Context
The project is part of the Sector Reform Contract, a broader reform process of strengthening administrative capacities in the Public Administration of the Republic of Serbia, in which higher education plays a particularly important role. In the country, there is a need to provide mechanisms that, in the long term, support the continuous process of building a competent and stable human resources structure in the public administration (PA). This also represents an important criterion for assessing Serbia’s readiness to become a Member State of the European Union. The monitoring of the key parameters for the improvement of administrative capacities had indicated that the PA needs trained young people who, with modern knowledge, fresh ideas and energy, will accelerate the reform process of its transformation and digitisation into the Administration adapted to all citizens and the economy.
Objectives
The initiative includes the holding of annual Student Professional Practice in PA Fairs and the implementation of internship programmes in PA bodies. With these programmes the state universities are supported to develop and implement their study programmes by including instruments which will enable students to acquire practical know-how. It also helps the students to become familiar with the working environment through a mandatory professional practice, observe the perspectives of their personal and professional development, and gain a better starting position in respect of employment, which is also part of the inclusive policy of the Republic of Serbia in the employment of youth.
Implementation
The project was created and planned by the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government (MPALSG), which is the main coordinator of cooperation with the five state universities and all PA bodies participating in this initiative. It was implemented on the basis of the Cooperation Agreement concluded in October 2021, which the government agreed to. Every year, in the course of implementation of the Cooperation Agreement, the Minister of PALSG and the rectors of five state universities sign a cooperation programme for the academic year. In this programme, the offer of professional practice, and the structure of the process in the organisation and implementation of such practice, are regulated in detail. In the period 2021–2023, the project was financed from the funds of the European Union (PAR V&C Project), while the total budget for each of the years amounted to €25 000 + €180 per person/day for project experts. From 2024, these activities will be financed from the budget of the Republic of Serbia (in the total annual amount of €35 000).