Projects

Academy of European Careers

The Academy of European Careers Foundation, together with the SGH Warsaw School of Economics, regularly organise a course titled “Academy of European Careers”. It is comprehensive training preparing for exams and work in EU institutions, regional representations, lobbying organisations and national administration.

From a career perspective, European Union institutions are among the best and most interesting workplaces for people entering the labour market, as well as for those seeking new challenges. There are still too few Poles in EU institutions, just as there are too few staff from other so-called new Member States. This is not only a matter of difficult exams or a lack of specialist knowledge. It is often also a lack of orientation in qualification procedures or knowledge of institutional demand and career development opportunities in this field.

The programme was designed so that during lectures delivered by SGH’s best teaching staff and — uniquely in Poland — by practitioners working in European institutions and lobbying organisations in Brussels, participants can learn about the most current European issues, career paths in European institutions and recruitment procedures. They will also receive practical knowledge on how to prepare effectively for EPSO exams (European Personnel Selection Office). People who deal with EU and international topics daily in practice and in lecture halls of universities in Poland and abroad took part in creating the course programme.

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By taking part in the training, participants will gain knowledge and skills in:

• the most important issues concerning current legislation, the decision-making process and EU policies,
• the inner workings of EU institutions at administrative and political level,
• types and course of recruitment processes to EU institutions and agencies,
• career development opportunities in the EU, as well as in EU institutions based in Poland,
• career opportunities in regional and national representations, European thematic networks and lobbying agencies,
• working in EU institutions as a national expert by officials of the Polish public administration,
• methodology for correctly completing an application form and preparing for a recruitment interview,
• practical preparation for exam tests,
• soft skills essential for successful verification during the application process and professional career development.

Thematic scope

The substantive programme of the course includes lectures on institutions and the foundations of European law, selected EU policies (regional, transport, energy, budgetary) and mechanisms of the European single market. Lectures by theorists will be complemented by lectures by practitioners (employed in EU institutions in Brussels, at Frontex in Warsaw and in Polish ministries) on the specifics of a given policy. An important part of the programme is preparation for abstract reasoning tests as well as numerical and situational tests that form part of the exam for an EU institution official. Practical modules also include classes on stress and crisis management. Practical classes will be conducted as workshops, some in English. Course participants will also receive detailed information on recruitment criteria for the main types of competitions for EU institution officials.

Who it is for

• second-cycle (Master’s) students,
• graduates of first- and second-cycle studies, doctoral candidates,
• employees of central and local government administration,
• NGO sector employees,
• corporate employees working with foreign clients,
• people looking for new career paths.