The Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung in cooperation
with Olof Palme International Center
1st Political Academy – for Progressive Youth in 2011
The Political Academy is designed as a combination of political education and training for leadership skills. The main purpose of the Academy is to educate and train individuals in Kosovo who have progressive ideas and progressive vision about the Kosovo society based on three main values: freedom, social justice and solidarity, equality and antidiscrimination.
The Political Academy provides to its participants theoretical knowledge and development of practical skills in political culture, political management and skillful communication. The general aim of the Political Academy is to enable the active, bright and visionary young people to participate in a condensed program of political education and training on crucial issues.
These goals will be achieved within the four weekend-seminars, in the period from June to November 2011.
First Seminar
On June 17th, 25 young Kosovar citizens had been welcomed during a reception by Deputy Prime Minister Edita Tahiri, Anna di Lellio from The New School, Visare Gorani-Gashi from Swedisch International Development Agency, Petrit Selimi, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Besa Luzha from Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Prishtina Office.
On Saturday, Professor Bernhard Zeneli and the Project Coordinator of the Political Academy, Mevlyde Hyseni, welcomed the participants to the first module, on political culture and democracy.
Dren Pozhego from IKS and Heleri Aavastik from Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Prishtina Office presented their studies on the Analysis of the Political Landscape in Kosovo and the Vision of Kosovos Youth about Political Landscape.
On Sunday, the participants participated in a practical training on political communication and presentation skills, led by Andre Chahoud from IMP & Bonne Nouvelle Germany.
Second Seminar
From July the 8th until July the 9th, the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Prishtina Office and Olof Palme International Center invited the participants of the Political Academy for Progressive Youth to the academy’s second module, taking place in Gjakova. This time, the seminar focused on principles and mechanisms of a social welfare state and the improvement of the participants’ time management and networking skills.
The weekend was touched off by Christina Bergmann who gave an introduction to the work of the Olof Palme International Center. She was followed by Prof. Dr. Artan Fuga from the University of Tirana. He talked about Kosovar identity. The participants followed his philosophical approach to the issue of national identities with very high interest. Finally, Edvin Arnby Armata from Uppsala University, Sweden, presented the results of his research project on the correlation between the military capacity of states and the tendency for civil war.
The second day was fashioned by Dr. Besnik from New York University, giving a talk on the different concepts and elaborations of welfare states. He also spoke about the Slovenian exeptionalism in connection to the development of a welfare state system.
On the concluding day, Bardha Qirezi from RIINVEST lectured on how the participants can enhance their time management skills as well as their skills for effective networking. To this purpose, role playing scenarios were set up by which the attendees simulated typical net working situations.
Third Seminar (23-25.09.2011)
The third Political Academy from the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Prishtina Office and Olof Palme International Center took place in Durrës, Albania. The third module covered the topic of Good Governance and invited experts like Prof. Dr. Rexhep Meidani (Former President of Albania), Bernard Zeneli (Brain Gain Programme, Albania), Besnik Tahiri (Kosovo Local Government Institute), Ariana Haxhiu (Albanian National Training and Technical Assistance Resource Center) to hold seminars on the fields of good governance on the local and regional level, government, sovereignty, political culture and on the last day there was also a training on project management conducted. The participants had lively discussions on localizing good governance for Kosovo and when assessing the situation of good governance in the comparison to other countries and how other European countries have managed implementing principles of good governance in their everyday political and administrative work. Case studies were analyzed. The young participants learned much about the governmental structures in their own country as well elsewhere.
Fourth Seminar (21-23.10.2011)
The fourt
h module of the First Political Academy took place in Prevalle in southern Kosovo. The view on the Sharr Mountains and the hospitality of the cozy Sharr Hotel were ideal surroundings for the last module of the Political Academy in 2011. The different sessions addresses the various aspects of European Integration. On the first day Professor Gazmend Qorraj from the University of Prishtina focused his lectures on the challenges for Kosovo towards the EU integration. His presentations covered the Challenges of European Integration, the Free trade Agreements, the Impact of EU integration on Business Activities and much more. On the second day the participants listened with attention to the lectures of Professor Dr. Matjaz Nahtigal from the University of Ljubljana about the Lisbon treaty and the experiences of Slovenia
during its process of accession to the European Union. The module was closed by the interesting presentations of Agim Demukaj from the World Bank who spoke about the financial crisis and its effects on Western Balkan countries as well as the economic challenges for Kosovo in order to fulfill the agreements with the EU Commission, the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank.
The participants had used the possibility of asking questions and took up the chance to deepen their knowledge by discussing the topics further during the lectures or in front of the chimney of the restaurant during the breaks.
Last event and certification of the graduates of the Political Academy 2011
27-29.11.2011
The last event of the Political Academy on the topic “European Perspective for the Young Future Politicians in Kosovo and Albania” took place on 27- 29. 11. 2011 in Prishtina, Kosovo.
Therefore, the group from the Political Academy in Albania was invited to Prishtina in order to discuss together with the graduates from the Political Academy in Kosovo the challenges for both countries regarding the European Union Integration Process.
Contributor of this event were the chairperson of Foreign Policy Club, Veton Surroi, Patrick Schmelzer from the European Commission Liaison Office, Venera Hajrullahu, member of the Kosovar Civil Society Foundation as well as the author and analyst Mehmet Kraja and Maqo Lakrori, director of the Political Academy in Albania. Thereby, the topic of EU integration led to various interesting and informative discussions between the speakers and participants of the Political Academy. The event was moderated by Besa Luzha, the program coordinator of the FES Office in Prishtina.
At the end of the seminar on Monday, the solemn hand over of the certificates for the graduates of the PA 2011 took place. After the official part, there was enough space for the participants to celebrate their successful completion of the Political Academy.