SeGRID Western Balkans 2023

Linköpings University welcomes you to apply to SeGRID for young professionals from the Western Balkans. The online module is held in May and June, the Balkan module is held 23 August to 26 August, and the Sweden module occurs 11 September to 16 September.

The aims of the module

It is important to continuously strive for more democratic e-government, where resilience and innovation are guiding the modern democratic public administration. The aim of this module within the program Swedish Institute Academy for Young Professionals (SAYP) is to develop skills and address challenges around democratic digital governance through interactive learning anchored in both theory and practice.

Digital tools and services have shown to improve efficiency in public sector and to manage challenges of democracy, sustainability, and combat corruption. However, if done incorrectly, including digitalization in the state-building process could instead worsen the situation by decreasing social and political participation, questioning the legitimacy of the state. Therefore, researchers in the field of political science at Linköping University in Sweden are offering an interactive program on the challenges and possibilities of digitalization for democratic digital governance. The project team has a long experience of working with questions regarding democratic and legitimate digital government on both theoretical and practical levels by working closely with municipalities and public authorities in Sweden.

What is democratic governance in relation to digital government? The answer is not black and white, it is rather complex and context dependent. What this module aims to do is provide the knowledge and tools to identify challenges related to democratic digital governance, but also to highlight opportunities that are created by digital government. The module focuses on the context of the Western Balkans and shares experiences from Sweden. The module also offers opportunities to expand your network in the region of the Western Balkans.

Are you ready to tackle the challenges of the twenty first century?

Who can participate?

We welcome all the key actors involved in digitalization of public administration and public services. Our module is targeted to:

Public servants, decisions-makers, and policy makers in public administration and political parties.
Employees in civil society organizations.

In order to be eligible, you also have to:

Be a citizen of one of the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia. Due to the current situation in Europe, you do not need to be currently residing in your country of citizenship.
Have a good command of the English language.
Have a relevant higher education (at least three years).
Be 35 years or younger (born 1988-).

The advanced character of the lectures, the assignments and the discussions presume that the participants possess a certain knowledgeability of – and experience of - working with digital government or digital services. Otherwise, they should show an advanced interest in discussing digital government as an enabler in addressing challenges of democracy, transparency, equality, effectiveness, and resilience in a more sustainable public administration. They should also express an intention to apply the acquired learning and experience in their activities back home.

Practical Information

How, when and where?

A couple of seminars and meetings in May, June, and August (evening 2-hour online), 23 August to 26 August (Balkan module), 11 September to 16 September (Sweden module).

Number of participants

Cost

The participation in SAYP is free of charge and includes meals, accommodation and travel.

Accommodation

Central Hotel in Pristina (Balkan module), Linköping Valla Folkhögskola near LiU Campus Valla Linköping (Sweden module)

Language of instruction

English

Application period

3 March – 5 April (until 11.59 pm)

Preliminary Programme

SeGRID Western Balkan Program 2023

Questions?

Questions about the application: Contact the Project team at Linköping University, segrid@iei.liu.se

How to apply

Application for 2023 is closed

Application form and documents

To apply for one of the SeGRID training programs at Linköping University you need to complete the application form.

You must also send four documents (templates are found in the links below) in addition to the application form:

E-mail adress

Send the required documents to the following e-mail address: segrid@iei.liu.se.

As subject title use the module Western Balkan (WB) and your name. For example: WB John Johnson.

Name the attachments the same way.

Please notice that without these four attachments your application will not be complete and will not be considered in the selection process.

Deadline

The attachments must be sent before the deadline 5 April. More information about the SAYP programme is found at SI for Western Balkan.

In the application form we ask for contact information and personal details of relevance for the program, like area of work and residence. We will conduct a brief online interview for the selection process and a meeting link will be sent to your email address.

Code of Conduct

By applying to SAYP you also agree to follow the Code of Conduct of the program. The success of the module rests upon all participants’ open-mindedness, tolerance and willingness to work and collaborate with people of different ethnic or cultural backgrounds and/or sexual orientations, as well as of different political or religious belief.

The Swedish Institute condemns all forms of harassment and discrimination and will not tolerate it within the context of its program. No individual or group, regardless of gender, age, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, status, political beliefs or the physically challenged, shall be discriminated against. No person should be subjected to sexual harassment, neither physically nor psychologically. This can include touching, groping, jokes, suggestions of a sexual nature, stares or exhibiting sexually explicit pictures. The person exposed to it, is entitled to decide whether such behavior is acceptable or not. If it comes to the Swedish Institute’s attention that an infringement has occurred, it will result in immediate action and possible exclusion from the program.

During your stay in Sweden, you are expected to contribute to the module by actively attending lectures, seminars and study visits.

Back to SeGRID Main Page

SeGRID 2023

SeGRID is a part of the Swedish Institute’s Summer Academy for Young Professionals. The course welcomes participants from the Western Balkan, and the Eastern partnership.