Belgrade Open School has designed an internship programme so as to provide support for the improvement of employability and employment of young people in Serbia, as well as to improve the harmonization of education and the labour market.
The programme consists of researching the employers’ needs, recruiting candidates, the selection process, monitoring and evaluation of the candidates’ work, with continuous support throughout the duration of the internship.
The programme was initially implemented in state administration institutions. Over 2000 candidates applied for the internship programmes in the public sector, out of which 25 were selected. Over 80% found employment after completing their internship. Afterwards, the internship programme was expanded to the private sector, and companies who run a successful business in Serbia are involved in its realization.
Three years in a row BOS implemented the project PRAKSAM –Introducing Young People to the World of Work through Internship Placements. The goal of this project is to strengthen the capacities of companies for the implementation of the internship programme, as well as to provide support for the improvement of youth employability in Serbia.
Through these projects, BOS has contributed to strengthening the capacities of 30 companies for the implementation of the internship programme, enriched their teams through a good selection of trainees, which continued the work on the improvement of youth employability in Serbia.
In the selection of registered companies, BOS has, in cooperation with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Serbia, selected 30 companies which got the chance to expand and strengthen their teams with young, educated individuals.
Through both of these projects, over 50 interns got the chance to complete a four month, paid internship in companies running a successful business in Serbia. This way, young people were given the opportunity to gain work experience and connect with the world of work. After completing the four month internship, over 60% of trainees got a job, or continued the internship in companies.
The companies which participated in the project were: Bečej prevoz, Afeja, DAMIBA trade, Kuehne + Nagel, La Fantana, Milutin Milanković, Orion telekom, PFI, Polimark, Agencija za konsalting u hemijskoj industriji(consulting agency in the chemical industry), Tuplex SRB, Vicont Vector, City Facility, PR Interactive Consulting, KUČ company, WATCHOUT SECURITY, Somborelektro.
