The policy brief explores how structural economic changes, demographic trends, digitalisation, and environmental transitions are reshaping rural labour markets and influencing the prospects of rural youth. The report highlights that young people in rural areas often face persistent challenges, including limited local job opportunities, out-migration, and reduced access to higher education and professional training.

At the same time, the brief identifies emerging opportunities. The digital transformation, the expansion of remote work, changes in the agricultural sector, and the growth of the green and circular economy may create new pathways for employment and development in rural areas.

The authors emphasise that improving employment prospects for rural youth requires integrated rural development policies, stronger education and training systems, improved digital connectivity, and the active involvement of young people in shaping local development strategies.

The policy brief will be presented at an online webinar on 25 March at 15:00 CET.
Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/aLR7_XMeQfCbNcLzJWOUfA

The policy brief draws on cross-country research conducted in 15 European countries. The findings highlight structural and cultural barriers, including persistent gender stereotypes, limited visibility of female role models, unwelcoming institutional environments, and weak institutional accountability. The research also confirms that early, experiential and interdisciplinary STEAM education – combined with mentoring and hands-on activities – plays a decisive role in strengthening girls’ confidence, sense of belonging and long-term aspirations in STEM.

Based on these findings, the project formulates concrete policy recommendations. STREAM IT calls for the integration of gender-inclusive STEAM toolkits into national curricula and teacher training systems, the effective implementation of Gender Equality Plans, and the expansion of mentoring and networking programmes at critical transition points in education. Through stakeholder engagement and co-creation processes, the consortium also contributes to the development of the European Manifesto for Gender-Inclusive STE(A)M Education and Careers and a European STEAM Roadmap.

The full STREAM IT Policy Brief is available on the project website under the “Results” section. To follow the project’s ongoing activities, research outputs, and policy engagement, stakeholders are invited to connect with STREAM IT through its official social media channels, including LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

The Erasmus+ RE-FEM project – Upskilling pathways for REsiliency in the post-Covid era for FEMale Entrepreneurs is reaching its conclusion with a final multiplier event entitled “Women Entrepreneurs: From Knowledge to Action”. The project is coordinated by HÉTFA Research Institute. The event will take place in Seville on the 1^st of October, 2025, from 10:30 to 13:30 CET, hosted at the Marqueses de La Algaba Palace, D. Rodrigo Room, and can also be joined online via Zoom.

This closing event will bring together policymakers, researchers, business support professionals, and women entrepreneurs to present the key results of the RE-FEM project and to discuss future directions for fostering women’s entrepreneurship. The aim is not only to showcase the achievements of the project, but also to create a platform for dialogue, exchange of good practices, and action-oriented policy discussions.

The event kicks off with a welcome speech by Francisco Javier González Navarro, General Director of Entrepreneurship Promotion and Continuous Training at the Junta de Andalucía, followed by a project overview and presentation of results by Dr. Katalin Oborni, Senior Project Manager at HETFA Research Institute, the project’s coordinating organisation. Participants will also hear a keynote speech by Anna Häggblom, AI Advisor and TEDx Speaker from Finland, on the topic “AI and Women Entrepreneurs: Navigating Emerging Challenges.”

A key highlight of the event will be two round table discussions. The first, held in English and titled “Resilient Futures: Supporting Women Entrepreneurs in Times of Crisis,” will explore the main lessons learned throughout the RE-FEM project regarding support for women entrepreneurs in times of crisis. This session will also present the Final Policy Study of the project. The discussion will be moderated by Sanja Popovic-Pantic, Head of the Science and Technology Policy Research Centre at the Institute Mihajlo Pupin, President of the Association of Business Women in Serbia, and Chair of the EEN Thematic Group on Women’s Entrepreneurship. She will be joined by distinguished panellists such as Gabriela Kostovska Bogoeva, Co-founder and Executive Director of the Foundation for Management and Industrial Research and Vice-Chair of the EEN Thematic Group Women’s Entrepreneurship from North Macedonia; Zsuzsanna Lukács Lakatosné, Deputy State Secretary for the Protection of Enterprises at the Hungarian Ministry of National Economy and former Director of the SEED Foundation, Hungary and Ludwig Stendahl, Business Developer at Connect Norr Västerbotten in Sweden.

The second roundtable discussion, held in Spanish called “Female Entrepreneurship in Andalusia: Real Challenges and Necessary Answers,” will focus on the regional context, bringing together leading institutional representatives, businesswomen, and communication experts to reflect on the challenges faced by female entrepreneurs in Andalusia. This discussion will be moderated by Olga Carrión Mancebo, Director of the Andalusian Women’s Institute, and will feature Lorena Garrido Serrano, Deputy Minister of University, Research and Innovation of the Regional Government of Andalusia; Victoria Cabrera de Paredes, CEO and Founder of Agencia Cps, journalist, TV producer and speaker listed among Forbes’ Influential Women in Andalusia in 2024 and Mercedes León Lozano, Managing Director of the Andalusian Council of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Services and Navigation, and a practising lawyer.

The event will conclude with closing remarks, followed by a networking session and farewell drink to encourage further connections among participants.

Registration is available here: http://bit.ly/40Edabd

Join us in Seville or take part online via Zoom to be part of this inspiring discussion on the future of women’s entrepreneurship. Click here to access the agenda.

At the heart of CARES is a Capacity-Building Program designed to strengthen digital skills, soft skills, and sustainability awareness. Developed from a Europe-wide benchmark analysis and survey, the training includes microlearning modules, case studies, and challenge-based learning—all accessible through a multilingual online platform. To promote well-being, CARES will also provide two Self-learning Handbooks focused on mental health, physical activity, and nutrition, along with infocards for quick, practical guidance.

During 2026, pilot trainings will be organized in Italy, Romania, and Lithuania to offer hands-on support and mentoring, helping care workers apply their new skills in real-life settings. On a broader scale, Policy Labs will bring stakeholders together to shape innovative, adaptable policy tools to improve care systems across Europe.

By addressing both personal and professional needs, CARES strengthens the resilience of care workers, and the systems they support. Stay tuned to learn about the progress and results of the CARES project!

Opening the event, Sonia Marcos (University of Burgos), ESIRA’s project coordinator, gave an overview of the project’s objectives. Kinga Tóth (HÉTFA Research Institute) presented findings on the drivers of rural vulnerability that have been identified in ESIRA’s regions, such as ageing, depopulation, limited access to public and social services. Yet, she also highlighted the existing assets of rural territories, including strong traditions of cooperation and community-based initiatives, which form fertile ground for social economy development. Giulia Galera (EURICSE) then examined how the social economy can address these rural challenges. Social economy actors create and safeguard job opportunities, provide essential services for the community, while also strengthening social cohesion. However, as she noted, to unlock the full potential of the social economy, tailored policies that recognise the added value of the different components of the social economy are still needed In his contribution, Anders Bro (Region Örebro County / REVES) presented the five key building blocks identified by the European Commission as essential for effective support to the social economy: a clear vision with actionable goals, appropriate institutional structures, consultation mechanisms and stakeholder engagement, improved visibility and recognition, and robust monitoring and evaluation. Without these in place, the social economy will continue to face barriers in its implementation.

The event concluded with a policy panel discussion, “The future of social economy in territorial development policies”, featuring Ms. Anastasia Costantini (European Commission’s Directorate-general for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion ) and Mr. Ádám Karácsony (European Committee of the Regions). Ms. Costantini shared updates on the implementation of the Social Economy Action Plan and the upcoming mid-term review process. She underlined that social economy contributes to the competitiveness of the European Union in many ways, as well as to sustainable development and prosperity. Mr. Karácsony reflected on the Committee of the Regions’ ongoing support for the social economy and its role in fostering the “right to stay” in rural areas. He emphasised the need of cooperation between local communities and policymakers, as well as the need of more EU funds that support the implementation of social economy initiatives.

The event concluded with a clear message: social economy is a vital tool for breaking the cycle of rural decline, but it must be better recognised and supported in EU and national policies. In the coming months, ESIRA will organise more workshops, with the aim of creating policy recommendations that support social inclusion and the development of social economy initiatives in rural areas.

Funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway through the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Youth Employment, the Lost Millennials project is dedicated to enhancing the integration of 25+ NEETs into the labor market by increasing knowledge on the effects of employment initiatives.

This conference will bring together policymakers, researchers, and practitioners to address crucial employment policy issues in Europe. It marks a pivotal moment for our project, providing a platform to showcase research findings and present EU-level policy recommendations. The conference will delve into various critical topics, including the effectiveness of policy strategies and the challenges of 25+ NEETs, such as gender perspectives, migration, and the rural-urban divide. A dedicated panel will also explore the insights gained from monitoring and evaluating initiatives targeting 25+ NEETs.

Key Conference Details:

• Date: November 28, 2023 – 09:30-15:30
• Location: Brussels, Belgium – The Hotel (Belgium, Brussels, Bd de Waterloo 38, 1000)
•      Title: Lost and Found: Reimagining Europe’s Employment Policies – Evaluation of policy initiatives tackling 25+ NEETs unemployment

Reserve your spot and register today!

The project is funded by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway, through the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Youth Employment.

We invite you to participate in and disseminate the vital survey that aims to support the recognition and professionalisation of research managers. Your input is crucial for us to provide valuable recommendations for the professionalisation of research management.

To access the survey, please click on the following link.

This survey builds on previous surveys, primarily on the RAAAP (Research Administration As A Profession) series, and focuses on your job profile, career path, skills and competencies, as well as your training, mobility, and networking needs.

By participating, you contribute to:

• Building an inclusive definition and terminology including RM professional categories;
• Developing career development frameworks for RMs;
• Creating skills and competence matrixes specific to our profession;
• Establishing a comprehensive training scheme for future research managers.

Your responses are anonymous and will it take approximately 25 minutes to complete.

The deadline to complete the survey is December 22, 2023.

Your and your community’s participation represents a significant contribution to the professionalisation of research management in Europe. Should you have questions or need further information, please contact us at rm-roadmap@hetfa.hu.

In the framework of the Action we are organising a conference titled Evaluation of public policy responses to ’black swans’. The event will take place in person in Budapest on April 28th 2022. The Conference brings together researchers and policymakers from European states, universities, research institutes and consultancies. Its aim is to identify the most significant challenges posed by black swan events from the evaluation community’s perspective. The conference aims to attract papers and posters that contribute to providing theoretical concepts and quantitative/qualitative methodological solutions to forward the participants’ repertoire of evaluating policies borne from black swan events.

More information on the conference is available here. Abstracts shall be submitted until 28 February 2022 and sent to profeedback@hetfa.hu. Registration is available here.

The 4th Monitoring Report assesses the processes of 2019 and 2020. The report aims to examine the four pillars of sustainability (human, social, environmental and economic resources) and to assess the progress towards the objectives set by analysing current state of national capacities and opportunities.

Based on the 16 key indicators, it is clear that, although there have been many positive changes since the previous Monitoring Report, the pandemic has reduced the rate of improvement for many indicators and in some cases even reduced the value of the indicator. Of the 16 indicators, 9 scored below average or poor, which suggests that the state of sustainability in Hungary remains bad. The state of sustainability has been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic in several ways, thus the economic, social and environmental impacts of the pandemic were assessed as well.

The following policy recommendations were proposed:

• Improvement of high level policy commitment to sustainability;
• Stimulation of population policy;
• Promotion of health conscious behaviours;
• Improvement of quality education;
• Economic stability;
• Natural resource productivity and development of the circular economy;
• Mitigation of climate change;
• Protection of biodiversity
• Water management.

The report is available on the following link (in Hungarian).

Our Action called PROFEEDBACK aims to foster the networking of the policy evaluation community at EU-level, raise awareness on the importance of evaluation policy research and improve its impact on policy-making. The Platform, following a bottom-up and open approach, will gather researchers and professionals from various scientific fields and sectors to present and evaluate theories, topics, tools and methods of policy evaluation. Results of the Europe-wide assessment of good practices will provide direct and high-quality inputs for national and EU bodies responsible for policy evaluation.

Policy evaluation is a key tool in understanding, developing and modernising EU policies, thus there is a growing demand for EU-wide and high quality evaluation services. The main challenge is that currently there is no bottom-up platform for European researchers and professionals working in policy evaluation. They have limited possibilities to discuss common problems, assess country specific practices and share their knowledge in a mutually beneficial and effective way.

PROFEEDBACK aims to tackle this challenge with an innovative, complex, cross-sectoral and multidisciplinary approach by:

• analysing the theoretical and methodological questions of evaluation policy research putting special focus on Cohesion Policy,
• enriching scientific research of policy evaluation and addressing new challenges,
• harmonizing fragmented approaches to set the research agenda and to get a common understanding,
• contributing to the capacity building of the policy evaluation community,
• involving national and EU policy-makers and the civil society to contribute to evidence-based policy-making,
• framing a Code of Conduct for the policy evaluation community.

More information is available here on PROFEEDBACK.