Professional Integration HUB

Between 1 September and 30 November 2025, the Professional Integration HUB successfully implemented its third round, supporting 10 Ukrainian professionals through paid, full-time internships in leading Austrian institutions and organisations.

The three-month program combined professional placements, study visits, joint meetings, and a German language component, providing participants with a structured and practice-oriented pathway to professional integration in Austria. Internships were conducted across Vienna and Linz, further strengthening the program’s institutional partnerships and regional engagement.

HOSTING PARTNERS

Internships within Professional Integration HUB 3.0 were hosted by a diverse group of public institutions, research organisations, and innovation actors, including:

• Austrian Federal Ministry for Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport
• Austrian Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure
• Stadt Linz
• Austria Tourism
• OeAD – Austria’s Agency for Education and Internationalisation
• KDZ – Centre for Public Administration Research
• Vienna University of Economics and Business
• Impact Hub Vienna
• Caritas Austria
• Austrian Energy Agency

Each participant was placed in a position aligned with her professional background, qualifications, and expertise, ensuring that the internships were substantive and professionally relevant. The full-time format enabled participants to become active members of their teams, engage in real tasks and responsibilities, and gain first-hand insight into Austrian organisational culture and institutional processes.

FINAL REPORTS

At the conclusion of the program, all participants prepared analytical reports based on their internship experience. These reports focus on:

• professional roles, responsibilities, and key contributions within the hosting institutions and organisations;
• sector-specific practices and working approaches in Austria;
• comparative reflections between Austrian and Ukrainian professional contexts;
• practical recommendations that could be adapted or applied in Ukraine.

INTERVIEWS WITH PARTICIPANTS AND ORGANISERS

In addition to the final reports, the publication includes a series of interviews with program participants and organisers.

Participants reflect on their professional journeys, integration experiences, challenges, and key learnings gained during the program.

The organisers share insights into the development of the program, its strategic vision, and the role of initiatives like the Professional Integration HUB in supporting Ukrainian professionals and strengthening cooperation between Ukraine and Austria.

All final materials are compiled in one place. Explore them here.

The program team expects that participants will actively apply the knowledge, skills, and professional insights gained through HUB 3.0 in their ongoing work — both in Austria and in contributing to the recovery and future development of Ukraine.

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

EXPLORE MORE:

• Yana Barinova: “European institutions are increasingly recognizing Ukrainian expertise, creativity, policymaking capacity, and leadership potential.”
• Olena Bekreniova: “The HUB shows how investing in human capital strengthens Austria, Europe, and Ukraine at the same time.”
• Olga Olefirova: “Today, the majority of people in EU countries clearly understand why Ukraine is fighting for its freedom and independence and recognize that Ukraine’s place is in the European Union”
• 10 Voices of Ukrainian Women in Austria: Stories from HUB 3.0