NB: This is a pre-notice informing about the forthcoming opening of the actual call for applications. No action is required at the present moment from potential applicants.
The European Commission and the British Council, announce the forthcoming opening of the call for applications to the “EU Scheme for Young Professionals in the Western Balkans”, the pilot action for a regional executive training programme and exchange component for young civil servants from the six countries of Western Balkan (Bosnia & Hercegovina, Montenegro, FYROM, Kosovo, Serbia and Albania), which is currently managed by the European Commission and implemented by the British Council. Applications will be open from 15 September 2016 and until 25 September 2016 and successful applicants will be offered the opportunity to attend an intensive 3 weeks (15 days) training at Science PO in Paris (France) named “Executive Certificate in Management and Public Policy”, aiming at building professional capacity and preparing the next generation of public administrators and policy makers in the six Western Balkan countries who will be in charge of the accession process, as well as to participate at the second part of the action, foreseeing a 2 weeks Regional Exchange Programme to promote the regional cooperation element of the EU integration process at the level of civil service by making cross-border connections between these leaders and agents of change. This Programme, whose working language is only English, will select up to 30 participants both in the training and the exchange part (up to 5 places are available for each country of the region). This call is open to mid-level civil servants (as specified in the Rules of Procedures to be published on 15 September 2016, http://Eu4wb6.com/).
Eligible applicants are:
- Civil servants between 2 and 5 years of working experience in Public Administration in one of the six countries of the Western Balkans.
- Civil servants involved in policy formulation within the Prime Ministers’ Office (PMO), the Ministry/Office for European Integration, the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Citizens with a valid passport issued by National Authorities in one of the 6 Western Balkan countries. Passports of another country than the one where the applicant works as a civil servant are not acceptable.
- University graduates holding a valid BA and/or MA/MSc degree.
- Fluent in English with at least an upper-intermediate level (B2). Those candidates who already have a valid TOEFL/IELTS language certification will not be asked to participate to the second stage of selection (i.e. English language test) if they provide a valid proof of this certification with at least the same level of knowledge as above (B2 or equivalent).
- Available to travel and to move abroad from October 2016 to March 2017.
The programme will cover the following costs for up to 30 participants:
- tuition fees at Science PO
- accommodation and living allowances
- visa costs (if Visa is needed)
- health insurance
- flight tickets
- English language test costs
Selected participants will commit to:
- Attend in full the 3 weeks training at Science PO, divided in two modules planned in October and December 2016.
- Attend the two weeks exchange programme in the Public Administrations of one of the six countries involved in the programme (March 2017).
- Attend the Regional Alumni Conference and Lessons Learnt event (May 2017)
Selections will be carried out in 3 stages and include:
- Pre-Selection on administrative and eligibility criteria.
- English language test (B2 level threshold candidates will be invited to interviews).
- Interviews by a 5 members' panel composed of 3 permanent memers: 1 EU/COM representative, 1 British Council representative and 1 EU expert with academic and appropriate professional background; and 3 rotating members in each of the six countries: 1 NIPAC respresentative and 1 EUD respresentative.
Women and representatives of minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. Application forms and the full set of accompanying documents will be available upon registration at the following website: http://Eu4wb6.com/ starting from 15 September 2016. Additional information on the Scheme’s Rules, Procedures and Selections Criteria will also be available online from the same date. This is only a pre-notice of the opening for the call of applications to inform potential applicants of the forthcoming opening of the call itself. Applications are not yet open.
For further information please visit http://Eu4wb6.com
Disclaimer: The implementation of this programme is subject to availability of EU funding managed by the European Commission
“EUScheme for Young Professionals in the Western Balkans” is an EU Funded Project, managed by EC and implemented by the British Council.