Meeting in Montenegro – Strategic Planning for Universities in Small Countries and Territories

The Network of Universities of Small Countries and Territories (NUSCT) held its 8th Rectors’ Annual Meeting on 8 May 2026 at the University of Montenegro, bringing together rectors and senior representatives from member universities across Europe and beyond.

Hosted by the University of Montenegro, the meeting provided a strategic forum for university leaders from small higher education systems to reflect on shared challenges, exchange best practices, and define common priorities for the future development of NUSCT. The meeting was formally opened by Prof. Vladimir Božović, PhD, Rector of the University of Montenegro, who emphasized the importance of international academic cooperation for universities operating in small countries and territories. Welcome remarks were also delivered by Prof. Savo Marković, PhD, Rector of the University “Mediterranean” Podgorica.

In her address, NUSCT President Áslaug Ásgeirsdóttir, Rector of the University of Akureyri, highlighted the continued relevance of NUSCT as a trusted platform for dialogue and collaboration. She underlined the network’s successes in student and staff mobility, institutional cooperation, and joint initiatives, while stressing the need to further strengthen collaboration in research, innovation, and policy development.

Key themes and outcomes

During the meeting, rectors engaged in in-depth discussions on a range of strategic issues of common concern, including:

• University governance, autonomy, and funding, particularly in small states where higher education institutions are often strongly influenced by political and economic frameworks.
• Teaching and learning innovation, with a focus on English-taught programmes, virtual and blended mobility, shared online courses, and the development of micro-credentials to address demographic change and evolving student needs.
• Research cooperation and capacity building, including plans to establish a NUSCT working group on joint research, postdoctoral and visiting scholar schemes, and enhanced cooperation in doctoral education.
• Artificial intelligence, digital systems, and cybersecurity, recognizing both the opportunities and challenges posed by AI in higher education and the importance of aligning institutional policies with the NUSCT Policy on Higher Education and Artificial Intelligence.
• Visibility and outreach, including coordinated communication, shared data on mobility and funding, and joint press releases to strengthen the collective voice of NUSCT members.

The rectors reaffirmed the strategic importance of NUSCT as a network that enables universities in small countries and territories to cooperate rather than compete, to increase their international visibility, and to jointly address structural challenges that individual institutions cannot tackle alone.

Future activities

The meeting also reviewed the success of the first NUSCT academic conference, held in the Faroe Islands, and expressed strong support for continuing the conference tradition. Rectors endorsed plans for a co-organised NUSCT conference in 2027, to be hosted jointly by the University of Andorra and the Åland Islands University of Applied Sciences, with an interdisciplinary focus and openness to external partners.

It was further confirmed that the 9th NUSCT Rectors’ Annual Meeting will be hosted by the Åland Islands University of Applied Sciences in May 2027.

Role of the host

NUSCT extends its sincere thanks to the University of Montenegro for hosting the 8th Rectors’ Annual Meeting and for its commitment to fostering dialogue and cooperation among universities from small countries and territories. The meeting in Podgorica underscored the host institution’s active role in international academic engagement and regional development.

About NUSCT

The Network of Universities of Small Countries and Territories (NUSCT) is a collaborative network of higher education institutions from small states and territories. Its mission is to strengthen cooperation in education, research, and innovation, while promoting academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and sustainable development in small higher education systems.

For further information, please contact:
NUSCT Secretariat
Email: secretariat@nusct.net
Website: www.nusct.net