The European Union and the Government of Kosovo awarded today in Pristina 45 new scholarships for Master’s degree studies in the EU to the current and future civil servants from Kosovo.
This is the 13th round of scholarships awarded under a joint Young Cell Scheme programme that aims to improve the work of public administration and the services it provides to all people living in Kosovo.
“Education is key to advancing Kosovo’s development in all spheres of life, including its EU integration path. I am happy to see that the number of young people benefiting from our Master’s scholarship programme is increasing year after year and that by working as civil servants they are bringing about the positive change in the way Kosovo’s public administration functions,” said the EU Ambassador in Kosovo, Tomas Szunyog.
“The EU will continue to support Kosovo in developing a more professional, transparent, and accountable public administration, both through this scholarships programme and the ongoing assistance with the public administration reform.”
The EU first started supporting the masters-level education of civil servants in Kosovo back in 2004. Since then, through the previous 12 rounds of scholarships, 364 civil servants were educated in areas deemed most necessary by the Government.
The EU’s total contribution to the Young Cell Scheme programme will amount to EUR 15.3 million including the 13th, 14th and 15th rounds of scholarships to be completed by 2026. A total of 470 young people should benefit.
Kosovo Government started co-funding the programme in 2011 and is supporting rounds 12 to 15 with EUR 2.5 million.
“The Government of Kosovo has understood its duty of investing in the professionalization of our public administration and providing the necessary tools for them to carry out their duties effectively,” said Kosovo Deputy Minister of Interior, Bardhyl Dobra.
“This programme is important in the sense that its influence affects many aspects of personal and social development. A professional public administration promotes transparency and accountability in the government. It ensures that policies and programs are conform needs of the citizens.”
The EU’s masters scholarships programme obliges its beneficiaries to work for one of Kosovo’s institutions for at least three years following graduation. The next three rounds of the programme will be implemented by the Aristoteles University of Thessaloniki from Greece, and the Institut National du Service Public, from France, in close cooperation with the Government of Kosovo.
