Swedish Institute Academy for Young Professionals (SAYP) Eastern Europe

The Swedish Institute Academy for Young Professionals (SAYP) is a training programme developed to build awareness, capacity and resilience in the practice of democratic governance and for EU integration. Are you a young professional in the selected regions and want to connect with like-minded peers? This is the programme for you.

Opens for applications in June

Please note that the deadline for submission may vary among different modules.

Overview

SI Academy for Young Professionals is a training programme at the Swedish Institute that aims to empower young professionals from countries within the EU’s Eastern Partnership with skills, networks and inspiration to be able to implement and drive change work in their respective organisations and home countries. The long-term objective of the programme is to contribute to strengthened democratic governance and EU integration for countries within the EU’s Eastern Partnership.

Within SAYP, a number of different thematic programmes are carried out annually by the organisers who have been granted project funding for this purpose by SI. The programmes bring together groups of participants and work to strengthen their competence in subjects that have bearing on pressing societal issues and challenges, linked to the overall goal of SAYP.

To learn more about the timelines and structure of specific modules, please visit the websites of the respective host universities via the links under ‘Apply’. 

SAYP will give you: 

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

Can I apply? 

You can apply to SAYP if you:

  • Are a citizen of or resident in one of the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan*, Belarus*, Georgia*, Moldova, Ukraine
  • Have a good command of English, both spoken and written
  • Have a relevant higher education (at least three years of study)
  • Are between 25 – 40 (born 1985 – 2000)
  • Are currently 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
  • Your professional profile is relevant for the thematic content of the module of your choice and the Baltic Sea Region and Eastern partnership countries

*Belarus, Azerbaijan, Georgia can only receive participants from civil society

 

FAQ

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"In a really short period of time, you will be able to expand your vision, expand your connections, your network, and even build a really interesting and fun project with your new international colleagues."
Dan Nicorici
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After the programme, I try to keep the concept in mind how we could work with innovation more in the public sector. Maybe my office can set an example. The programme gave me inspiration and also motivation to think more about these things. But also, a broader knowledge about what sustainability actually is and how I can be a part of it. It is more than green thinking.
Angelika Lebedev
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The Academy helped me understand how a human rights-based approach might make our projects more beneficial to the people we try to help. This is where the programme filled my knowledge gaps the most. It’s a new perspective for public health workers in Armenia.
Samvel Grigoryan
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