Call for Applications to the EU Scheme for Young Professionals in the Western Balkans 2016

Deadline:  25 September 2016
Open to: participants  from the six countries of the Western Balkans (Bosnia & Hercegovina, Montenegro, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Kosovo, Serbia and Albania)
Scholarship: tuition fees, accommodation, living allowances, visa costs, health insurance, flight tickets and English language test costs

Description

The European Commission and the British Council, announce the 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 the Western Balkans (Bosnia & Hercegovina, Montenegro, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, 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 Sciences Po in Paris (France) named “Executive Certificate in Management and Public Policy”, 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.

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 with between 2 and 5 years of experience involved in policy formulation within the Prime Ministers’ Office (PMO), Ministry of Finance, planning and strategic units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of European Integration (as specified in the Rules of Procedures published on 15 September 2016

Eligibility

Civil servants with 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), Ministry of Finance, planning and strategic units of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of European Integration.

Citizens with a valid passport issued by the National Authority 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.

Costs

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

Application

After registering to the project’s website (http://Eu4wb6.com/), applicants will receive a full application package by email including the following documents: Rules of Procedure (to be read and understood in full), Europass CV template and related instructions, the EU Scheme Application form. Each applicant must complete in English the EU Scheme Application Form, the Europass CV format and they must accompany the application with a signed and dated Letter of Motivation explaining why they wish to take part in the scheme and what could be their contribution to the programme (including also a draft proposal for the common assignment topic to be implemented during the exchange component). Women and representatives of minorities are strongly encouraged to apply. Application forms and the full set of accompanying documents will be delivered by email to interested applicants after registering at the following website: http://Eu4wb6.com/ starting from 15 September 2016. Additional information on the Scheme’s Rules, Procedures and Selections Criteria are available online from the same date to all applicants.

In order to apply, register HERE.

For general inquiry, information about EU Scheme for Young Professionals in the Western Balkans please contact us at:  info@ks.britishcouncil.org

The official web-page.