Collaborative Governance in a Digital Era
Collaborative Governance in a Digital Era is part of The Swedish Institute (SI) Academy for Young Professionals (SAYP). Participation in the Academy is free of charge and include meals, accommodation and travel. The module is a two-week intense training programme held online and led by researchers and teachers from Halmstad University. It is developed to strengthen knowledge and capacity in the practice of collaborate governance in the digital era in the Western Balkan region.
The program will cover all your costs for the on-campus week in Sweden, including traveling from your home country, accomodation, meals, local transportations in Halmstad and social events. Do not hesitate to apply now!

Collaborative Governance in a Digital Era
Collaborative Governance in a Digital Era is funded by the Swedish Institute as a part of the SI Academy for Young Professionals (SAYP).
SAYP is a training programme organised by Swedish universities and aimed at young policymakers, public servants and civil society actors from selected countries in the Baltic Sea Region, the EU’s Eastern Partnership and the Western Balkans. The purpose of the programme is to serve as a platform for sharing experience, building knowledge and networking around public governance issues. The programme is designed to strengthen participants’ ability to lead the change in their regions.
Who can apply?
You can apply to SAYP if you:
- Are a citizen of and currently working in one of the following countries Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia
- Have good command of English language
- Have a relevant higher education (at least three years)
- 35 years or younger (born 1987)
- Employed in one of the following groups:
1. Policymakers (politicians, government officials, employees of political parties)
2. Public servants (non-political civil servants working at public organisations)
3. Civil society workers (CSO/NGO employees)
"Lecturers from Halmstad University have been very dedicated and open in sharing their experiences. I really appreciated discussions on updated topics and project preparation with the group."
Zelfije Osmani, alumni from 2021
Content of the course
The module Collaborative Governance in a Digital Era prepares participants to excel in a public administration landscape highly influenced by international governance trends and technological development. At the same time, it offers participants a chance to critically reflect upon those trends by accessing cutting-edge research that challenges some of the normative assumptions driving these trends. The module engages with theory and practice related to cooperation, coordination and collaboration as a specific governance mode that differs from those that formed the modern public administration organization.
Starting from the classical division between bureaucracy, market and network as governing modes, and modern perspectives on networks within multi-level governance systems, it lets participants share knowledge on how these translate to settings characterized by relatively new state formation and small political systems.
By the end of the module, participants will have increased their capacity to contribute to meeting policy challenges on Western Balkans through collaborative governance, as well as their understanding of the relation between collaborative governance and the digitalization processes, and the potentials and risks associated with this process. This is achieved through lectures, seminars, study visits and group work on tailored assignments related to five themes:
- Collaborative governance in public administration: bureaucracy, market and networks
- Collaboration between sectors and organizations
- Multilevel governance and collaborative governance
- The challenges and opportunities of digitalization from democracy and efficiency perspectives
- Conflicts in cooperation, coordination and collaboration: opportunity or obstacle?
Programme: Collaborative Governance in a Digital Era
Dates: The module will take place online between August 22 and August 26, 2022 and on site at Halmstad University between September 12 and September 16, 2022.
During the online week, each day include 3.5 hours of in-class time, generally held in the afternoon, with possibilities for follow-ups in small groups during the evening or the next morning.
During the on-site week, days are generally fully scheduled with class discussions, study visits and group work on the premises of the University.
A series of guest speakers will add to the applied perspectives.
The course ends with a final concluding session where experiences are connected and forms for future contacts established.
How to apply
The module is open for applicants with experience of working for or interacting with public administration in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Hercegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia). Applicants must be under the age of 35.
Participation in the Academy is free of charge.
Deadline
Application period for 2022 is closed.
Best practice
Halmstad University adhere to the best-practice of previous and current successful SAYP modules hosted by other higher educations institutions in Sweden.
More information
Examples of testimonials from participants in previous modules:
Halmstad University: The University supports the democratisation in Western Balkans
Halmstad University: Great Content and it got my attention straight away
Halmstad University: Well organized and interesting topcis
Lund University: Important topics and a well-executed programme External link, opens in new window.
Malmö University: Sustainable Public Management Western Balkan External link, opens in new window.

In 2022, Colloborative Governance in a Digital Era will take place one week online and one week on campus in Halmstad. In 2021 the entire module was online.