Professional Integration HUB

On December 2, the Final Conference of the Professional Integration HUB 3.0 brought together fellows, partners, and friends of the program in Vienna. Inspiring speeches, recognition of achievements, warm reflections from hosting partners, and the long-awaited certificate ceremony made the event a fitting conclusion to this year’s HUB — and a symbolic bridge toward the program’s transformation in 2026.

The conference marked the meaningful closing of the third round of the program and a summary of all three HUB cohorts implemented during 2023–2025.

The event opened with a keynote by Ambassador Elisabeth Kornfeind. In her speech, she emphasized the strength, dignity, and resilience of Ukrainian women who continue their careers in a new environment and build communities of professionals, thus preserving human capital crucial for Ukraine’s future recovery.

The Ambassador’s participation was deeply valued as a strong sign of support for the program’s mission and for the contribution Ukrainian professionals bring to Austria. Her message highlighted the importance of initiatives like the HUB in strengthening cooperation between the two countries and helping Ukrainian specialists rebuild their professional paths.

Following the keynote, welcome remarks by Olena Bekreniova and Olga Olefirova, Co-Founders of the European Centre for Freedom and Independence, set the tone for the day by underscoring the importance of professional integration, community, and the personal choices each participant made in joining the program.

As a wrap-up to the first part of the event, Olena Bekreniova presented the key achievements and outcomes of the three generations of the Professional Integration HUB. Across HUB 1.0 to 3.0, the initiative received 609 applications, successfully placing 43 participants in 27 hosting institutions — including ministries, NGOs, and cultural organizations — across four Austrian cities (Vienna, Graz, Salzburg, Linz).

CORE ACTIVITIES INCLUDED:

• three-month internships (including 9 placements in ministries),
• 32 weeks of German classes,
• study visits,
• numerous professional development events.

These efforts resulted in a remarkable 45% employment success rate (30% internship extensions and 15% new job offers after completion). The program has also built the 150+ member YOU!Community, created a valuable expert pool for Ukraine’s recovery, and further strengthened Austrian-Ukrainian professional ties.

The main part of the conference featured personal reflections from the participants of HUB 3.0, who shared their internship experiences, the challenges they overcame, and the skills they gained while working in Austria’s leading institutions and organizations.

One of the most impactful contributions of the day came from Elisabeth Burgis, Head of People & Culture at Österreich Werbung, who delivered a powerful and deeply personal speech about her own professional journey and the pivotal choice that shaped her career. Her reflection on following one’s calling resonated strongly with the participants and inspired them to continue building their paths with confidence.

Hosting partners and internship supervisors also shared their impressions, emphasising the professionalism, dedication and adaptability of the Ukrainian fellows. Importantly, it was announced that at least three out of the ten participants have already had their employment contracts extended — a powerful indicator of the program’s impact and the strong demand for skilled Ukrainian professionals in Austria.

We are grateful to everyone who contributed their reflections during the conference, including Felicitas Metz and Falko LOHER (Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure), Elisabeth Burgis (Austria Tourism), Ewa Niewiara (Caritas Austria), Bernd Stadlbauer (Austrian Energy Agency), Mag. Yvonne Reif, MSc (Vienna University of Economics and Business), Gerhard Volz and Tatjana Német, MSc (OeAD – Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation). Their warm feedback highlighted how meaningful the fellows’ presence was within their teams and how valuable this experience became for both sides.

The conference concluded with the long-awaited certificate ceremony, marking not only the completion of a three-month internship journey but also the beginning of a new chapter for each of the fellows. Participants expressed sincere gratitude to the organisers for the excellent coordination of the program, the personalised support and the opportunity to take meaningful steps towards the Austrian labour market. Informal networking provided a warm closing to the event and allowed the participants and partners to reflect on the achievements of this year’s HUB.

The third round marks the final cycle of the program in its current format. The next edition of the Professional Integration HUB will undergo a strategic transformation to better address the evolving needs of Ukrainian professionals in Austria and to respond to the changing dynamics of the labour market. This evolution reflects the program’s commitment to continuous improvement and its mission to support Ukrainian talent in building sustainable careers in Austria.

The Professional Integration HUB is initiated and funded by ERSTE Foundation and implemented by the European Centre for Freedom and Independence (EUCFI).

Explore the photo gallery from the event:

Photos: Ganna Kasych