Selected schools presented their partnerships, joined direct conversations with institutional partners and signed Partnership Agreements under the 5th Superschools Open Call.
PODGORICA, 06 November – Two secondary schools from Montenegro, selected through the 5th Superschools Open Call, presented their regional partnerships and new project ideas at the “Meet the Superschools” event. The event was organized as part of the Superschools programme, an initiative co-funded by the European Union and the German Government and implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in cooperation with the Regional Youth Cooperation Office (RYCO).
The selected schools are partnering with schools from Kosovo* and Serbia. Their joint projects use intercultural learning, non-formal education and cooperation between school communities to support dialogue, inclusion, peacebuilding and stronger connections among young people across the Western Balkans. The 5th Open Call is part of Superschools 3.0, which aims to support 165 bilateral school partnerships involving 330 secondary schools and 660 teachers. These partnerships will facilitate 330 exchanges, engaging approximately 3,960 young people across four open calls. introducing the selected schools to the objectives, implementation approach and opportunities of the new project phase.
Representatives of the selected schools were joined by Mr. Edin Koljenović, Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro, Mr. Darko Stojanović, Director General of the Directorate for Youth at the Ministry of Sports and Youth of Montenegro, Mr. Dragan Marković, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation of Montenegro, Ms. Dominika Skubida, Representative of the EU Delegation to Montenegro.
A conversation focused on schools and partnership
Institutional representatives discussed why the work of schools is important for peacebuilding and regional cooperation, why long-term support for Superschools matters, and what message should be
In his opening remarks, Edin Koljenović, Head of the RYCO Local Branch Office in Montenegro, emphasized the importance of building on existing partnerships and strengthening regional cooperation through the Superschools programme.
“In the year when Montenegro chairs the Berlin Process, Superschools demonstrates how regional cooperation is built within local communities. Through exchanges, schools develop partnerships that can last for years, teachers share experiences they bring back to their classrooms, and young people learn to engage in dialogue even when their experiences and perspectives differ. This is how Superschools contributes to reconciliation in the Western Balkans and how RYCO puts its mission into practice,” said Koljenović.
Darko Stojanović, Director General of the Directorate for Youth at the Ministry of Sports and Youth of Montenegro, highlighted the importance of empowering young people through regional cooperation.
“Superschools gives young people opportunities to connect, exchange experiences and build mutual understanding across the region. The Ministry of Sports and Youth remains committed to supporting initiatives that encourage youth mobility, active participation and lasting connections beyond individual exchanges,” said Stojanović.
Dragan Marković, State Secretary at the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation of Montenegro, emphasized the programme’s impact on education and school communities.
“Previous cycles of Superschools have demonstrated the value of regional exchanges for both students and teachers. Teachers bring new experiences and approaches back into their classrooms, extending the benefits of the programme to wider school communities. The Ministry recognizes the importance of supporting these partnerships and building on the results achieved so far,” said Marković.
Dominika Skubida, Representative of the EU Delegation to Montenegro, reaffirmed the European Union’s continued support for the programme.
“The European Union is proud to support Superschools and the partnerships it has helped establish across the Western Balkans. Building on the achievements of previous cycles, this new phase represents a continued investment in dialogue, mutual understanding and a shared European future for young people in the region,” said Skubida.
A central part of the programme was “Coffee with the Superschools,” an informal and facilitated session bringing school representatives into direct conversation with donor, ministry and RYCO representatives. The schools discussed the impact of earlier exchanges, what motivates them to continue, what they have gained through their partnerships and what they expect from the new cycle.
The selected schools presented concise overviews of their new projects and signed their Partnership Agreements during the event. The signing represented a shared commitment to the next cycle of cooperation and connected the schools’ previous experience with their plans for the new exchanges.
Projects involving schools from Montenegro include “Together We Can”, and “Ideas in Motion”.
FULL LIST OF SELECTED SCHOOLS CAN BE FOUND HERE: LINK
RYCO congratulates the selected schools and looks forward to supporting them as they transform their project ideas into meaningful learning experiences for students, teachers and school communities.
*This designation is without prejudice to positions on status and is in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo Declaration of Independence.