Another year of preparation for competitions in the EU institutions - EPSO test preparation took place on the 16 and 17 of March 2015 at Czernin Palace in Prague and in Brno at the Faculty of Social Studies. The two-day seminar was attended by nearly 150 job seekers. The main focused of the course was on its methodology and tests: verbal and numerical tests, as well as abstract thinking.

Eurocentrum Brno and the Faculty of Social Studies, Masaryk University, hosted the event in the university’s auditorium in Brno. In Prague, the event was organised by the Department of Education and the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in cooperation with the national focal point. The event was held in the Great Hall of the Czernin Palace.

The Prague seminar was opened by the State Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Jan Prokeš, who also spoke about the role of the Department of Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Representation to the EU in support of Czech citizens in obtaining jobs in the EU institutions. The Director of Education and the Diplomatic Academy, Vera Jeřábková, mentioned other preparation projects for competitions at the EU institutions and gave information about the emerging concept of preparation for the EPSO tests in the Czech Republic. Zuzana Markova from the NFP Foreign Ministry called on all successful candidates to communicate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Both seminars featured lecturers from the prestigious French school of public administration ENA. Mr Benjamin Demiere, is director of the division of preparation for competitions at European institutions and led the training. ENA has been cooperating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the preparation of these seminars since 2012. Last year the first project was opened to the public and this year, the Prague seminar was replicated in Brno. The project was funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for preparing Czech citizens to work in international organizations. Anyone interested could participate for free.