The pilot training is meant not only to build participants’ skills, but also to test and refine the project’s tools in real-life settings before wider rollout. The methodology is based on a blended, learner-centred approach that combines online learning with face-to-face workshops, practical assignments, and individual mentoring. A key element is microlearning: short, focused modules that allow busy caregivers to learn in a flexible and accessible format. These are complemented by scenario-based exercises and case studies that reflect real challenges from everyday care work.

The training pathway includes 15 microlearning modules, with 8 compulsory modules for the pilot phase. The curriculum covers digital skills, soft skills, social entrepreneurship, green and sustainable practices, and a strong well-being component. In fact, the largest thematic area is burnout and well-being, with modules dedicated to stress management, anger management, trauma, fear, self-esteem, work-life balance, and psychological first aid.

Another important feature of the methodology is the integration of personalised mentoring and self-learning resources, including handbooks, info cards, and practice-based materials hosted on the CARES platform. This structure helps participants move from learning to application and reflection, while also supporting long-term professional development and resilience in the care sector.

By combining flexibility, practical relevance, and individual support, the CARES pilot methodology offers a strong foundation for building a more skilled, resilient, and better-supported care workforce. It is also designed with transferability and long-term impact in mind, so that the model can be adapted and used beyond the initial pilot phase.

In May, we are focusing on the organisation of the pilot trainings within the CARES project. We invite care professionals, partner organisations, and stakeholders to follow the next steps of the project and stay connected for updates on the training activities, learning opportunities, and pilot implementation.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA). Neither the European Union nor EACEA can be held responsible for them

Built for practical, real-life use, the platform offers a 30-hour learning pathway made up of 15 short microlearning modules.

The content is flexible, accessible, and easy to apply in everyday work. It includes:

• wellbeing and burnout prevention
• digital skills and responsible use of AI tools
• soft skills such as emotional intelligence, inclusion, and self-advocacy
• green and social entrepreneurship-related skills for more sustainable care practice.

The platform is part of the wider CARES pilot training methodology, which combines online learning, real-life case scenarios, mentoring, and practical resources to support a more resilient care workforce.

You can discover the platform’s modules by clicking on this link, and you can gain access to the platform through registering on this link.

The first day created space for strategic reflection on research, stakeholder engagement, and the diversity of local contexts that need to be considered when designing meaningful and inclusive responses. A particularly valuable part of the Belgrade programme was the study visit, which added a practical dimension to our discussions. For us at HETFA, this was an important reminder that women’s entrepreneurship is not only a policy or methodology topic, but also a lived reality shaped by creativity, persistence, identity, and everyday business decisions. Meeting a local woman entrepreneur and hearing directly about the development of her enterprise helped ground the project’s objectives in real experience and reinforced why transnational learning and practice-based exchange are essential elements of IMPACTA.

The second day focused on how shared knowledge can be translated into concrete forms of support. Discussions on training methodology, mentoring, pilot actions, and digital tools showed that the consortium is not simply collecting ideas, but working toward realistic and adaptable solutions that reflect the different needs of women entrepreneurs in the region.

IMPACTA is supported by the INTERREG Danube Region Programme, co-funded by the European Union and the Szechenyi Programme Office.

In recent years, the concept of “resilience” has become embedded in the policy discourse of the European Union, particularly in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukrainian war, and climate change. Nevertheless, there is still no shared understanding of the term’s precise meaning or its application in territorial governance practice. The aim of the ESPON TERRES project was to fill this research gap and develop a conceptual framework for “territorial resilience,” outlining a measurement methodology that could potentially help guide EU cohesion and other sectoral policies, particularly at the subnational level.

As a result, the project team defined a comprehensive concept of territorial resilience, reviewed its current policy applications and possibilities, compiled a set of indicators suitable for measuring territorial resilience, and developed recommendations for future data collection. Analysed and mapped territorial inequalities in resilience; formulated recommendations for future research and methodology; and prepared an online dashboard to support the interpretation and measurement of territorial resilience.

Six case studies were also prepared within the framework of the project: HÉTFA staff addressed the challenges of the Budapest functional urban area, such as intensive suburbanization and urban sprawl, overburdened infrastructure, public services and natural environment, and fragmented governance. To address these challenges, a framework was proposed that strengthens cooperation and commitment among governance actors. The Budapest case identified valuable new initiatives, some promising forms of cooperation, and the high added value of informal relationships, highlighting the role of proactive actors in resilience.

The results of the research (including the Final Report) are publicly available on the ESPON website.

]]> https://hetfa.eu/2026/01/cares-training-curriculum-is-coming-soon-building-skills-for-a-sustainable-and-human-centred-care-sector/ Thu, 29 Jan 2026 10:16:17 +0000 https://hetfa.eu/?p=11874 The CARES project (Caregivers Advancing Regulatory Environment and Skills) will introduce its Training Curriculum in February 2026 — a comprehensive, 30-hour learning framework designed to strengthen the competences, well-being, and adaptability of caregivers across Europe. HÉTFA is a partner in the Erasmus+ project coordinated by the Center for Non-Profit Law.

Developed collaboratively by the consortium partners — Center for Non-Profit Law (Romania), Cooperativa Sociale Labor (Italy), HÉTFA Research Institute (Hungary), Welfare Society Institute (Lithuania), and DGASPC Sector 6 (Romania) — this curriculum responds to the growing challenges faced by care professionals, including digital transformation, emotional burnout, and the transition to sustainable practices in health and social care. You can learn more about the upcoming Curriculum in this article.

🌍What the CARES Curriculum Offers

The curriculum is structured into 15 short, targeted modules (each around two hours), offering a balanced mix of digital skills, soft skills, green competences, and well-being strategies for care professionals. Each module was designed to be practical, flexible, and accessible through both in-person and online learning formats. Together, they form a holistic pathway toward empowering caregivers to thrive in a rapidly evolving sector.

Main Training Categories and Highlights:

💻Digital Skills (Modules 1–3)

Practical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and digital communication tools in social services, online well-being apps, and assistive smart technologies.

🧠Soft Skills (Modules 4–5)

Emotional intelligence, boundary setting, and intersectionality awareness — essential for maintaining empathy and professionalism.

💼Social Entrepreneurship (Module 6)

Understanding social enterprise standards, ethical procurement, and networking in the care economy.

🌿Green & Sustainable Skills (Module 7)

Linking climate change, eco-procurement, and nature-based therapies to care work.

💚Burnout Prevention & Well-being (Modules 8–15)

A set of eight modules addressing stress, anger, trauma, fear, self-esteem, and psychological first aid — promoting emotional resilience and peer support in care environments.

🧩A Modular, Flexible Approach

Each module combines interactive methodologies — from hands-on exercises and real-life case studies to reflective journaling and online simulations — ensuring that participants engage actively in their learning journey.

Training sessions are supported by:

 – Digital resources on the CARES online platform,

 – Practical toolkits and guides,

 – Certificates of attendance for each completed module.

The CARES Curriculum not only develops technical and emotional skills — it supports a broader vision of “care for the caregivers.” By investing in those who provide care, we strengthen the entire system that underpins social inclusion, dignity, and well-being in Europe.

As the consortium finalises this deliverable, the next step will be to integrate the modules into the CARES e-learning platform, opening access for caregivers and trainers in 2026. We will publish the news on launching the CARES Training Curriculum on our website. You can find recent news on the CARES project on this link.

As part of WP2, the consortium conducted a comprehensive mapping of over 80 social innovation initiatives across Europe. The selection included projects supported by EU programmes – such as EaSI, Urban Innovative Actions (UIA), Erasmus+, and Interreg – as well as national and regional initiatives from partner countries. This mapping aimed to identify both inspiring practices and systemic challenges in the fields of integration, employment, and inclusion.

The complete repository of mapped initiatives is accessible here:
https://simpleinnovation.eu/repository.php?lang=EN

From this broader repository, the consortium extracted 13 best practices that were particularly well-documented, impactful, and aligned with the SIMPLE project’s objectives. These are analysed in depth in another key project deliverable: The Social Innovation Compendium, available at: https://simpleinnovation.eu/assessment.php?lang=EN

Among the 13, three model initiatives were selected as the primary inspiration for the development of SIMPLE’s Theory of Change:

• BSI_4Women (Interreg Baltic Sea Region) – focused on entrepreneurship and economic integration for Ukrainian refugee women.
• SIREE (Interreg 2Seas) – based on a co-creation model engaging schools, families, and communities to support refugee integration.
• MiFriendlyCities (Urban Innovative Actions) – emphasising employer engagement and the creation of inclusive employment ecosystems.

The Theory of Change, available on the project website, outlines how the SIMPLE model is expected to generate meaningful and sustainable impact. Drawing on selected elements of the three model initiatives, it proposes an adaptable, modular approach that can be tailored to diverse national and local contexts.  This Theory of Change will serve as the foundation for the stakeholders’ engagement activities to be performed in all partner countries under WP3 and pilot actions to be carried out in Poland and Italy under WP4. In these two countries, partners will:

• Design and deliver targeted interventions for Ukrainian refugees, inspired by the selected model initiatives
• Engage relevant stakeholders (e.g. employers, training providers, community organisations, public authorities) to test co-designed solutions and build supportive local ecosystems
• Apply the SIMPLE model in real contexts, testing its feasibility, relevance, and adaptability
• Collect feedback and monitor outcomes, to evaluate the model’s effectiveness and inform future refinement and scaling.

In Poland, the focus will be on employment activation, while in Italy, activities will revolve around empowerment and entrepreneurship pathways. Both pilots will be closely monitored to assess short-term and longer-term changes in participants’ inclusion and integration trajectories.

SIMPLE is co-funded by the European Union under the ESF+ programme. The project brings together partners from Italy, Poland, Spain, Belgium, Croatia, and Hungary to co-design, pilot, and promote sustainable models for inclusion, employment, and community empowerment.

Stay updated at: https://simpleinnovation.eu
Contact: simple.euproject@gmail.com

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or European Social Fund Agency. Neither the European Union nor the Granting Authority can be held responsible for them.

]]> https://hetfa.eu/2026/01/coopower-partner-meeting-in-vienna/ Thu, 08 Jan 2026 20:58:31 +0000 https://hetfa.eu/?p=11857 We spent three intensive and inspiring days in Vienna with our COOPOWER partners, taking major steps toward creating practical, locally tailored solutions to strengthen youth employability and social inclusion across the Danube Region.

What happened?

• Together we identified the pilot target groups and their key challenges, from small villages in Slovakia to the Bulgarian seaside, from disadvantaged communities around Tokaj in Hungary to long-term unemployed youth in Serbia.
• We discussed how to ensure real outreach, involvement and engagement, and reached a shared understanding of the concepts.
• Through creative workshops, we worked on pilot structures, youth motivation, trust-building, and effective local cooperation mechanisms (LCIs).
• We explored inspiring examples of how to involve businesses, schools, municipalities and civil society actors, even in challenging local environments.

Key takeaways:

• Youth don’t need to be “activated”, they need to be listened to and engaged as partners.
• The success of each pilot depends on local collaboration, trust and flexibility.
• A good idea is not enough on its own: clear definitions, shared goals and ongoing dialogue are essential.

Pilot activities starting soon!

By February 2026, each country will have its first detailed pilot plan ready. In the coming months, we will begin building the Local Cooperation Incubators (LCIs) and shaping the Danube Transnational Dialogue Hub.

A warm thank you to all partners for your insights, ideas and constructive discussions!

COOPOWER is implemented with the support of the Interreg Danube Region Programme and co-financed by the European Union and the Széchényi Programme Office.

Co-organised by the European Association of Mountain Areas (Euromontana) and the European Association for Innovation in Local Development (AEIDL), the event gathered 33 participants, including researchers, representatives from the European Commission, as well as from EU networks and civil society organisations working on social inclusion, social economy and sustainable rural development. The discussions led to a strong call for a more holistic vision to rural policy planning.

You can read more about the take-aways of the policy workshop on ESIRA’s website by clicking here.

As one of the foremost global gatherings for social economy research, the EMES conference showcased cutting-edge research addressing today’s most pressing social and territorial challenges. The event reaffirmed the pivotal role of the social economy in creating inclusive and sustainable societies.

The panel, titled ‘Enhancing social innovation through the social economy in rural areas’, brought together four research papers created as part of the ESIRA and SERIGO projects. They focused on how social economy organisations, social enterprises and grassroots initiatives were addressing persistent challenges in rural, remote and mountainous regions. The presentations focused on innovative models of elder care, the developmental impact of social economy organisations, intersectional approaches to rural vulnerabilities, and the effects of the de-democratisation of governance on social entrepreneurship in Hungary.

Rural regions across Europe continue to face demographic decline, reduced access to essential services, and widening socio-economic vulnerabilities. The ESIRA and SERIGO projects were designed to explore how social economy actors can strengthen resilience, inclusion, and quality of life in these contexts. The panel aimed to share evidence that cooperatives, social enterprises, and community organisations are creating innovative, place-based solutions. By bringing together comparative research and case studies from across Europe, the session contributed to a deeper understanding of how social economy initiatives can foster more inclusive, sustainable rural development.