On 15 April 2026, the Zachor Foundation for Social Remembrance, together with HÉTFA Research Institute and their international consortium partners, will host the DECONSTRUCT International Stakeholder Event in Budapest. The event will take place at Európa Pont (Lövőház u. 35., Budapest, 1024, Hungary) between 9:00 and 14:00, with the main programme running from 9:00 to 13:00, followed by networking. The event will be held in English with simultaneous translation. 

Funded by the European Union’s CERV-2023-EQUAL programme (Project No. 101144756), the DECONSTRUCT project addresses the growing challenge of Holocaust distortion—an increasingly widespread phenomenon across digital and public spaces. The consortium developed research findings, digital educational tools, and awareness materials to support educators, students, and decision-makers in recognising and countering disinformation and distortion. HÉTFA participates in the project as a partner, contributing to research, educational content development, and dissemination activities.

The half-day event will present the project’s key results and foster dialogue among experts and practitioners. The programme features a keynote by Dr. Kathrin Meyer, former General Secretary of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), two panel discussions on international good practices and classroom experiences, as well as a session showcasing the project’s educational resources. The event will conclude with networking opportunities.

The detailed agenda is available in the attachment. If the event has sparked your interest, you can register here. For further information, please contact: zachor@zachor.hu, visit the project website or follow our updates on Facebook and Instagram.

This is the first representative public survey to examine the social perception of folk culture and folk art, as well as related consumption habits in Hungary; the 2026 Report presents the results of this survey in its first chapter. As a continuation of the 2025 Report, the 2026 Report includes an assessment of the impact of the Sándor Csoóri Program, this time focusing on Hungarian folk art communities beyond the border in Upper Hungary, Transylvania, Subcarpathia, and Vojvodina. The volume focuses first on the examination of folk crafts among the various fields of folk art. It examines the folk craft community and the operational and funding structures of its organizations. It places special emphasis on the issue of knowledge transfer in folk crafts, which simultaneously affects education, professional prestige, market success, and career planning.

More information on the 2026 Hungarian Folk Art Report and the full publication can be accessed here.

The session will take place on 31 March 2026 (14:00–15:30 CET) and will explore how gender equality can be strengthened across these domains, with a particular focus on women entrepreneurship. Participants will discuss how women can be more effectively supported in entering and succeeding in STEAM and digital sectors, and how these aspects can be better integrated into education systems.

As part of its broader objectives, the STREAM IT project seeks to improve gender equality in STEAM fields by supporting women entrepreneurs and innovators. The Policy Webinar series creates a space for women entrepreneurs and start-ups in STEAM and digital sectors, aspiring innovators, as well as representatives of education institutions and business support organisations to engage in dialogue and share their perspectives.

The event goes beyond a traditional webinar format: it is designed as an interactive session where participants actively contribute to shaping future policy recommendations. Insights gathered during the discussion will directly feed into the project’s policy outputs, ensuring that recommendations are grounded in real experiences and needs.

Through this initiative, HÉTFA Research Institute aims to contribute to a more inclusive and innovative STEAM ecosystem, where women have greater opportunities to participate, lead and succeed.

Date: 31 March 2026
Time: 14:00–15:30 CET
Location: Online (Zoom)

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.

On 12 February 2026, the partners of the Equal Energy project held their kick-off meeting in Lenti. The project aims to explore the links between energy poverty and climate change in the cross-border region, implement pilot interventions, and raise awareness among local decision-makers. The project brings together Zala County Self-Government, HÉTFA, which contributes to the research and analytical activities of the project, as well as the Austrian W.E.I.Z. – Weizer Energie-Innovations-Zentrum and EnergyFuture WEIZplus eGen. The project is implemented within the framework of the Interreg VI-A Austria–Hungary Programme with co-financing from the European Union.

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.

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.

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