Professional Integration HUB

Over a three-month period, 13 Ukrainian professionals participated in the Professional Integration HUB 1.0, becoming part of the teams of leading Austrian institutions and organisations. The program provided participants with professional placements aligned with their previous experience, qualifications and areas of expertise, ensuring meaningful and practice-oriented integration.

From 4 March to 31 May 2024, the fellows completed full-time internships at host organisations including the Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research of Austria, the Federal Ministry of Arts, Culture, the Civil Service and Sport of Austria, Caritas Austria, the Austrian Integration Fund, and other public and civil society institutions. The participants were placed in diverse professional fields, such as public administration, education, culture, social services and integration.

During the internship period, each participant actively contributed her professional expertise to the work of the hosting organisation while simultaneously developing new skills, competencies and professional perspectives. The internships were designed as a two-way professional exchange: Ukrainian specialists brought valuable knowledge and experience shaped by work in complex and rapidly changing environments, while Austrian institutions offered structured insight into institutional processes, governance models and sector-specific practices.

This approach ensured that the positions were substantive and professionally relevant, enabling participants to contribute to core tasks and responsibilities within their host organisations.

FINAL REPORTS

Based on their internship experience, each participant prepared a final analytical report. These reports focus on:

• the participants’ professional roles, responsibilities and key contributions within their hosting institutions or organisations;
• the specific characteristics of the relevant professional field in Austria;
• a comparative analysis between Austrian and Ukrainian practices;
• concrete, experience-based recommendations that could be adapted or implemented in Ukraine.

The reports are grounded in daily professional practice and direct observation, offering applied insights for policy makers, institutions, civil society actors and professionals working in areas such as public administration, social policy, education, culture and integration.

In addition to the reports, the participants also took part in interviews, reflecting on their professional journeys, integration experiences and key lessons learned during the program.

We have compiled the final reports and interviews of all participants of the Professional Integration HUB 1.0 in one place. You can access them via the link.

• We also invite you to explore the overall results and outcomes of the program, including key achievements and program impact.