Context
Monitoring key parameters for improving administrative capacities has shown that the public administration (PA) needs trained young professionals who, with modern knowledge, fresh ideas, and energy, can accelerate the reform process of transforming and digitising the administration for the benefit of all citizens and the economy. This need has been prioritised in planning documents, aiming to attract a competent and stable human resources structure in PA over the long term. Higher education plays a particularly important role in this process, which is why all state universities and nearly 150 public administration bodies have been included in the project, with this number continuously growing. Digital tools, 3D fairs, and the PA Hub, combined with students’ practical experiences, have been integrated to make internships visible, transparent, and accessible.
A structured and sustainable framework for internships has been created, which continues to evolve and fully brings the public administration closer to new generations of professionals. Key performance indicators help monitor this process, as the goal is to include approximately 1500 students annually, add up to 10 new PA bodies each year, increase the internship offer, ensure the sustainability of digital content, and maintain funding from the Serbian state budget.
Objectives
The primary objective of this initiative is to provide approximately 1500 high-quality internship opportunities annually for students across Serbia, thereby creating sustainable pathways for integrating future graduates into public administration careers. By connecting these motivated students with public institutions, the project simultaneously strengthens the overall operational capacity of the public administration. Furthermore, it fosters closer links between academia and the public sector, enabling impactful practical learning and structured professional development for the next generation of civil servants. To maximise reach and engagement, the programme implements innovative digital tools – specifically the custom PA Hub and interactive 3D virtual fairs – ensuring that the entire application and internship process remains transparent, accessible, and engaging for students nationwide. Finally, the project ensures the long-term institutional sustainability of the internship programme through secured, continuous funding provided directly by the Serbian state budget.
Implementation
The project is designed and implemented with a clearly defined institutional framework and management structure. The governance and management structures ensure coordination of all activities, budget, and staff allocation, as well as oversight of programme implementation. In the planning and implementation process, the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government (Ministarstvo državne uprave i lokalne samouprave – MDULS) involves all relevant stakeholders, including state universities, students, and public administration bodies, with regular consultations and feedback.
Each year, MDULS, together with the university rectors, approves the annual cooperation programme online, which defines the internship offer, their content, and the plan for their implementation. MDULS also conducts promotional campaigns and organises the annual internship fairs. Preparations for the fair include developing the concept, agenda, selecting topics and participants, and creating a 3D platform in the metaverse, which provides a virtual experience reminiscent of a traditional fair environment. At the fair, the ‘Partner of the Year’ is selected – an entity with which the best cooperation was achieved during the annual internship cycle, including partners such as EIPA and ReSPA.