Introductory Module of “Experiencing Europe” in Graz and Vienna
42 Young professionals from Serbia, future interns in Austrian
companies spent two weeks in Graz and Vienna to prepare for their three
month internship starting in October 2007 and January 2008 within the
project “Experiencing Europe”
After a German language course and lectures on European Integration
in Graz, the Serbian young professionals went to Vienna to meet their
future employers at the “Networking Event”. They were received in the
Austrian Parliament in Vienna. A special honour was the reception by
the Austrian Minister of Exterior, Ms. Ursula Plassnik, at the Austrian
Federal Ministry for European and International Affairs in Vienna.
From
September 3 until September 18, the 42 participants of “Experiencing
Europe: Serbian Young Professionals in Austria – Zoran Djindjic
Internship Programme” attended the preparatory programme in Graz and
Vienna. The project, which gives young people from Serbia the
opportunity of gaining three months of vocational experience in
Austrian companies and institutions, is financed by the Austrian
Development Cooperation and the Dr. Zoran Djindjic Fund and is
implemented by WUS Austria.
Their stay was characterized by the idea of preparing the future
interns for their working experiences in Austria and of acquainting
them with the German language and the Austrian culture. During the two
weeks, the participants attended three hours of intensive language
course in the morning and classes on European integration in the
afternoon.
Getting to Know Austria
An event of a different kind offered the participants the opportunity
to better get to know each other – but also the Province of Styria. The
so called “Socializing Event” took place on 8th of September in
Gamlitz, Southern Styria, and consisted of a walking-tour through the
vineyards and a stop for a snack in “Buschenschank Kapun”. Fortunately,
the weather, against all forecasts, was sunny and quite warm for the
beginning of September and offered the best conditions for a trip to
this magnificent wine-dominated region. The participants were that also
Mrs. Sonja Asanovic Todorovic, the general consul of Serbia in Graz,
joined their outing. Mrs. Asanovic Todorovic found warm and cordial
words for the future interns and promised to help to make their stay in
Austria as pleasant as possible. Special thanks goes to the Styrian
Governor Franz Voves who sponsored the snacks at one of the
“Buschenschanks”, traditional Austrian wine taverns. As Mr. Voves was
not able to join the group in Gamlitz himself, Mr. Detlef Gruber from
the Styrian Parliament spent some time with the Serbian young
professionals in the local tavern and welcomed them to Styria.
Visit to Vienna
On the 16th of September, the group left Graz and travelled to Vienna
to get to know Austria’s capital as link between East and West and as
the hosting city for a large number of interns. The next day, the group
was invited to a reception in the Austrian Parliament by Mr. Rudolf
Stohanzl of the Parliamentary Directorate: first, Mr. Stohanzl who
personally guided the group through the Parliament. The group was
honoured to meet Mr. Caspar Einem, former Austrian Minister for
Interior, who gave an account on different matters regarding the
national political system, Austria’s opinion to the Western Balkans and
the legislation procedure.
In the evening, the “Networking-Event” took place in “Volksbildungshaus
Wiener Urania”: The goal of this event was on the one hand a project
presentation (including an overview of the participating companies and
institutions as well as of the interns) and on the other a first
matching between firm representatives and the participants. WUS Austria
had the pleasure to welcome representatives of all project partners:
Mrs. Ruzica Djindjic, president of the Dr. Zoran Djindjic Fund, Mr.
Michael Schieder, responsible representative of the Austrian
Development Agency, and Mr. Almir Kovacevic, executive director of WUS
Austria. Furthermore, Mr. Georg Krauchenberg from the Austrian Federal
Economic Chamber (Austrian Trade) gave a short speech on the importance
of this project for the Austrian economy. All of the speakers
appreciated the initiation of this project by the Austrian Minister for
European and international Affairs, Ms. Ursula Plassnik, and Ruzica
Djindjic as well as the big value of this programme for the Serbian
youth and the Austrian companies/institutions. A special highlight was
the presentation of one of the participants, Mirko Dautovic, who
underlined the meaning of such a programme for Serbian young
professionals and used this opportunity to thank the organisers for
their great professional work when implementing this programme. Another
important part of this event consisted in the presentation of the
participating companies/institutions, the concrete internships and the
participants by the coordinator of this programme at WUS Austria, Miss
Jasmin Moser. During the following buffet, the interns used their
possibility of getting in contact with their future employers and of
discussing their future fields of work.
Young People as Serbia’s Way to Europe
Before the departure of the group back to Serbia on the 18th, Minister
Ursula Plassnik invited them to a reception in the Ministry for
European and international Affairs. At this special occasion, Mrs.
Plassnik and Mrs. Djindjic underlined again the importance of this
programme for both, Austria and Serbia. “These young people want a
secure and clear European future”, said Ruzica Djindjic and added that
this idea was also the vision of her murdered husband. Ursula Plassnik
shared the same idea, “These young people are and create Serbia’s
future. They are the moving spirit for Serbia’s way to Europe and a
vital link between our two regions. […] We want to make the European
perspective for the population in the region concrete and tangible.
This refers to a facilitation of mobility as well.” Finally, she ended
her speech with the words, “Serbia’s path to the European Union may
still be long and bumpy, but everybody has to make his contribution.
Then we will finally achieve our aim: Serbia as integrative part of a
reunified Europe and the enlargement of the European zone of peace and
wealth on the Balkans as well.” (see http://www.bmeia.gv.at/view.php3?f_id=14740&LNG=de&version=)
After the reception, all 42 participants travelled back to Serbia
again; however, 26 will return again on the 7th of October for their
three-month internships in Austria. The second group will start
gathering their working experience on the 7th of January 2008.
Jasmin Moser
Program Unit Coordinator
