Skopje, May 5, 2026 – Mother Teresa University in Skopje organized an open lecture titled “Career Opportunities in NATO” to inform students and academic staff about various career paths within the world’s largest military and political organization. The event was moderated by the Vice-Rector for Teaching, Full Prof. Fati Iseni, Ph.D., who emphasized the importance of the session in bringing students closer to the opportunities for contributing to the global security and innovation.
The lecture was opened by the Rector of MTU, Full Prof. Bekim Fetaji, Ph.D., who welcomed the guests and encouraged participants to take advantage of such platforms for international professional development.
During the session, two senior representatives from the NATO Headquarters shared practical information and personal experiences. Ms. Dorka Balla-Johnson presented a detailed overview of the NATO programs, including the Internship Program, open to individuals over 21 years of age and lasting six months in Brussels with a monthly allowance of around €1,300. She also elaborated on the Young Professionals Program (YPP), a three-year program for candidates with a master’s degree and at least one year of work experience, as well as civilian staff positions offering opportunities in fields such as technology, cybersecurity, finance, and international relations.
Blagoj Delipetrev, Ph.D., AI Architect at NATO, shared his personal career path at the NATO Headquarters. He spoke about the recruitment process—from applying via the career portal, to written tests and competency-based interviews (STAR method). He also presented the Science for Peace and Security (SPS) program, which offers universities and research institutions opportunities to obtain grants for multi-year projects of up to €400,000, as well as the role of artificial intelligence in NATO policies and the development of tools such as AI chatbots.
It was highlighted that applications for internships are usually open during April–May. Candidates must be citizens of a NATO member country and have proficiency in English or French.
The event concluded with an interactive Q&A session. First- and second-cycle students had the opportunity to directly consult experts about their next steps toward an international career.