Leveraging the Alumni Network—Giving Back Through the JVI

The Joint Vienna Institute (JVI) has been training public officials from Central, Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, the Caucasus and Central Asia for more than three decades. Providing crucial skills to advance sound economic policymaking. Training one generation of policymakers after another. With almost 60,000 officials trained—and the benefits extending across geography and time—our growing network of alumni remains connected, and committed, as their careers develop. 

IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva highlighted the importance of such networks recently when renewing the JVI’s MOU between the IMF and Austria, noting “We have central banks and finance authorities in the region that are now much stronger and, most importantly, better connected to each other”.

In addition to supporting each other in their professional roles, alumni also give back through the JVI itself. Some come back as faculty, some as guest lecturers, while others become Training Directors in their home institutions. In each of these roles, alumni are able to “give back” and help to keep JVI training timely and targeted, closely reflecting the needs of policymakers.

JVI Faculty - Rilind Kabashi and Meri Papavangjeli—JVI staff since 2020 and 2026 respectively—prove how JVI training can lead to long-term involvement in capacity development. They bring first-hand experience from their former institutions, research and professional networks into the design and delivery of JVI courses, helping to keep the curriculum anchored in the evolving policy challenges facing our region. 

Guest lecturers – combine deep experience with a “peers’ perspective”, resonating loudly with participants. When an alumnus explains how s/he personally handled a reform or used an analytical tool or supervisory practice in a real world example, the lessons hit home, and are taken to heart. Participants see not only what should be done, but how it can be done—even when facing real constraints. Șerban Matei (National Bank of Romania), Kristaps Markovskis (Bank of Latvia), Bence Mérő (National Bank of Hungary), Štefan Rychtárik (National Bank of Slovakia) and Ara Stepanyan (International Monetary Fund) are just a handful of the alumni who have recently taught at the JVI and are giving back to our community.

JVI Training Directors – provide an essential bridge between the JVI and our participants. They offer feedback on the JVI curriculum, modalities and training needs. Importantly, within their institutions, they help to match staff and institutional needs with the appropriate JVI courses. Having been at the JVI, they understand perfectly both the needs of their institutions and the value of well-targeted training, thus helping to increase the JVI’s effectiveness. Recent examples include Tin Ljubic (Ministry of Finance, Croatia) and Olena Mykhaylova (Ministry of Finance, Ukraine).

Alumni giving back through the JVI—in whatever form—show that building a strong community of policymakers is central to ongoing capacity development. 

It is an example of the virtuous circle at the heart of the JVI alumni network. The JVI invests in people. Those people strengthen their own networks and institutions. Some later return through the JVI to train, guide and inspire others. Knowledge expands and moves across cohorts and institutions, and from individual learning to public impact.

The JVI is proud of its alumni and all they do!

Alumni testimonials

While working in the central bank, I could see first-hand how attending JVI courses gradually improved the quality of analysis, forecasting, communication and eventually decision making. When I had the opportunity to become JVI faculty, I was very happy to be able to share my experience and knowledge with current public officials, who are now facing challenges similar to me a few years or decades ago (Rilind).

"The JVI has been a formative influence throughout my career, offering valuable learning opportunities in policy design and analysis, but also fostering meaningful connections that have lasted over the years” (Meri). 

“The JVI course participation certainly inspired the idea of joining as a guest lecturer. Years ago, I benefitted from the experience of other members of the international financial community worldwide and was offered interesting and useful prospectives. Therefore, it was time to give back" (Serban).

"JVI training inspired me to give back because it helped me grow both professionally and personally. It showed me how important it is to share knowledge and support others. That is why I later wanted to help others, share my experience, and give something back" (Kristaps).

”Participating in the JVI stress testing course gave me a clear and structured understanding of the key methodologies used in the field. I felt truly honored to be invited back later to present data driven agent-based approaches to macroprudential policy, with the hope of inspiring fellow financial stability professionals" (Bence). 

”As a young central bank employee, I had free and open access to advanced knowledge at JVI. This not only helped me in my professional career, but also motivated me to share my knowledge and experience with new generations of JVI course participants” (Stefan) 

“Twenty years ago, a JVI lecturer answered my question before I had barely opened my mouth — that sharpness of expertise transformed how I approached my work and ultimately my career. Returning recently as a lecturer myself, I hope to give back even a fraction of that transformative experience to the next generation of participants” (Ara).

”JVI courses enhanced my professional and personal growth and allowed me to form valuable connections with colleagues from JVI countries. As a training director, I draw on these experiences to help future participants gain the same professional and personal benefits.” (Tin).

"The JVI gave me much more than technical knowledge. It introduced me to a network of professionals who share a commitment to strong public institutions and sound economic policymaking. Over the years, I have continued to value not only the expertise gained through JVI programs, but also the quality of the discussions and professional relationships built through them. For me, contributing later through the JVI training directors’ network felt less like taking on a formal role and more like a professional obligation to give back. It provides an opportunity to share practical experience from Ukraine, learn from colleagues facing similar challenges, and contribute to a professional community where knowledge, trust, and cooperation continue to make a meaningful difference." (Olena)

Ben Kelmanson, Director, and Eugen Tereanu, Senior Economist, JVI