The University of Donja Gorica (UDG) announced today a 20-year strategic partnership with Arizona State University, ranked the most innovative university in the U.S. by U.S. News and World Report for the last seven consecutive years and one of the world’s most prestigious universities by Times Higher Education; and the Cintana Alliance, a global network of ambitious universities working together to develop and scale high-quality academic programs.
This partnership significantly improves the quality of higher education and the opportunities that will be open for young people from across the region. Thanks to this partnership, UDG’s academic environment will welcome the leader in innovation in the region, bringing its global influence in scientific research and the best online program for undergraduate business degrees. In the future, UDG and the Cintana Alliance will work collaborative to expand UDG’s resources beyond Montenegro through online degree programs and regional learning centers throughout the region.
“The key goal of this cooperation is to develop the UDG as a research-focused, entrepreneurial university.” Said Veselin Vukotic, Rector & Leading Co-Founder of the University of Donja Gorica. “In collaboration with other universities in Montenegro and the region, we aim to transform the university into an institution that is not only educational, but one that integrates education, research and development, and as a result becomes one of the key drivers for growth and transformation in its community.”
Founded in 2007, UDG has evolved into a unique entrepreneurial university with a strong vision toward increasing access to high-quality education. Today, UDG offers a range of undergraduate programs, master’s programs, and doctoral programs, serving over 3,000 students. UDG’s programs are oriented to each individual student while still providing a fundamental technical knowledge in core areas, including IT, research, entrepreneurship, and communication skills, as well as a focus on learning multiple languages. By maximizing the exposure students have to a wide range of learning experiences, UDG is becoming a transformational leader in the region.
“Through highly accelerated rates of innovation, significant use of technology, and by implementing a transformative culture, we figured out how to create a fabulous learning environment for our students and faculty,” said Michael Crow, president of ASU. “We’ve built innovative tools and technology capabilities to advance things in new ways. As the most innovative University in the U.S., ASU partners with institutions who also aim to become the most innovative universities in their regions. We believe UDG shares our mindset and values and we’re very excited to partner with them to be a part of their growth. We’re all in on this relationship and look forward to working with them.”
In joining the Cintana Alliance, UDG will offer a unique educational model that opens a wide range of new academic opportunities for students such as access to ASU curriculum, as well as the unique opportunity to participate in dual degree programs, student mobility programs, co-teaching, and research exchanges. Students will benefit from career-oriented curricula, practical experience in real-world projects, opportunities to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges and to increase competitiveness in their future careers.
“Around the world, higher education is becoming more and more important to the economic, social, and geopolitical fabric of a country,” said Douglas L. Becker, founder and chairman of Cintana Education. “By being able to expand the resources of one of America’s finest universities to students across the Balkans, we are opening critical new pathways for collaboration, innovation, and development. It is a great honor to be able to welcome UDG to the Cintana Alliance and we look forward to many years of collective growth and shared learning.”
As part of the Cintana Alliance, UDG joins a select group of universities from around the world including, Almaty Management University, American University Kyiv, Galala University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics and Finance, Istanbul Bilgi University, Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, Universidad Latina de Costa Rica, Universidad Internacional del Ecuador, and The NorthCap University.
