Quality Assurance Centre Organizes Quality Days

The University of Montenegro this year also actively continues with activities in the field of academic integrity, has got in the previous period acknowledgment by International Institute for Research and Work on prevention of unethical academic behavior and plagiarism in the University in Geneva (IRFPA).  

Continuation of intensive activities in this field we talked with the Director of Quality Assurance Centre UMNE, Sanja Pekovic, PhD.

UMNE: Online courses for academic integrity are already available on the page (Academic Integrity) Akademski integritet. What are the next steps?

PEKOVIĆ: This year training of students will start about academic integrity though online courses. All students of the University of Montenegro will have the opportunity in addition to the course to obtain a certificate.

The project “Building Capacities of Academic Integrity” supported by the Ministry of Science of Montenegro, we started conducting research about issues within the domain of academic integrity in teaching and science. Results of this research will be presented primarily on international conferences and also on the University of Montenegro in the form of round tables and lectures. Some of the results will serve for preparation of workshops for students. Besides, in this year practicum for students from the field of academic integrity will be prepared.

UMNE: Do you plan to organize Quality Days?

PEKOVIĆ: Quality days are intended for raising awareness about the importance of climate and culture of quality, diligence in teaching and science, as well as understanding procedures and proceedings for internal quality provision on the University of Montenegro. This activity will be carried out in towns where the University of Montenegro has faculties so our students would have the opportunity to meet closer the quality concept.

UMNE: Is Academic Integrity also one of topics of Quality Days?

PEKOVIĆ: Activities will include quality of studying and teaching, academic integrity, system and instruments for quality assurance in the University of Montenegro. A special accent will be put on student survey, being treated as an important instrument where students may express their own perceptions about the quality of teaching. Moreover, academic integrity will also be emphasized in this promotion since ethical issues to a great extent determine quality of teaching and its outcomes. Students will have the opportunity through interactive workshops to ask questions. Questions will be answered by professors who participate in this activity.  

UMNE: What is the goal of implementation of activities such as last year’s campaign “Knowledge is In, Deserve a Title Within” and Quality Days?

PEKOVIĆ: Promotion of academic integrity as system of ethical virtues in teaching and science has been started by the campaign “Knowledge is In, Deserve a Title Within” but also by other activities implemented by the University of Montenegro. Aim of these activities in this field is restoration of fundamental academic postulates, raising awareness about the importance of academic honesty, respect, honor and ethics. We have opened an important topic and we will continue working on it.   

Both of these activities witness about genuine and honest dedication of the University of Montenegro to fundamental virtues of university teaching. We hope these and similar activities will encourage our students to work diligently and with dedication, to respect their own and someone else’s work, obtain quality diplomas. Such diplomas may bring only good to the society as a whole.