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 two-day event, held for the first time under the motto “Where are we heading? Answers,” brought together more than 70 speakers and nearly 200 participants, both in person and online. The programme included six plenary sessions and 16 thematic panels. Representatives of academia, business, diplomacy, public administration and civil society discussed the developments shaping contemporary societies, politics, the economy and culture.

The SIMPLE panel focused on how public authorities, academia, business and civil society can work together more effectively to support refugees from Ukraine. Participants discussed how the different actors could define their roles and responsibilities more clearly, coordinate different forms of support and involve those directly affected from the outset in programme design. They emphasised that the knowledge and experience of refugees from Ukraine not only contribute to a better understanding of their actual needs, but can also serve as an important source of social innovation.

This cross-sectoral cooperation is also central to the SIMPLE project. HÉTFA is a partner in the project, which adapts proven social innovation models to local needs and tests them in practice. SIMPLE aims to support the labour-market integration and economic independence of refugees from Ukraine, particularly women.

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 Social Fund Agency. Neither the European Union nor the Granting Authority can be held responsible for them.

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 workshop is part of a research process supporting the evaluation of the Zachor Foundation’s Teacher Ambassador and Youth Ambassador Programs. The goal of the evaluation is to provide a comprehensive picture of the changes the program initiates in educational institutions, in teachers’ professional work, and in students’ learning processes. The Zachor Foundation’s Ambassador Program is supported by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany.

The Zachor Foundation’s Ambassador Program builds a community of educators and young people committed to Holocaust education who collaborate at the local, national, and international levels to strengthen authentic remembrance education. The program also contributes to the fight against antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and distortion, promoting education based on critical thinking and democratic values.

Using participatory methods, the participants collectively reflected on how the ambassador activities relate to the day-to-day operations of schools, what kinds of learning and community processes they foster, and in what areas the program’s short- and long-term impacts are evident. Teachers’ experiences are particularly valuable for the evaluation, as they are able to perceive institutional and pedagogical changes that are less visible to students.

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.

SECURE 2 aims to pilot and implement recommendations for the European Framework for Research Careers (ERCF) to improve research career progression and mobility within research-performing organizations (RPOs) and research-funding organizations (RFOs).

This issue presents the project’s latest research findings on job security, career pathways, and employment conditions in the context of research careers, while also highlighting recent project activities, events, and publications. The Bulletin offers valuable insights into the policy and research initiatives that contribute to shaping the future research labour market and promoting sustainable research careers across Europe.

The project is implemented with the participation of HÉTFA Research Institute and is funded by the Horizon Europe programme.

Read the second issue here:
https://secureproject.eu/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/SECURE2-Bulletin-draft-JUNE-2026.pdf

To learn more about the SECURE2 project’s activities, results, and latest news, visit the project’s official website: https://secureproject.eu/

The report’s most important finding is that, as a result of the significant salary increases in 2024–2025, the attractiveness of the teaching profession clearly improved in the short term. While the number of teachers actually declined between 2021 and 2023, a turnaround occurred after 2023: the number of teachers began to rise both in absolute terms and relative to the number of children.

The research highlights that the wage adjustment not only helped retain teachers in the profession but also encouraged those who had previously left to return. Based on questionnaire surveys, the proportion of returnees citing financial motivation rose from 5.7% to 23.6%.

Alongside these positive trends, experts note that professional satisfaction is complicated by several factors. Among educators and students, the most critical issues are the performance evaluation system (TÉR, which has since been suspended), heavy administrative burdens, and a lack of autonomy and social recognition. The report emphasizes that, in order to maintain the field’s appeal, it is necessary not only to maintain salary levels but also to address other structural issues.

The full evaluation report can be downloaded at the following link: https://www.palyazat.gov.hu/informacio/ertekelesek/szechenyi-terv-plusz-ertekelesei

The inaugural meeting was hosted by Corvinus University of Budapest and brought together approximately 150 registered participants. The event was opened by Prof. Dr. Bruno van Pottelsberghe, Rector of Corvinus University, who highlighted the strategic importance of research management in today’s scientific landscape. Dr. Péter Horváth, State Secretary, also addressed the audience, emphasising the indispensable role of research support professionals, reaffirming the Government’s commitment to supporting the profession, and highlighting the importance of maintaining an active dialogue with the research management community. On the occasion of the founding meeting, Prof. Dr. Mihály Pósfai, President of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, also sent a special message expressing his support for the newly established association.

The opening presentations introduced the vision behind the initiative and the future role of the association. Dr. Veronika Tamás presented the background and objectives of the HUNARMA initiative, Virág Zsár discussed the role and future development of research management in both the European and Hungarian context, while Judit Fekete outlined the mission and long-term vision of the association.

During the General Assembly, members adopted the Association’s Statutes and elected its first officers. We are particularly proud that our colleague, Virág Zsár, Senior International Advisor at HÉTFA Research Institute, was elected President of HUNARMA. Judit Fekete (Corvinus University of Budapest) was elected Vice President for Professional Coordination, while Dr. Veronika Tamás (ELTE Centre for Social Sciences) became Vice President for Operations and Finance. The Board members are Mónika Kocsis-Kiss (Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences – MATE), Nándor Petrovics (Corvinus University of Budapest), Tiziana del Viscio (HUN-REN Alfréd Rényi Institute of Mathematics), and Dr. Julianna Németh Bárányné (Institute of Biology, ELTE Faculty of Science).

The establishment of HUNARMA represents an important step towards strengthening the research management profession in Hungary and increasing its recognition. The Association is also expected to play a key role in building a strong national community of research support professionals while fostering international cooperation and professional networking.

Over the past years, HÉTFA Research Institute has actively contributed to advancing the research management profession through its research, analyses and policy recommendations. Our work has supported a better understanding of the status of research management in Hungary and across Europe, while promoting greater professional recognition, expanded training opportunities and the further professionalisation of the field. We are proud that these efforts have contributed to the establishment of HUNARMA and to strengthening Hungary’s research management community.

You can follow the Association’s activities on the following platforms:

LinkedIN: https://www.linkedin.com/company/120904661

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61591168173520

E-mail: hunarmaegyesulet@gmail.com

One of the project’s key outcomes is the MindCraft game, which helps young people explore mental health-related topics in an interactive and engaging way. The game aims to bring the topic of mental well-being closer to young people, encourage self-reflection, and promote a more open and informed approach to mental health.

MindCraft was developed through the cooperation of project partners, taking into account the experiences and needs of young people across the Danube Region. The game is available in multiple languages, including the languages of all partner countries, English, and several Roma language versions, helping to ensure broad accessibility and inclusiveness.

The game is available here: https://www.meetmindcraft.eu/en

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.