2009 Emerging Young Professionals Program for Kosovo

American Councils for International Education has announced the Emerging Young Professionals Program for Kosovo for the advancement of entrepreneurial and business management skills. American Councils, working in partnership with Rotary Clubs in Winnetka, Illinois and Peja, Kosovo, is proud to propose this two-country program to teach participants the skills necessary to identify business opportunities and assess the business climate in other countries; how to write business plans and calculate risks, and how to manage new businesses in order to maximize the likelihood of success. By working closely with peers from another culture, program participants from both countries will develop the cross-cultural, analytical, planning and marketing/promotional skills necessary to help their organizations become more effective in the global marketplace.

The extraordinary demands of post-conflict countries such as Kosovo ― from vital institutions such as public health and security to a stable business infrastructure ― are as profound as the country’s potential. Among these essential services, young leaders in every sector of Kosovar society need training in business and public administration, management, policy design and implementation, and other critical areas in order to reach beyond their country’s borders to forge new partnerships, attract foreign capital, and help to develop vibrant foreign markets.

The program will consist of reciprocal three-week visits in spring and fall 2010, with follow-on activities after the visits. In spring 2010, fifteen young Kosovars, aged 23-35, will travel to Washington D.C. for a three-day introductory seminar covering the key U.S. organizations that promote small business and international trade. The remainder of their three-week program will be hosted by the Rotary Club of Winnetka in Chicago and its environs, and will include homestays and a substantive program of workshops, site visits, job shadowing, and cultural, social, and community activities. Members of the U.S. delegation to Kosovo will participate in many of these activities in order to strengthen the personal bonds created by the exchange.

In fall 2010, fifteen young Americans will travel to Kosovo for a similar program, starting with a workshop in Prishtina, organized by American Councils in cooperation with the Rotary Club of Peja, in Northwestern Kosovo. It will introduce U.S. participants to Kosovo’s history, politics, culture and language, and include meetings with organizations and officials who promote international trade. The remainder of the program will take place in Peja, and the exchange will conclude with a workshop in which members of the two delegations will meet, reflect on the exchange, and plan for future activities. Funds will be set aside to support follow-on projects and collaboration between Kosovar and American program participants.

The Emerging Young Professionals Program is supported with funding by the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA). ECA fosters mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries around the world through academic and cultural exchanges.

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