Milos Zarkovic from Podgorica is one of one hundred winners of the prestigious Hubert H. Humphrey scholarship program at the world level. He said that his goal was to improve himself in the United States.
"Bearing in mind that I was in France during my Ph.D. studies and I graduated at one of the best universities in Ireland, the decision on academic and professional development abroad has never been brought into question. With regard to studying in a large number of European countries, including Vienna, Bratislava, Zagreb, and Ljubljana for basic studies, my dream was to further pursue my knowledge in the United States. This was achieved in August 2018 at the University of Boston," Milos said.
Zarkovic explains that it is necessary to meet conditions such as fluent English and completed faculty with high average grades in order to be eligible for this prestigious scholarship. Candidates must also have five years of professional experience in the field they want to study and expressed leadership skills.
"I had a good foundation for the program, by staying in 2016 at the Russian Presidential Academy for Economics and Participating in the Global Summit of Young Leaders in Moscow. An additional reference was my participation at the scientific conferences of the Geary Institute in Dublin, Ireland and Stellenbosch University in Cape Town, South Africa. Anyway, this year, the program marked 40 years of its existence," he says. The difference between the educational system abroad and here is best seen in the spectrum of opportunities that the state offers to its citizens, emphasizes Zarkovic.
"Starting from the education system, opportunities for cooperation and learning from the world-renowned professors, working in one of the most successful companies, healthcare quality, America offers great opportunities in all areas. I lived and studied in many countries in Europe, but after a while, in the United States I came to the conclusion that the US is the best place to recognize potential in every person," Milos said.
Zarkovic adds that the professors are much more accessible than those in Europe and in particular those in Montenegro. "My view is that the US study system does not prepare students for a particular profession or job but allows them to develop a whole spectrum of skills that are applicable to several professions. In America, there is a great emphasis on interdisciplinary education that promotes critical thinking and freedom of thought," says Milos.
I would like to build a career in Montenegro
Milos also points to the importance of studies and specializations abroad and recommends that students apply for exchange and training programs outside the borders of Montenegro.
"In my opinion, young people are more likely to adapt to changing work and living environments. Schooling in the United States represents a unique opportunity for students to become acquainted first with the way of life in such a large country, and then with the educational system that is one of the best in the world. As much as the path to the goal sometimes seems unimaginable and difficult to overcome, only faith in oneself, love for the job, labor are the right definitions that lead to the desired results. We often have the opportunity to hear that staying abroad can change one’s life. It is one thing to know it, and to experience the same, is completely different. Indeed, it is worth every effort," concludes Milos, who hopes that Montenegro will recognize his work, experience and quality and thus will allow him to build a career outside of Montenegro.
Text by Andjela Minic and Aleksandra Kovacevic, on May 29th, 2019, read more at Vijesti
