- We all know that the education system in Serbia is lagging behind the market requirements. For certain work positions, employers are looking for work experience on top of education, and fulfilling those requirements is not easy. This program is a response of the City of Novi Sad on the market requirements. Novi Sad is a university center and that is our great potential. Our intention was to help the students, to give them an opportunity to enrich their experience, to create important contacts and develop the necessary skills – said Mr. Sečujski.

According to the Member of the City Council in charge of economy, the Program will be implemented in this year as well, and the student practice will be expanded to other city administrations, organizations and institutions founded by the City of Novi Sad.

- The Program enabled students to test their academic knowledge in practice, in a team environment, by getting to solutions through cooperation. It represents a significant attempt to help students find employment as soon as possible after graduation – said prof. Zita Bošnjak, PhD.

The Program was implemented for the first time in the academic 2012/2013 for the purpose of enabling students to obtain practical knowledge, skills and necessary experience. The Program included 20 mentors and 25 students selected through an open call published at the websites of the University, the University Center for Career Development and Consulting and the City of Novi Sad. Mayor of Novi Sad, Miloš Vučević, and rector of the University of Novi Sad, prof. Miroslav Vesković, PhD, signed a cooperation agreement in February for the implementation of the Professional Practice Program in 2014, on the basis of which an open call will be launched soon.

Novi Sad, March 13th, 2014