Signing Ceremony of the Western-Balkanship project - November 23
On November 23, Adriatic Ionian Initiative (AII) Secretary General, Ambassador Castellaneta and Secretary General of the Forum of the Adriatic Ionian Chambers of Commerce (Forum AIC), Mr. Michele De Vita, signed the convention between the AII Permanent Secretariat and the Forum AIC on the “Western-BALKANship” project.
The signing ceremony took place in the wider framework of the broader context of "Visionaria" Adriatic Innovation Forum, organized by the Chieti Pescara Chamber of Commerce and the Forum of the Adriatic and Ionian Chambers of Commerce, in Pescara (Italy).
Amb. Castellaneta thanked the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation for the support to Western Balkanship project. He outlined to the audience the main features and objectives of the project, which will cover 50 internships in companies and enterprises of the Adriatic-Ionian region. AII Secretary General pointed out that investing in youth remains one of the best ways to strengthen the Western Balkans. This will enable the entrepreneurial class of the future to develop work skills and hands-on experience in an international environment.
The Forum of the Adriatic and Ionian Chambers of Commerce (Forum AIC) and the Association of the Universities of the Adriatic Ionian region (UniAdrion) are civil society associations operating in the Adriatic-Ionian area aimed at promoting stability through cooperation on common themes and values. The main purpose of UniAdrion is the collaboration between universities and research centres with the aim of strengthening international cooperation and of favouring the progress of culture, science, training, and research. The mission of the AIC Forum is to enhance synergies and opportunities for socio-economic development through its transnational network of Chambers of Commerce of the Adriatic-Ionian basin.
The AIC Forum together with UniAdrion was called to develop a new project thanks to specific financial funds from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in the framework of the Adriatic-Ionian Initiative.
The “Western-BALKANship Project” is an internship program that allows university students to carry out mobility periods in companies and institutions from the Adriatic-Ionian Region. The project aims to strengthen cooperation between countries and create opportunities for hosting entities by welcoming students from numerous universities to their organizations.
This project represents an excellent opportunity for companies registered in the Chambers of Commerce of the Area, as well as institutions themselves, to get in touch with young resources from numerous faculties of UniAdrion network.
The project will finance about 50 internships for university students and young graduates from faculties associated with UniAdrion.
The internships will have a duration from 3 to 6 months, depending on the availability of the host enterprise, and will be fully funded by means of scholarships directly paid to the interns. Moreover, the students will be covered by insurance for civil liability and for occupational injuries.
The students will be able to choose among a number of internship offers, on the basis of the sector in which the enterprise works, the position available, the duration of the internship, and the country.
The call for application will be lunched soon. More information will follow.