The SIMPLE – Social Innovation Models to Promote Learning and Employability – project aims to identify, adapt and support the wider use of promising social innovation practices that strengthen the labour-market integration and social inclusion of refugees from Ukraine.

As part of the project, 82 European initiatives were mapped, of which 13 were examined in greater depth. The analysis informed two pilot programmes testing different approaches to labour-market integration. In Poland, the programme focused on entrepreneurship skills and support for participants considering self-employment, while in Italy it centred on job-search support, pathways into employment and engagement with employers.

The webinar examined the limitations of the available research and the additional insights that emerge through implementation in practice. It also addressed a central question for SIMPLE: how far approaches developed in one context can be transferred to another, which elements need to be adapted to local institutional and social conditions, and what can reasonably be inferred from the outcomes of relatively short-term interventions. The discussion also considered the relevance of these findings for organisations and practitioners working in comparable fields in Hungary.

The webinar was presented by Evelin Verhás of HÉTFA Research Institute.

The recording is available in Hungarian here: SIMPLE – Social Innovation for Migrant Integration and Employability

The SIMPLE project is co-funded by the European Union through the ESF+ Social Innovation+ Initiative.

Further information about the SIMPLE project is available on the project website.

Funding statement 

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

RE:ACT addresses the growing challenges of contemporary antisemitism, Holocaust distortion and online hate in Europe through innovative educational approaches. Building on the results of the DECONSTRUCT project, it connects Holocaust remembrance with present-day civic challenges and equips educators and young people with the knowledge and skills to recognise and counter antisemitic narratives, misinformation and prejudice. the project aims to strengthen educational responses to antisemitism and foster collaboration among educators, civil society organisations and other relevant stakeholders across Europe. The project places particular emphasis on strengthening critical thinking, enhancing media literacy, fostering empathy and democratic resilience.

As one of the project’s first activities, partners will conduct a baseline study to establish a comprehensive understanding of the current manifestations of antisemitism and existing educational responses in the partner countries. The study will also provide a reference point for assessing the effectiveness of the educational tools developed throughout the project and their broader societal impact. During the kick-off meeting, partners discussed project management, communication and dissemination, as well as the research methodology and the framework for assessing the project’s impact. The consortium also explored the processes for developing  the YOUTHWITNESS Package, which will combine digital learning resources, testimony-based education, teacher training, mentoring and pilot activities. These initiatives will support educators and students in addressing contemporary antisemitism and Holocaust distortion in educational settings.

HÉTFA Research Institute supports project management, in close collaboration with the project coordinator, the Zachor Foundation for Social Remembrance. In addition it contributes in developing the research methodology, as well as responsible for conducting the baseline study and impact assessment.

The online training series will take place on four consecutive Thursdays, from 1 to 22 October 2026, between 16:00 and 18:00 CEST. Organised through STREAM IT’s network of National Inspiration Hubs, the sessions are designed primarily for primary and secondary school teachers, particularly those working in STEM/STEAM subjects. School leaders, counsellors and other education professionals interested in gender-inclusive teaching are also welcome to participate. The training is free and open to educators across Europe and beyond. 

The four interactive sessions will combine short presentations, Q&A and breakout-room discussions. The first session will introduce gender-sensitive STE(A)M education and explore how gender-based stereotypes shape classroom dynamics. The second will focus on the teacher’s role and a practical classroom checklist, while the third will present STREAM IT’s experience with mentoring, talent nurturing and hands-on inclusive activities. The final session will bring together speakers from sister projects to share tested tools and materials for gender-inclusive STE(A)M teaching. 

Registration is free and required for the training series. Participants can register for the webinars here. The STREAM IT project is funded by the European Union; views and opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. 

More information about the training series is available in the press release.

The Study Visit at Istanbul University provided an opportunity for knowledge transfer among Turkish research managers and created a shared platform for exchanging good practices. Virág Zsár presented the development of the Research Management profession, the results of the RM Roadmap survey and the European Research Area policy context. Beáta Lázár introduced HÉTFA’s research management projects, including SECURE2, RM Framework and MAPIT Horizone Europe projects. The partners also met research managers working at Istanbul University and representatives of TARMA, the Turkish Research Management community. During the discussion on the relevance, benefits and challenges of professional associations, Virág Zsár – recently elected President of HUNARMA, the Hungarian Association of Research Managers and Administrators – shared experience from establishing the Hungarian association, thereby supporting the initiative of the Turkish colleagues.

The programme continued in İzmir, where Virág Zsár and Beáta Lázár delivered the final Future Studies Programme training. The first part of the HÉTFA-led programme focused on the challenges of organisational development and lessons learned from the project, followed by a workshop in which participants prepared institutional action plans for their Research Support Offices. Building on HÉTFA’s gap analysis, the training addressed research management strategy, processes, knowledge management, services and professional networks. At the Final Consortium Meeting, HÉTFA presented the results of Work Package 4 (the Future Studies Programme), including the training programme, study visits and short-term secondments. Partners shared their mobility experiences, evaluated the work of the two-year project, and prepared sustainability and future cooperation plans.

The Horizon Europe-funded MAPIT project aims to bridge the gap between innovative SMEs, research entities and European R&I networks, fostering sustainable international partnerships. By establishing digital innovation centres and upskilling R&I managers, MAPIT strengthens university-industry collaboration, promotes internationalisation and supports research entities in engaging successfully with Horizon Europe and the European Research Area.

HÉTFA is the leader of Work Package 4, responsible for the Future Studies Programme.

Learn more about the project here: https://mapitproject.eu/ 

The Reality in Hungary

Moderator Gergely Katona (Baptist Diaconal Center, Social Notes) opened the discussion by presenting statistical data reflecting the current state of the sector. According to estimates, approximately 90,000 people work in the social welfare system in Hungary, but only 20% of them hold a college degree. Although official statistics show an average gross salary of around 582,000 Ft, workers tend to estimate it at around 400,000 Ft gross—due to the inconsistency of bonuses and other payments. Nationwide, there is a 20% labor shortage, which exceeds 40% in certain areas. Approximately 40% of those who earn a degree in this field do not find employment in the social sector even after graduation.

Resilience – more than flexibility

The central concept of the discussion was resilience. Dr. Szilvia Ádám (Semmelweis University) defined resilience as the ability that allows an individual or organization to recover—and even thrive—after a crisis. Erzsébet Kővári (Budapest Methodological Centre of Social Policy and Its Institutions) cited the COVID-19 pandemic, the refugee crisis, and the cost-of-living crisis as examples where effective communication and collaboration helped institutions. Dr. Zsófia Hídvégi (Hungarian Association of Supervisors and Supervisor-Coaches) emphasized from a neuroscientific perspective that humans are social beings, and thus connecting with others is an important means of calming the nervous system.

Why are colleagues leaving?

According to the experts, the reason for leaving the profession is not only salary, but working conditions, the lack of positive feedback and the workplace atmosphere. In 85–90% of supervision cases, the source of problems is not difficulties with clients, but collegial tensions and manager-subordinate relationships. The key to the solution lies in creating “psychological safety” – an environment where it is okay to make mistakes.

Supervision: not a luxury, but an essential in mental well-being

Supervision is an interprofessional reflective process that supports helpers’ mental well-being in four dimensions: me and my profession, me and my colleagues, me and my clients, and me and the system. The experts agreed that supervision should become part of professional socialisation. Erzsébet Kővári shared that at BMSZKI, centrally organised supervision has been available since 2020.

Good practices and personal strategies

Participants reported several forward-looking initiatives, including the BMSZKI and MOME collaboration, community psychiatry programmes, relaxation rooms for staff, and leadership training and resilience programmes. At the end of the discussion, the experts shared their own coping strategies: conscious self-care, grounding techniques, expanding reaction time, positive focus and supportive relationships all contribute to maintaining helpers’ mental balance.

The key takeaway of the roundtable discussion is that the sustainability of the helping professions requires “helping the helpers”. As we are taught on aeroplanes: we must put on our own oxygen mask first.

The podcast version of the Hunagrian discussion can be accessed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgOClhaLRyA 

The STREAM IT project, funded by Horizon Europe, aims to promote the participation of girls and women in STEAM education, research and innovation through inclusive educational opportunities, mentoring and science communication activities. As the coordinator of the STREAM IT project, HÉTFA is responsible for the overall professional and operational coordination of the project while actively contributing to the implementation of educational programmes, mentoring activities, science communication initiatives and international cooperation.

The international final was preceded by a project partners’ meeting, during which members of the STREAM IT consortium reviewed the project’s progress, exchanged experiences and discussed the professional and communication activities related to the project’s final phase. During the afternoon competition, each finalist had eight minutes to present their research in a way that remained scientifically accurate while being clear, engaging and accessible to a wider audience. A multidisciplinary jury evaluated the presentations based on scientific content, presentation style, creativity and communication skills. The jury consisted of Dr. Bálint Molnár, Director of Communications at the Budapest University of Technology and Economics and Assistant Professor at the Department of Management and Business Economics; Nikoletta Bozsik-Nagy, science and technology journalist at Telex; and Dr. Nóra Abrankó-Rideg, Director of Grants and Proposals at the Hungarian Dance University, chemist, educator and mentor at the Milestone Institute.

The competition featured research from a wide range of scientific disciplines, including artificial intelligence, biotechnology, medicine, sustainable agriculture, materials science and aerospace engineering. Daryna Aihars (Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, Ukraine) won first prize with her presentation Modern Approaches to Solving the Problem of the Sonic Boom in Supersonic Flight. Agnes Warmuth (Lund University, Sweden) received second prize for Every Dot Counts, while Solveiga Samulenaite (Vilnius University, Lithuania) was awarded third prize for The Role of the Gut Microbiota in the Development of Eating Disorders. Once again, the competition highlighted the vital role of science communication in making research understandable, engaging and relevant to society.

Recordings of all presentations are available on the STREAM IT YouTube channel.

The Handbook provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of youth mental health, presenting experiences from countries across the Danube Region while exploring opportunities to further strengthen mental health support systems.

The publication offers an in-depth analysis of the current situation and highlights the key challenges faced by adolescents and young adults, as well as the systems supporting them. Research shows that 50% of mental health conditions emerge before the age of 14, while 75% develop before the age of 24. The COVID-19 pandemic, digitalisation, economic uncertainty and broader social changes have further increased the pressures affecting younger generations, underlining the importance of strengthening prevention and early intervention.

The Handbook also examines the main challenges facing existing support systems, including shortages of mental health professionals, regional disparities in access to services, the stigma surrounding mental health, and the difficulties marginalised groups—such as early school leavers and young people from Roma communities—often face in accessing appropriate support. Alongside identifying these challenges, it presents practical recommendations, good practices and policy proposals aimed at improving mental health support systems for young people. 

Read the MEET Youth Mental Health Handbook.

The international conference, entitled “From Ideas to Change: Mental Health Support for Young People”, showcased the results of more than two and a half years of cooperation within the project. Participants reflected on the project journey from identifying local needs to developing shared solutions. The presentations addressed key challenges related to youth mental health, highlighted the experiences of vulnerable groups, and presented the results of pilot activities implemented by project partners. The programme also provided an opportunity to explore the tools and methods developed within the project and to discuss how local experiences can contribute to broader policy development and systemic change.

On behalf of HETFA Research Institute, Luca Szöőr-Fülöp delivered a presentation entitled “From Local Practice to Danube Strategy”. The presentation focused on the results of the project’s pilot activities, the main lessons learned from the Local Action Plans, and the policy recommendations developed for the EU Strategy for the Danube Region. It demonstrated how experiences gathered at the local level can be translated into policy proposals that support the long-term promotion of young people’s mental well-being. The presentation also highlighted the importance of cross-sectoral cooperation and the role of locally tested solutions in shaping regional and international policy responses.

A key focus of the workshop was the presentation of work carried out in the six pilot territories in Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Ukraine. Partners shared updates on stakeholder engagement, youth outreach activities, skills needs assessments, the establishment of Local Cooperation Incubators, and the preparation of training, mentoring and employment-support measures.

The meeting also created space for peer learning and joint reflection on the challenges encountered during the first phase of implementation. Good practice examples from Slovakia offered further inspiration, including initiatives related to entrepreneurship education, financial literacy, mentoring programmes and community-based youth support services. The programme was complemented by a study visit to the Community Centre and Clubroom in Plavecký Štvrtok, where partners gained first-hand insight into local approaches supporting vulnerable groups through educational, social and youth-focused services.

HÉTFA participates as a partner in the COOPOWER project, implemented with the support of the Interreg Danube Region Programme and co-funded by the European Union and the Széchenyi Programme Office. The project aims to strengthen employment opportunities for vulnerable young people across the Danube Region and to support cooperative approaches involving local actors, service providers, educational institutions, employers and communities. The Bratislava meeting confirmed the importance of building on local experience while developing solutions that can also inspire action in other territories.

For further news, professional content and events related to the COOPOWER project, subscribe to the project newsletter: https://interreg-danube.eu/projects/coopower.

The aim of the event was for researchers and practitioners to jointly discuss the current challenges facing the social and solidarity economy, the role of social innovation, and the results and limitations of initiatives supporting social integration.

During the afternoon session of the conference, the ESIRA project presented two papers. Luca Koltai, a researcher at the Hétfa Research Institute, presented the experiences of the ESIRA project in a talk titled “Supporting Social Innovation Through Social Enterprises in the ESIRA Project,” highlighting the role of social enterprises in strengthening the innovative capacity of local communities. Anna Szerepi, a staff member at the Hungarian Reformed Charity Service (MRSZ), presented the results and lessons learned from the domestic application of the Multi-Actor Platform methodology in her presentation titled “Local Experiences with Implementing the Multi-Actor Platform Methodology.”

The workshop addressed methodological issues related to the social and solidarity economy, the effects of social integration at the individual level, and outcomes and challenges at the community level, organized into three thematic blocks. The program concluded with a joint professional discussion and a conversation about opportunities for collaboration.

The event was organized by the ELTE Center for Social Sciences Research as part of the OTKA 147050 research project titled “The Role of the Social Economy in Promoting Social Integration in Rural Areas of Hungary.”