Swedish Institute Academy for Young Professionals (SAYP) Eastern Europe

About the programme

The Policy Integration and Transparency Practices in a Digital Era programme provides early and mid-career professionals with a comprehensive understanding of strategic and inclusive policy integration in contemporary governance. The emphasis of the programme is on challenges related to cross-sectoral policy coordination and the sharing of data in a rapidly changing technological environment. It responds to the needs of public and civil society organizations to implement horizontal governance models that require monitoring and promoting strategic topics such as sustainability, human rights, and gender equality while adhering to high standards of information/data sharing.

SAYP is developed to build and strengthen participants’ capacity to contribute to change in the organisations they work for. This programme offers a transformative two-week learning experience for young policymakers, public servants and civil society actors from Eastern Partnership countries and the European Union countries Estonia, Latvia and Poland.

The course is led by experts from Halmstad University together with the Democracy Development Foundation in Armenia.

Key highlights

• Interactive learning: engage in stimulating discussions, workshops, and case studies focused on key topics such as collaborative governance principles, public leadership styles, digitalisation in public administration, understanding corruption and its impact, and leveraging e-governance for enhanced transparency.
• Exploring digital transformation: delve into the latest trends and technologies shaping digital transformation in public administration. Explore topics such as harnessing technology for public administration, evaluating digital anti-corruption tools and developing digital transparency strategies.
• Fostering collaboration: learn about the importance of cross-sector collaboration and conflict resolution in governance processes. Understand how collaborative governance can bridge bureaucratic, market, and network-based approaches to achieve more effective outcomes.

Benefits of participation

• Professional development: enhance your leadership abilities, gain practical insights into collaborative governance practices, and learn to leverage digital tools for enhanced transparency and accountability.
• Global perspective: gain a deeper understanding of regional and global governance issues, exchange ideas with peers from diverse backgrounds, and explore innovative approaches to address shared challenges.

Programme dates and agenda

Dates

• Mid-November 2025: online introductory session
• February to April 2026: online training sessions
• 4 to 8 May 2026: on-site training week at Halmstad University
• September to October 2026: online follow-up sessions
• November and December 2026: evaluation and alumni activities

Agenda

The online components of the programme are delivered in five sessions during both the spring and autumn of 2026. Each session is held on a Monday and lasts approximately four hours, typically scheduled in the afternoon to accommodate participants across time zones. Sessions combine interactive lectures, discussions, case work, and opportunities for peer exchange.

The on-site week in Halmstad will include full-day programme, with a mix of class discussions, expert lectures, workshops, and study visits to local and regional institutions in Sweden and Denmark. Participants will also work in small groups to develop and present case-based projects.

Throughout the programme, participants will engage with a range of guest speakers from academia, public administration and civil society, offering applied insights and real-world examples.

The course concludes with a final reflection session that connects key learnings and supports future collaboration within the SAYP alumni network.

Application and requirements

The application is open between 17 June and 26 August 2025. Apply by following the steps below. Please note that there are different programmes at different universities within SAYP. You can apply to more than one but you can only be admitted to one programme.

Who can apply?

You can apply to SAYP if you:

• are a citizen of or resident in one of the following countries: Armenia, Azerbaijan*, Belarus*, Georgia*, Moldova, Ukraine.
• have a good command of English, both spoken and written.
• have a relevant higher education (at least three years of study).
• are between 25–40 (born 1985–2000).

*Belarus, Azerbaijan and Georgia can only receive participants from civil society.

You can apply if you are 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)
4. Leaders within the private sector

Your professional profile is relevant to the thematic content of the programme.

SAYP covers all expenses for the on-site week in Sweden, including travel, accommodation, meals and local transportation.

How to apply

The application period is open 17 June–26 August 2025.

Apply by filling in the following four documents:

• Letter of motivation Word, 46.5 kB.
• Letter of reference form Word, 96.4 kB.
• English Language Certificate Word, 29.8 kB.
• Europass Word, 118.5 kB.

Submit to e-mail: sayp_halmstad@hh.se