As a part of the efforts of the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia to create professional and citizen orientated civil administration, the Civil Servants Agency made efforts to establish a system of civil service that would be compatible with the basic principles of the European administrative space. In this respect, the Agency is implementing the project of “High Administrative Training” (Formation Administrative Supérieure).
Description of the Project
The project “High Administrative Training” is implemented as a part of the Convention for Cooperation, concluded in September 2000 between the French and the Macedonian Government. Its initiation is triggered with the conclusion of separate contract between the Civil Servants Agency and the French Embassy in Skopje, in March 2002.
At first, the project was planned as three years (2002-2004), yet, the interest of the authorities, including the Civil Servants Agency, encouraged the French Government to continue its support. As a result, the French Embassy in Skopje and the Civil Servants Agency in May 2005 annexed its original Contract, enabling for additional trainees generations.
However, the extension of the project included some modifications in its funding. Namely, the costs for new generations are mutually funded by the French Embassy in Skopje, the Civil Servants Agency and the authorities whose civil servants are participants.
Structure of the Training
The project/training is two-folded and is partly delivered in Skopje and partly in Paris. In addition to the training, the project is organizing special seminars on certain contemporary topics, such as E-Government, EU Funds etc.
The first part of the training consists in four months of lecturing and exercises on selected topics in Skopje (at the premises of the Civil Servants Agency).
Pedagogical plan for the training in Skopje includes 34 topics, divided into 4 modules, with an overall duration of 234 class-hours. The classes are delivered twice a week with 6 hours a day, every Friday and Saturday. The four modules include:
Module 1 – General Administration (48 hours)
Module 2 – Administrative Management (48 hours)
Module 3 – Economic and Social Questions (66 hours)
Module 4 – European Union and International Relations (54 hours)
Besides the modular training twice a week, the trainees also attend a course in French language.
The second part of the training consists in a one month training on the administrative and political system of France, which is delivered at the French National School for Public Administration (ENA), in Paris.
The participants of the earlier generations of trainees had a possibility for a two-month stay in France which, apart from one month at ENA, included:
One month intensive study of the French language, in a linguistic school in Vichi, France (for the trainees who showed success in Skopje’s language course); or
One month internship in selected institutions of the French administration (for the trainees with full fluency in French language).
All participants who pass the final exam receive a certificate signed by the French ENA and the Macedonian Civil Servants Agency.
Since the beginning of this Programme in 2002, it was completed by 123 civil servants from different Macedonian administrations and helped many of them get better and higher positions in their respective institutions. The latest generation of 2008, currently underway, is comprised of 18 civil servants.
For further information please contact:
Ms. Irena Stameska, Civil Servants Agency
