Swedish Institute Academy for Young Professionals (SAYP) Training Program 2024

The Swedish Institute Academy for Young Professionals (SAYP) is a training programme developed to build awareness, capacity and resilience in the practice of governance. Are you a young professional in Western Balkans and want to deepen your knowledge about modern sustainble governance? This is the programme for you.

The Swedish Institute Academy for Young Professionals (SAYP) is a training programme developed to build new networks, knowledge and practices for increased transparency, efficiency and resilience in public administration. The programme also aims to strengthen your individual capabilities to meet the requirements of a modern governance structure. As a SAYP participant, you will be able to expand your own contact networks and?share ideas, experiences and challenges with other like-minded professionals.? 

SAYP is a collaboration between the Swedish Institute (SI) and Swedish universities, responsible for developing and organising training modules. The modules rely on a mix of modern teaching methods with emphasis on interactivity, collaboration and problem-based learning. The training programme may include webinars, interactive lectures, small-group discussions, study visits and other learning activities allowing to deepen and practice your knowledge.

2024 it is possible to apply for the following thematic modules within SAYP:? 

• Collaborative Governance in a Digital Era,?Halmstad University
• Perspectives on Multi-level Governance, Decentralisation & Human Rights,?Lund University
• Gender Equality Education for Practitioners, From Theory to Policy Implementation, The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation
• Sustainable e-Government for Resilient and Innovative Democratic public administration (SeGRID) Linköping University

• Table of Content
• About Swedish Institute
• Swedish Institute SAYP Training Program
• Aim and Benefits of Swedish Institute SAYP Training Program
• Swedish Institute SAYP Training Program Courses
• Requirements for Swedish Institute SAYP Training Program Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Swedish Institute SAYP Training Program
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Swedish Institute

The Swedish Institute is a public agency that encourages interest and trust in Sweden around the world. We operate in the fields of culture, education, science and business in seeking to strengthen ties and promote development. We build up lasting relations between Sweden and other countries with a view to enhancing Sweden’s attractiveness. We build up lasting relations between Sweden and other countries with a view to enhancing Sweden’s attractiveness. To this end, we disseminate information, develop skills, promote cultural exchange and cooperation, and provide funding... continue reading

Swedish Institute SAYP Training Program

Aim and Benefits of Swedish Institute SAYP Training Program

• Opportunity to develop your professional skills
• Tools to apply in your own organisations and local contexts
• Knowledge within sustainable modern governance
• Experience of cross-sectorial work environment
• Personal and professional network
• Lifelong membership in the SI Alumni Network
• Exclusive access to tools for continued learning

Swedish Institute SAYP Training Program Courses

• Governance

Requirements for Swedish Institute SAYP Training Program Qualification

You can apply to SAYP if you:

• Are a citizen or resident in one of the following countries Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia
• Have good command of English language
• Have a relevant higher education (at least three years)
• Are between 25 – 40 (born 1984 – 1999)
• Your professional profile is relevant for the thematic content of the module of your choice and the Western Balkans region
• Are not a holder of the permanent residence permit in Sweden
• Are employed in one of the following groups:
  1. Policymakers (politicians, government officials, employees of political parties)
  2. Public servants (non-political civil servants working at public organisations)
  3. Civil society workers (CSO/NGO employees)
  4. Leaders within the private sector
• Have the mandate, ambition and potential to drive change within your organisation

Interview date, Process and Venue for Swedish Institute SAYP Training Program

1. Evaluation of applications

The evaluation and selection process is carried out by the universities, arranging SAYP modules. Please note that SAYP alumni/alumnae, willing to participate in the programme again, will not be given priority in the selection process.  

2. Admission (exact date may change)

The universities will contact the successful candidates by e-mail to offer them a place in the programme and ask them to confirm their participation. The candidates, placed on the reserve list, will also be notified by e-mail.  

Application Deadline

How to Apply

You can apply for a SAYP module via the website of the respective organiser (host university). The links are provided below. If you apply for more than one training programme, it is very important to rank the training programme in order of your preference in the motivation letter, as you can only be admitted to one of them. You need to submit a separate application with a unique letter of motivation for each programme you have chosen. We recommend that you apply for not more than two modules corresponding to your interests and professional role.

Halmstad university, Collaborative Governance in a Digital Era
The module “Collaborative Governance in a Digital Era”, prepares participants to excel in a public administration landscape highly influenced by international governance trends and technological development. It offers participants a chance to critically reflect upon those trends by accessing cutting edge research that challenges some of the normative assumptions driving these trends. The module engages with theory and practice related to cooperation, coordination and collaboration as a specific governance mode that differs from those that formed the modern public administration organization.

Linköping university, Sustainable e-Government: Resilience, Innovation, Democracy
The programme, “Sustainable e-Government: Resilience, Innovation, and Democracy” (SeGRID), is a professional training programme for young public servants, policymakers, and civil society from the Western Balkans. The course provides skills and knowledge about democratic digital governance, rooted in theory and practice, to manage challenges of democracy, inclusion, equality, transparency, and resilience. SeGRID offers academic knowledge, practitioners’ expertise, a platform for discussing challenges and solutions, key contacts, and resources for initiating concrete projects based on outputs of the programme.

The Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, Gender Equality Education for Practitioners, From Theory to Policy Implementation
This programme empowers individuals in civil society, public and private sector to master and critically engage with contemporary gender equality and feminist theories. Tailored for non-academics, this initiative ensures access to vital knowledge in the face of a rising anti-gender movement and deterioration in gender equality in the Western Balkan region. In today’s climate of increased misogyny, traditional gender mainstreaming is easily overlooked. We believe in providing a robust foundation for gender-inclusive policy making and advocacy. We are extending our impact through an accessible online regional component.

Lunds university, Perspectives on Multi-level governance, Decentralisation and Human Rights
The thematic module, “Perspectives on Multi-level Governance”, Decentralisation & Human Rights, focuses on decentralisation within public administration and how human rights can be implemented on a regional and local level. The module combines theory with a high level of practice, including lectures, seminars/workshops with experts from Lund University and study visits to relevant organisations. This combination enables the participants to get a deeper insight in public administration, as well as exchange experiences and establish new contacts and networks between all participating countries at Western Balkan.

Templates for your application:
CV europass
Motivation letter
Reference letter
English language certificate

For more details visit: Swedish Institute website.