On 11 and 12 June 2025, the second part of the Talent Assessment Centre pilot was successfully conducted by the EU4HRM project team in close cooperation with the Human Resource Management Service. The goal of this two-day exercise was to validate the competency assessment tools aligned with the newly developed leadership competency framework by piloting a Talent Assessment Centre targeting selected 10 high-potential employees from five state administration bodies. The pilot aims to fine-tune the tools, test their effectiveness in real conditions, and gather actionable insights to support broader implementation across the civil service.
The first part of the pilot, held during May and June 2025 under the leadership of the Human Resource Management Service with EU4HRM project team support, focused on psychometric testing and competency-based interviews. Psychometric tests were used to evaluate cognitive abilities, personality traits, and behavioural tendencies, while the interviews enabled an in-depth exploration of candidates’ leadership experiences and their capacity for reflection and learning.
The second part of the pilot centred on practical exercises designed to assess key leadership competencies in realistic scenarios. Participants worked on case studies to demonstrate their problem-solving, strategic thinking, and decision-making abilities. They also delivered presentations based on the case studies, which assessed their capacity to articulate a clear vision, inspire and motivate teams, and represent their organisations with confidence and professionalism. The programme concluded with a group exercise, offering insight into candidates’ collaborative leadership skills, including teamwork, delegation, and conflict resolution in a dynamic team environment.
The talents were assessed and observed by a panel comprising four psychologists from the Human Resource Management Service alongside mid-level and senior-level managers from six state administration bodies.
At the close of the event, Mr Dejan Kostić, Assistant Director of the HRMS, addressed the participants, expressing satisfaction with the exercise and commending the dedication of both the selected talents and the panel members. Mr Dalibor Mirić, State Secretary of the Ministry of Public Administration and Local Self-Government, also addressed the group, extending greetings on behalf of Minister Snežana Paunović and highlighting the significance of this initiative for strengthening leadership within the public administration. Mr Mirić presented the participants with certificates of appreciation for their engagement and contributions to the exercise.
The insights gained through this pilot will play a vital role in enhancing Serbia’s talent management practices and in further developing competence-based, integrated human resources management in public administration. This exercise proved particularly valuable for gaining a deeper understanding of how talents in public administration should be assessed in order to provide targeted development plans for their careers in the public administration.