From July 1st to 3rd, 2008, Montenegro will host in Budva the Higher Education, Science and Innovation Policy Forum in South Eastern Europe, organised by the UNESCO Regional Bureau for Science and Culture in Europe (BRESCE) and the Ministry of Education and Science of Montenegro.

The opening session on Wednesday July 2nd, will be chaired by Prof. Dr. Sreten Škuletić, Minister of Education and Science of Montenegro. The Prime Minister, H.E. Mr. Milo Đukanović, will deliver an opening address, formally launching the Forum.

Final program of UNESCO Forum Budva 2008, July 1st-3rd

This event will bring together some 100 participants and representatives of Ministries of Education and Science, Universities, Academies, National Parliaments from South Eastern European countries in an attempt to adopt a forward-looking approach to higher education and science governance for society. The Forum is composed of four sessions:
 SESSION I: Knowledge Triangle — Education, Research and Innovation in National Policies (chaired by Mr. Engelbert Ruoss, Director of UNESCO BRESCE, Italy);
 SESSION II: Roles of Governments, Parliaments, Universities, Academies, and the Private Sector in National Research and Innovation Systems (chaired by Prof. Dr. Zdravko Uskoković, Vice-Rector of the University of Montenegro);
 SESSION III: Changes Needed in Science and Higher Education Institutions and Practices (chaired by Mr. Adrian Curaj, PhD, MBA, Director of the Executive Agency for Higher Education and Research Funding, Romania); and
 SESSION IV: European and International Cooperation in the Field of Higher Education, Science and Innovation (chaired by Prof. Dr. Radmila Marinković-Nedučin, Rector of the University of Novi Sad, Serbia).

Each session consists of a first part, plenary, and a second part divided into several parallel workshops, each one illustrating the theme introduced in the plenary from different angles. Conclusions of each session are to be submitted as recommendations to the plenary in the concluding session, on Thursday July 3rd, 2008 in the afternoon end, to which will participate Mr. Janez Potočnik, European Union Commissioner for Science and Research.

The recommendations emerging from this Forum — the “Final Communique, Budva 2008” — will contribute to the UNESCO Forum on Higher Education in the Europe Region: Access, Values, Quality and Competitiveness from May 21 to 24, 2009 in Bucharest, Romania, and to the 2009 World Conference on Higher Education: The New Dynamics of Higher Education from July 6 to 8, 2009 at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France.

The 2009 World Conference on Higher Education will celebrate the Xth anniversary of the first one that defined fundamental principles for the in-depth reform of higher education systems and the advancement of science for society throughout the world.

Reference documents

July 2nd: Opening speech by Mr. Engelbert Ruoss, Director of UNESCO BRESCE, Italy

July 3rd: Speech n° 08/373 by Mr. Janez Potočnik, European Commissioner for Science and Research