The first Student Professional Practice in Public Administration Fair 2021/2022, at which 18 public administration bodies offer professional practice/internship for a total of 400 students from five state universities in Serbia, has commenced today via a specially designed digital platform, in the virtual space of the Palace of Serbia.
The fair was opened by the Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Marija Obradović, who said that we can maintain the ascending path of development of our society only by investing in youth, which will then continue to build a better future and reform the society.
“Our goal is to promote public administration as a desirable employer through student professional practice, and point to the wider social significance that work in public administration brings. Dear students, I hope that you will find your future job during this fair today and tomorrow, that you will understand that the knowledge you acquired throughout your studies is just the first “open doors”, while a fascinating labyrinth, a labyrinth of a lifetime, awaits you, after which you will become even better people. Serbia is counting on its people, both young and educated,” Obradović has said.
She has stated that the steps ahead of us require a strong and modern public administration, and above all young and educated people, who shall introduce new ideas and new energy which is much needed.
The Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia, Emanuele Giaufret, has said that merit-based employment is one of the main preconditions for a modern public administration, based on the principles of professionalization and depoliticization. He has added that the adoption of laws and bylaws which regulate employment procedures in the public administration of the Republic of Serbia was only the first step in that direction, and that now it is extremely important to provide merit-based employment procedures in practice.
“This two-day fair of professional practice is a good opportunity for public administration and local self-government bodies to open their doors to students and give them a chance to conduct their practice, which also promotes a career in the civil service. The European Union is carefully monitoring this aspect of public administration reform in the Republic of Serbia, because further professionalization of the civil service is important because of Serbia’s intention to become an EU Member State, and even more important for the well-being of its citizens,” Giaufret has said.
The Serbian Prime Minister, Ana Brnabić, has also addressed the participants of the Fair via a video message, saying that public administration is one of the key pillars for the quality of life of all citizens in the Republic of Serbia, but also for the strength of our economy.
“Back in 2015, we entered into a comprehensive reform of public administration, in order to make it a true service to all our citizens and the economy. For that, we need to have quality staff above all else”, the Prime Minister has stated in her message.
She has invited the students to join this initiative and express their interest in working in public administration in as much as possible, in order to help further reform the society, strengthen the economy, and for Serbia to be able to advance further. She has congratulated MDULS for organizing this kind of fair for the first time ever, as well as Serbia’s European partners who are starting to implement the new Public Administration Reform Strategy adopted by the Government of the Republic of Serbia.
Following the ceremonial opening of the Fair, the rectors of state universities in Belgrade, Novi Sad, Kragujevac, Niš and Novi Pazar have signed the Cooperation Programme in connection with the provision of support to higher education institutions in the educational process for 2021/2022.
The first Student Professional Practice in Public Administration Fair 2021/2022 is held today and tomorrow in an online environment, on a specially designed digital platform, in the virtual space of the Palace of Serbia, www.strucnapraksa.mduls.gov.rs, at which 18 public administration bodies (13 state bodies and five local self-governments) shall offer professional practice/internship for a total of 400 students from five state universities in Serbia.
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