Presentation of the results of the internship program in public administration

On Wednesday, 17 September 2014 at the Palace of Serbia, Belgrade Open School (BOS) presented the results of the internship program in public administration at the Conference „Challenges in public administration reform and employment of young professionals in Serbia“. BOS implements this program with the support of USAID Business Enabling Project (BEP) and the Ministry of Youth and Sports. On this occasion, speeches were delivered by Ms. Kori Udovicki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, H.E. Michael D. Kirby, U.S. Ambassador to Serbia, Mr. Nenad Borovcanin, State Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Milorad Bjeletic, Executive Director of Belgrade Open School and Mr. Joe Lowther, Chief of Party of the USAID Business Enabling Project.

BOS has implemented the internship program since 2012 and so far 24 interns participated in it.

Mr. Milorad Bjeletic, BOS Executive Director emphasized that 75% of the interns who were part of this program got employment, out of which 65% in the private sector and 35% in the public sector.

H.E. Michael Kirbi, U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia, said that internships in public administration are crucial for the future of public administration: “Here in Serbia, over the past year and a half, 20 young professionals – mostly with economics and law degrees – have helped shape the reforms that will improve the economy and move Serbia along the path to the EU… I am very pleased at how successful this pilot program is; it can be a model to recruit more young professionals into public service in Serbia.”

Ms. Kori Udovicki, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government emphasized the importance of transparent recruitment of civil servants and public calls as a means against politicized management of human resources. “We want an efficient state that will be in the service of economy and citizens, not opposed to it… In order to access the EU and develop Serbia we need to reform public administration”, said Ms. Udovicki.

Mr. Nenad Borovcanin, State Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports said that in order to solve the issue of “brain drain”, the Ministry of Youth and Sports supports internship programs and employment of youth in accordance with objectives of the National Youth Strategy”, emphasizing the successful cooperation of the Ministry with companies which have interns in their teams.

Mr. Joe Lowther, USAID Business Enabling Project Chief of Party, spoke about USAID’s interest in supporting this program. Important reform processes were slowed because of inefficient public administration and that was one of the main reasons for supporting this program. In order to overcome this obstacle, the necessary thing to do was to include young professionals in public administration to support civil servants. Mr. Lowther also stressed the importance of support of the state authorities and other donors to this program in order to develop a model for selection and recruitment of young professionals in public administration.