEIs to be the main perfomrers of the research activcities and foresees the upgrading of the research capacities in Montenegro.
• Guidelines on Reaccredidation of Higher Education Institutions and Study Programs
• The "Strategy of Establishment of NQF in Montenegro" and accompanying draft document  "Development of NGF in Montenegro" specifying main ideas, principles, levels and their descriptors to serve as a base in the process of system establishment,
• "National Strategy for Employment and Development of Human Resources for the Period 2007-2011", which underlines the importance of the human capital development and specifies main tasks and activities to be undertaken in order to ensure further development and competiiveness of Montenegrin economy.

The Ministry of Education and Science supports development of human capital through annual provision of financial support which enables:

• co-financing of tuition fees for master studies in accordance with defined criteria;
• co-financing of tuition fees for doctoral studies in accordance with criteria;
• co-financing of participation in scientific conferences, congresses at international level for doctoral students;
• co-financing of travel expenses for students who spend a certain period abroad based on bilateral agreements or some international exchange programs;
• co-financing of applications, evaluations and defenses of doctoral thesis.

Further the Ministry of Education and Science finances every year 70% of around 50-70 national scientific-research projects.

Mr. Skuletic concluded that the University of Montenegro has invested significant efforts in order to provide funding resources for the improvements of internal QA processes. This resulted in the establishment of QA centre dealing with the professional development or staff, promotion of academic staff, etc. which is financed by WUS Austria. Thus his Ministry, in cooperation with the University of Montenegro, applied for IPA 2007 funds, which are planned too be used for capacity development of staff dealing with QA, upgrading the IT for this purpose and training of staff responsible for QA.

In addition he mentioned, that the University of Montenegro and Ministry of Education and Science are putting efforts in order to design projects in this area which would be financed by the World Bank support.

Then Mr. Skuletic listed the main challenges which they will face in the following years:

• Implementation of aims, tasks and activities as defined in the "Strategy for Establishment of NQF in Montenegro",
• Drafting "Strategy for Development of Higher Education",
• Strengthening of the links between higher education institutions and the labor market,
• Increasing the efficiency of studying,
• Implementation of the joint degrees,
• Complete harmonization with Directive EC/36/2005 with regard to regulated professions;
• Restructuring the models of higher education financing;
• Increased students` and academic mobility (facilitating of visa procedure)
• Establishment of the QA and accreditation agency.

"As what you can see there are many tasks ahead and many activities we have to do if we want to become a real society of knowledge. Just if we work together and if each and every single player invests all efforts he or she can, we can hope that the best capital - human capital- will be developed in the way which will ensure both personal and social growth."

Source: Sreten Skuletic