During the autumn semester of 2024, Leonard Julius Andersen, a 3rd-year student at the University of Southern Denmark (SDU), has undertaken an international academic internship at the European Development Academy (EDA). The internship that ran from September 18th to December 23rd offered Leonard, who is pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in European Studies at the SDU’s Department of Political Science and Public Management, the
opportunity to gain valuable experience at the European Development Academy through its dedication to advancing good governance, public security, and the rule of law within the EU and the Western Balkans.
As an action-oriented institution of public interest, the European Development Academy provided an ideal environment for Leonard to achieve his learning objectives focused on strengthening his analytical, research, and practical competencies in various key areas:
• Analytical competencies: Leonard analysed thoroughly the EU’s Chapters of the “acquis,” with particular emphasis on Chapter 24, which targets Justice, Freedom, and Security. This chapter includes sub-areas like combating organized crime which is one of the main areas of the EDA’s activities, with a regional focus on North Macedonia.
• Scientific-research competencies: Leonard critically engaged with academic literature, collected primary data through semi-structured interviews with regional justice and security experts and analysed challenges related to corruption, organized crime, and financial crimes in the Western Balkans, comparing diverse approaches to addressing these issues.
• Desk research skills: Through analysing policy briefs, academic journal articles, and public documents, Leonard gained a deeper understanding of pressing issues such as corruption and financial crime in the region.
• Written communication skills: Leonard assisted the EDA team in drafting grant applications for nonprofit organizations and composing press releases about EDA’s activities.
• Event and workshop organization: Leonard contributed to the planning and implementation of workshops and trainings in both Slovenia and North Macedonia, including evaluating the impact of knowledge-sharing activities by administering questionnaires and conducting interviews.
During his internship, Leonard attended two impactful workshops in North Macedonia. The first focused on cross-institutional capacity building for financial investigation, emphasizing collaboration between North Macedonia and Slovenia. The second, held in partnership with the Migration, Asylum, and Refugees Regional Initiative (MARRI), aimed to enhance change management skills in combating migrant smuggling and human trafficking.
Additionally, Leonard participated in two high-level meetings with key officials in North Macedonia. These included a discussion with the Macedonian State Public Prosecutor and the Head of Skopje Public Prosecution to reinforce ongoing cooperation, as well as a meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of North Macedonia to explore future collaborations in financial investigations.
This internship marks an invaluable milestone in Leonard’s academic journey, bridging theoretical knowledge from his studies at SDU with hands-on experience in advancing justice and governance in the Western Balkans. Through his engagement with the EDA, Leonard contributed to meaningful initiatives while building skills that will support his aspirations in European policy and public administration.