A new training centre under the framework of the National Academy of Public Administration has been opened in Belgrade today, which covers over 3,500 m2 and has 14 state-of-the-art classrooms for conducting various types of training courses, which shall be available to civil servants for their professional development.
The Minister of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, Branko Ružić, stated at its opening that all preconditions were met in order for the Academy to grow into a single centre for knowledge management and education of all employees.
“In a brief period, the National Academy has been recognized as a great potential, a central institution, a significant support to everyone in the country in achieving the goal we strive for, namely progress in all spheres of society for the betterment of those who are the bearers of sovereignty and autonomy – the citizens of Serbia”, said Minister Ružić.
He indicated that two years ago, the first big steps were made in the long-awaited reform of professional training, adding that without well-educated employees it would not be possible to provide the citizens with the administration they deserved.
“People who work in public administration are at the centre of reform and they are the key to our success, so as a government we were determined to establish the National Academy of Public Administration a long time ago”, said Ružić.
He stated that the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia Ana Brnabić did most of the work because during her mandate a draft law had been prepared, a public debate was held and road-maps were set as to which direction should be taken.
“All employees in the Ministry of Public Administration and I personally are proud of the success achieved”, stated Ružić, adding that the system of professional development had been raised to a higher level, that training courses were of high quality, free, diverse and equally available to all public administration employees, including all municipalities and cities within Serbia.
He stressed that the desired goal was achieved and that 10,000 employees were trained over the course of 2019, adding that the National Academy of Public Administration was presently a true home for every public administration employee seeking knowledge.
He added that Serbia had immense support from renowned European schools dedicated to the subject of public administration, in particular from France.
He expressed the expectation that the Academy would contribute to the spread of culture in terms of permanent learning and congratulated all those who worked hard in order to proudly leave all of the aforementioned to the next generations.
“This is something we have all aspired towards in the past 15-16 years and that is why this represents an important holiday for the public administration of the Republic of Serbia”, said Minister Ružić.
The Prime Minister of Serbia, Ana Brnabić, stated that this was a turning point in what public administration looks like, what type of services shall be provided and in what manner we shall be providing the aforementioned to citizens and the economy.
“Our mission is to radically change the way we treat our citizens as a state, and that they, as our bosses, have the awareness that we are their service, that our job is to meet their needs at any time, wherever their location may be. That is why the National Academy of Public Administration shows its determination to raise the awareness of public administration employees on the need for continuous professional and personal development of each individual, while its goal is to apply knowledge in practice with a focus on concrete results, more commitment, more empathy, more solidarity, more creativity, innovation and small daily changes for the better”, concluded Brnabić.
Acting Director of the National Academy of Public Administration Dražen Maravić referred to two major priorities in the work of the Academy.
“The first priority is to achieve greater productivity, digital literacy, kindness and efficiency in providing public services to citizens and the economy through professional training of employees”. “Another great priority refers to respecting the law over the course of ones work and combating incompetence in performing complex administrative tasks”, he continued.
He added that the management must be able to strategically manage its affairs and routinely prepare and implement quality public policy proposals.
“Finally, the administration should lead the country faster towards EU membership and improve regional and international cooperation. The Academy cannot achieve much if it works alone, we need the cooperation of all public administration bodies and the support of officials. That is why we are very glad to have that support, which can be clearly observed today”, stated Maravić.
On the day of the opening of the new training centre, the realisation of training courses began, namely relating to Public Appearance and Evaluation of Work Success, which were attended by 50 participants.