| Call for Applications 2012 – Round IX |
Final Results - List of Grantees and Reserves (6/APR/2012)The YCS interviews for Round IX selections were held on Monday 2nd, Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th April, at EUICC premises in Pristina. A total of 64 candidates were invited to take the interviews. 3 candidates didn’t come on the day of interviews (1 in the sector of European Affairs & Public Policy and 2 in the sector of Economics & Public Finance). Out of the 61 interviewed, a total of 22 grants were awarded and 3 candidates were retained as reserve. Due to the performance of candidates it was decided that it was neither possible nor necessary to award more grants. For each sector, the following decisions were taken by the Panel Members, inclusive of the YCS Scholarship’s stakeholders (EU Office and Ministry of European Integration): - in EU Law 5 grants were awarded, and no candidate was retained as reserve - in European Affairs & Public Policy 8 grants were awarded, and 1 applicant was retained as reserve; - in Economics & Public Finance 9 grants were awarded, and 2 applicants were retained as reserve; All candidates who took the interviews and who were not awarded a grant can come to the YCS office (Government Building, Room 108) to be shown the “consensus minutes” relating to their own interview, and to receive feedback on their performance on the following days and timing: - Wednesday 11th (open to the public from 11:00 to 15:45) and Thursday 12th April (open to the public from 10:00 to 11:15); - from Tuesday 17th and until Friday 20th April inclusive (open to the public from 11:00 to 15:45). Results Written Exams - List of Candidates for the Interviews (23/MAR/2012)NB: The results of the written exams and the list of candidates invited to the interviews, together with the Interviews Timetable are available for download below. Kindly read the following paragraphs first, then scroll down to find the downloads. Report on the Written Exams The answer sheets filled in by the candidates during the exams were placed in sealed envelopes, signed by the YCS Secretariat Staff and Ministry of European Integration’s (MEI) Representatives present in the room where the exams took place. On Monday 12th March all sealed envelopes were sent, at the presence of MEI representatives and once informed the European Union Office in Kosovo, to the University of Louvain la Neuve, in Belgium, to be correct by optical marker reading. As established by the Rules, all participating candidates are welcomed to control by themselves their own results in case they believe there has been a mistake in marking their tests. Candidates can come to the premises of the YCS Secretariat, located in the Government Building, Room 108, in Pristina, to control their results from Tuesday 27 to Friday 30 March, during office hours (10:00 to 16:45).
As already published on 20th March, a total of 244 applicants were invited to the written tests, 31 candidates did not come (one did not return after the break) and 213 candidates completed all tests, divided in the following sectors: - EU Law: 31 - European Affairs and Public Policy: 90 - Economics and Public Finance: 92
Of those who completed the tests, there were a number of applicants who had been conditionally invited to the written exams, pending completion of their applications, which were missing documents like copy of ID, original or certified copies of transcripts, copy of diploma/certificates, or self-declarations. They had been given time until 20 March, further extended to the 21 to complete their applications. A total of 10 applicants amongst those who completed the written tests failed to produce the required documents by the set deadline (3 in EU Law, 7 in Economics and Public Finance). Therefore, as already communicated on 3 March, their applications have been rejected as incomplete, and their results in the written tests are not disclosed.
The results published below are divided per sector, as the ranking order of candidates is established sector by sector – based on the points scored in the Verbal and Numerical Reasoning (VNR) test & the EU General Knowledge (EUGK) Test. Only candidates who passed the minimum English language threshold of 65% of correct answers in the 3 combined English test have been considered for the rankings and their overall score from the written tests calculated. As explained by the Rules of Procedure, for those who have not passed the English Language threshold of 65%, the performance in of the 5 tests are shown, but the final results from the written tests are not calculated because candidates did not meet the minimum English Language requirements and therefore the results from their VNR and EUGK tests are irrelevant. As also explained in the Rules of Procedure, the written test could award a maximum of 40 points, ie: the VNR test could award a maximum of 25 points for 40 correct answers (ie, 0.625 points for each correct answer) and the EUGK test could award a maximum of 15 points for 80 correct answers (ie, 0.1875 points for each correct answer).
The overall results in the 3 combined English tests (valid for the English Language Threshold) were the following: - EU Law: 10 candidates passed the 65% threshold (and all the others were below 60%); - European Affairs and Public Policy: 42 candidates passed the 65% threshold. - Economics and Public Finance: 47 candidates passed the 65% threshold;
The Rules of Procedure established to invite to the interviews up to 63 candidates, divided by Sectors in the following manner: - for EU Law- up to 30 applicants - for European Affairs and Public Policy - up to 20 applicants - for Economics and Public Finance - up to 13 applicants
As explained in the Rules, these numbers were established as long as a sufficient number of suitable candidates would have emerged from the written exams in each of the specific sector.
Confronted with the results mentioned above (in particular the overall poor performance of candidates in the sector of EU Law), EU Office and MEI decided to change the number of candidates invited to the interviews, as per the Rules of Procedure: "(…) If not enough suitable candidates are found within individual sectors as indicated in the call for application then candidates invited to the interviews may be recruited from the other lists, if there are enough suitable candidates. Accordingly, and depending on the written tests results, EU Office and MEI may also decide to either increase or decrease the number of available scholarships per individual sectors, or alternatively to reduce the overall number of available scholarships and invite to the interviews fewer candidates than initially planned, and/or they may propose a change of sector for suitable candidates. (Rules of procedure, pag.13/14)"
Accordingly, EU Office and MEI also decided to reallocate some of the available scholarships within the sectors in order to maintain the award of as many as possible grants and up to a maximum of 25. This is the new allocation of scholarships within the 3 sectors: - EU Law: up to 5 scholarships available (it was 12); - European Affairs and Public Policy: up to 8 scholarships available (unchanged) - Economics and Public Finance: up to 9 scholarships available (it was 5) for an overall total of up to 22 scholarships.
Furthermore, EU Office and MEI, depending on the outcome of the interviews, and in agreement with the members of the panel (5 academics from different Universities across the EU), may decide to award up to additional 3 scholarships in any of the 3 sectors combined, with the purpose of trying to award up to an overall total of 25 grants as originally announced.
The above differences in the numbers of grants per sector are explained, as already mentioned, by the related poor or good performance of candidates in the written tests. These changes take into account of the particularly good performance of candidates in the sector of Economics and Public Finance as opposed to the other two sectors, in particular the poor results in EU Law.
In line with this and the Rules of Procedure it was decided to interview 64 candidates (instead than 63, due to an ex-aequo in the last available place in the sector of European Affairs and Public Policy). All candidates are interviewed by the same panel, composed by Professors of European Law, Politics and Economics.
The following number of candidates is therefore invited to the interviews: - EU Law: all 10 candidates who passed at the English Threshold; - European Affairs and Public Policy: the first 28 candidates in the rankings; - Economics and Public Finance: the first 26 candidates in the rankings;
In EU Law the EU Office and MEI decided to lower the minimum ratio of number of candidates invited to the interview for maximum number of available grants from 2.5 to 2. This reflects the sheer need of Kosovo Public Administration for qualified lawyers, however it does not mean, as already explained, that all 5 grants will be awarded under this sector. Stakeholders also decided to invite more applicants (28 vs 26) in European Affairs & Public Policy than in Economics & Public Finance always based on the need of Kosovo Public Administration for qualified Policy Officers, in the hope to find more skilled and motivated candidates for this sector.
>>> DOWNLOADS <<<The results of the written exams can be downloaded below, divided per sectors:
- EUROPEAN AFFAIRS & PUBLIC POLICY RESULTS
- ECONOMICS & PUBLIC FINANCE RESULTS
>>>> INTERVIEWS TIMETABLE: Candidates invited to the interviews can download here the INTERVIEWS TIMETABLE - ALL SECTORS
Those interested can also download:
- List of No-Show Applicants to the Written Exams
- List of Incomplete Applications ................YCS Round IX: Information on Written Exams and Incomplete Applications (20/MAR/2012)WRITTEN EXAMS: A total of 213 applicants completed the written exams, while 31 candidates did not come to the tests (30 candidates did not show and 1 candidate withdraw after the English language test on Sunday). The results will be published on this website Friday 23 March as already announced in the Rules of Procedure. INCOMPLETE APPLICATIONS: YCS Stakeholders have decided to extend the deadline to complete the applications until tomorrow, 21st March. All candidates who still have to complete their applications must bring the missing documents at no later than 16h45 at the YCS Office in the Government Building. Candidates who fail to bring their documents will be excluded from the selections and their results in the written exams will not be published. ................. YCS Round IX: Pre-Selection Stage Results (3/MAR/2012)The Pre-Selection stage for Round IX Selection Procedure are now over, and the lists of those rejected as well as of those retained and of applicants invited to the Written Exams can be downloaded here: APPLICANTS INVITED TO THE WRITTEN EXAMS ON SATURDAY 10 MARCH APPLICANTS INVITED TO THE WRITTEN EXAMS ON SUNDAY 11 MARCH APPLICANTS CONDITIONALLY INVITED RULES TO BE OBSERVED DURING THE WRITTEN EXAMS We have received a total of 258 applications. Out of these applications, 14 have been rejected (the list is published above) and 244 applicants are invited to the written tests. Applicants have been rejected either because ineligible under the Rules of Procedure (because of ineligibility –or lack- of the degree under any sector for this year’s Selections), or because their applications were substantially incomplete (ie, missing the YCS Application Form or missing the Letter of Motivation in English). Candidates whose application has been rejected have time until Wednesday 7th March at 16:30 am to lodge motivated complaints for review of their file. Complaints must be presented in writing with a clear explanation of the reasons why their files should be reviewed. Complaints will be accepted only where and if there has been a material error on the side of the Pre-Selection Committee.
Of the 244 applicants invited to the Written exams, only 151 presented a complete application as required by the Rules of Procedure.
The YCS Round IX Selection Committee, taking into consideration the above numbers, instead of inviting only those 151 eligible applicants with complete applications, has decided to “conditionally invite” also the other 93 applicants in order not to reduce the number of scholarships available (see YCS Rules of Procedure, pages 8-11).
The 93 “conditionally invited” applicants who have presented applications that are formally not complete are required to complete their applications from 13th to 20th March 2012 by bringing to the YCS office in the Government Building the missing documents. These 93 applicants are “conditionally” invited to the written exams. The “condition” is that these 93 applicants complete their application before 20th March at 16h45. In almost all cases the application is incomplete because the copies of the Transcripts (which were required from ALL applicants) have not been enclosed as originals or as certified copies. If you are one of these 93 applicants you will receive a separate email requiring the missing documents and explaining which documents need to be produced. Even if these 93 applicants are invited to the written exams it does not mean that their written exam will be taken into consideration. These 93 applicants must complete their application by 20th March 2013 otherwise they will be rejected and eliminated from the Selection, no matter the results of the written exams.
There are also other 23 candidates who, although presenting complete applications, are required to provide further explanations on the nature of their degree. All these applicants are graduate (or undergraduates) from American Universities. In the documents they have provided there is no mention of the concentrations (majors in particular) they have studied (or they are studying in case of undergraduates). What is required from them is to request to their local university a declaration in which the majors of their concentration are clearly and unambiguously marked. This declaration must be produced on the local University’s headed paper, stamped with the University seal and signed by the official in charge. By “local University” it is meant the hosting University in Europe, not the mother University in the USA. The same request for clarification on the nature of their degree applies also to a number of candidates within the “conditionally invited”, together with whatever else is missing from their files. The deadline to produce this declaration is the same as for the conditionally invited applicants, ie 20th March at 16:45. The consequences for failing to meet the deadline of 20th March is the exclusion from the Selection and the non-publication of the results from the written exams.
Furthermore, 6 candidates with degrees eligible under other sectors from the one they applied for have also been directly contacted by email since they applied for a Sector where their degree was not actually eligible. In these cases, to avoid rejection of the applicant, the YCS Stakeholders gave the option to the applicants to re-qualify their application under a sector where their degrees are actually eligible. This group of 6 applicants has time until Friday 9th of March at 12:00 to confirm they agree to compete in a different Sector than the one they indicated in their YCS Application Form. Missing this deadline means not to be given access to the written exams and to be rejected.
Finally, in line with the Rules of Procedure and considering that the preliminary distribution in Sectors of the 244 eligible applications is highly unbalanced (ie, most of applicants have been received for European Affairs & Public Policy and for Economics & Public Finance) the European Commission and the Ministry of European Integration, Scholarships’ stakeholders, already anticipate the likelihood to a change in the number of scholarships provided under each sector, reserving to take a final decision only once the results of the written exams will be known. TIPS FOR THE WRITTEN EXAMSThese are suggestions on how to prepare for the Written Exams. These suggestions have been published in the Rules of Procedure since the 14 January and we wish to draw applicants' attention to them once more. All exams are multiple choice papers, with 4 possible answers for each questions and only one answer correct. English Knowledge exams: it will be composed of 3 parts, as described in the Rules of Procedure (Listening, Reading and Grammar & Structure). We strongly advise you over the next week to be exposed to English language as much as possible (read books and newspapers in English, review your grammar knowledge, and try to listen as much as possible to broadcasts in English - radio, news, movies, entertainments, etc.). Use every possible opportunity you may have to practice your skills in this language. The time for this test will be of 2h45 minutes (in 3 different parts) and you will not be allowed to leave the room during the whole of the test. If you finish the individual parts before others you will be required to stay at your place quietly. Verbal and Numerical Reasoning: This exam requires you to read and understand several short paragraphs in English. For each paragraph you will have then to answer 2 to 4 multiple-choice questions related to the contents of the specific paragraph. The questions will require from you to elaborate and work with the information contained in the specific paragraph in order to find the right answers. You do not need prior knowledge of any kind for this test. You only need to use your logical reasoning with both words and numbers. The exam has 2 parts, one "Verbal Reasoning" and one "Numerical reasoning". In the "Verbal reasoning" part (25 questions) you will need to reason on the wording of the paragraphs in order to provide the correct answers. In the "Numerical reasoning" (15 questions) instead you will have to reason on numbers, ratios (hence fractions) and percentages, and you will be required to make elementary operations (additions, subtractions, multiplications, divisions and percentages). The use of a calculator will not be allowed for the test as the numerical operations required to answer the questions are very simple. Use your logics and remember that on this exam time is crucial. You will have a maximum of 1h40 min., which means 2 and half minutes per question as there are 40 questions. Do not exceed the time for each question. The best way to prepare yourself for this test is to search on internet for this kind of exams, and practice similar tests a few times until you feel comfortable. EU General Knowledge exam: the exam consists of 80 questions and you will have 1h30 min for this test . Prepare yourself on the following chapters of the "Facts Sheets on the EU" (2009 online edition), by the European Parliament: Part 1, HOW THE EUROPEAN UNION WORKS, Part 3, THE INTERNAL MARKET, Part 5, ECONOMIC AND MONETARY UNION, Part 6, THE EU’S EXTERNAL RELATIONS. This document can also be downloaded here: http://www.ycskosovo.eu/EU_Fact_Sheets.zip (please be aware that this is a 8.6MB file). Questions for the EU General Knowledge exam have been drew only from this material, therefore if you study well the suggested document you will not have problems with this test. ................... YCS ROUND IX: Applications are now closed (28/2/2012 16:45)Applications are now closed. A total of 258 applications have been received by Tuesday 28 February at 16:45. Preliminary information from the application registration logs indicate that 130 applications were received from man (or 50.4%) and 128 from women (or 49.6%). Precise information will be made available on Saturday 3rd March, when we will publish the list of candidates invited to the written exam for Saturday 10th or Sunday 11th March. YCS Round IX: Final Announcement And Opening Of Applications (13/JAN/2012)The European Commission Liaison Office to Kosovo and the Ministry for European Integration, announce the opening of the 9th Round of applications to the Young Cell Scheme, the EU post-graduate scholarships programme for Kosovo, which is currently implemented by the British Council. Applications are open from Friday 13th January and until Tuesday 28th February 2012 and successful applicants will be offered the opportunity to study in a Master’s programme at Universities in the EU Member States. The Scholarship Programme, whose working language is only English, will offer up to 25 full grants (the actual number of grants awarded may also be less depending on suitability of candidates and availability of funding). This call is open to graduates in law, economics, business management, political sciences, social sciences and other academic backgrounds in line with the following sectors of specialisation (and as specified by the Rules of Procedures, which can be downloaded below under "IF YOU WANT TO APPLY") : 1) EU Law – up to 12 scholarships available 2) European Affairs and Public Policy – up to 8 scholarships available 3) Economics and Public Finance - up to 5 scholarships available
DOWNLOAD FULL TEXT OF FINAL ANNOUNCEMENT HERE IN THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGES>>>>>>> IF YOU WANT TO APPLY <<<<<<<CLICK HERE TO LEAVE YOUR EMAIL AND RECEIVE APPLICATION DOCUMENTS INCLUSIVE OF THE SELECTION RULES OF PROCEDURE. MAKE SURE TO WRITE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS CORRECTLY. NB: the above link has been disconnected since the Application process is now officially closed. FOR ALL APPLICANTS - ADVICE FOR THE WRITTEN EXAMSDetailed description of the 3 tests composing the Written Exam is made in the Rules of Procedure, which we strongly advice you to read in full and with care and attention. Here you can download the document where to study for the EU General Knowledge Test, and you can find general advice on all the 3 tests. To prepare yourself for the English Language Knowledge Tests, we advice you to listen as much as possible in the next weeks to English language radio and television, and read as much as you can in English. To prepare yourself for the EU General Knowledge Test, you can DOWNLOAD HERE the EU Fact Sheets (2009 edition) published by the European Parliament (full document in pdf, 8.6MB) or you can click here to consult the online edition of the same document. We advice you to read in the Rules of Procedures which are the chapters that will be used for the test and study those chapters over the next weeks, without leaving it to the last minute. To prepare yourself for the Verbal and Numerical Reasoning Test, we advice you to search on internet for tests named in the same way and exercise on what you find online. .................... YCS Round IX: Pre-Notice Announcement Published (3/JAN/2012)The European Commission Liaison Office to Kosovo and the Ministry for European Integration, announce the forthcoming opening of the 9th Round of applications to the Young Cell Scheme, the EU post-graduate scholarships programme for Kosovo, which is currently implemented by the British Council. Applications will be open from 13th January and until 28th February 2012. Successful applicants will be offered the opportunity to study in a Master’s programme at Universities in the EU Member States. The Scholarship Programme, whose working language is only English, will offer up to 25 full grants (the actual number of grants awarded may also be less depending on suitability of candidates and availability of funding). This call is open to graduates in law, economics, business management, political sciences, social sciences and other academic backgrounds (as specified in the Rules of Procedures to be published on 13 January 2012) in line with the following sectors of specialisation: - EU Law - European Affairs and Public Policy - Economics and Public Finance DOWNLOAD FULL TEXT OF THE PRE-NOTICE ANNOUNCEMENT IN THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGES:>>> FURTHER INFORMATION:CLICK HERE TO LEAVE YOUR NAME, TELEPHONE AND EMAIL TO RECEIVE APPLICATION DOCUMENTS ON 13 JANUARY AND RECEIVE UPDATES ON ROUND IX SELECTIONS NB: the above link has been disconnected since the Application process is now officially closed. If you want to have already an idea of how the Scheme works please consult the pages of the previous selection procedures. |
