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

The main aim of the report is to synthesise information regarding the situation of ESIRA pilot areas, and the communities established there. The analysis reflects the situation of people living in pilot areas in the selected countries and regions, highlighting the social and economic similarities and differences in the challenges they face, stocktaking the drivers of vulnerability and social exclusion in representative rural contexts.

The full report is available in English on this link.

The meeting brought together participants from research, business development, policy, community-building and hands-on support backgrounds. The conversation showed that a great deal of valuable knowledge, experience and initiative is already present in the field — what is often missing is the space to connect these efforts and turn them into real collaboration.

The meeting focused on linking research with practice, shaping policy-relevant lessons, and creating opportunities for peer learning. For us, this was an important first step towards creating a more connected professional space and fostering stronger, more lasting professional collaborations among those working to support women entrepreneurs.

We invite anyone interested in joining the IMPACTA stakeholder group to register via the form below:  https://forms.gle/CNSWbnbEBH3FQ93x8 

How can this mindset be translated into everyday urban practice in Central Europe? This is the question at the heart of the PATH-CE (Pedestrian Access and Tactical Hubs for Central Europe) project, which officially kicked off on 23–24 March 2026 in Budapest, hosted by HÉTFA Research Institute with the participation of experts from four countries.

Why is this needed?

As Gábor Balás, Managing Director of HÉTFA Research Institute, highlighted during the opening:

“A city is successful when people choose to walk.”

Over the past decades, cities across Central Europe have increasingly been shaped by car use. While this has improved mobility in many cases, it has also led to growing challenges: congestion, air pollution, safety risks, and the gradual loss of public space.

This issue is particularly critical in smaller cities, where walking is often not a viable option even for short distances due to fragmented and poorly connected pedestrian networks.

2 days shaping the direction of the project

The two-day kick-off meeting marked not only the launch of the project, but also the beginning of a shared reflection among partners — including Szarvas Város Önkormányzata (Szarvas City Municipality), Grad Metković (City of Metković), Město Žďár nad Sázavou (Municipality of Žďár nad Sázavou), and Rzeszowska Agencja Rozwoju Regionalnego Spółka Akcyjna (Rzeszów Regional Development Agency) –  on how to bring walking and active mobility back to the centre of urban life.

On the first day, partners met in person and worked in a World Café format on tactical urbanism tools – focusing on pedestrian experience, greening, and small-scale interventions.

The second day focused on strategic planning: participants jointly shaped the directions of active mobility, explored the Urban Living Lab methodology, and defined the first milestones, complemented by a professional study walk through relevant sites in Budapest.

What does the PATH-CE project do?

Running from February 2026 to January 2028 and co-funded by the European Union through the Interreg Central Europe programme, the project aims to reduce car dependency and make walking and active mobility more attractive in cities across the region.

The project will test small-scale, tactical, pedestrian-friendly interventions across several pilot locations, including Szarvas, Metković, Žďár nad Sázavou, and the suburban area of Rzeszów.

The pilot actions focus on three main areas:

• improving the walking experience and wayfinding
• introducing green and climate-adaptive public space solutions
• implementing small-scale infrastructure improvements to make urban spaces safer and more accessible

As the lead partner, HÉTFA Research Institute is responsible not only for coordinating the consortium but also for guiding the project’s professional direction. Through its research, analytical, and policy work, HÉTFA ensures that project results are translated into practical, adaptable solutions for cities across the region.

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.

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.