Professional Integration HUB 2.0: Impact on Ukraine's Recovery

The European Centre for Freedom and Independence (EUCFI) has successfully implemented the second round of its flagship initiative, the Professional Integration HUB. The program, which ran from October 15, 2024, to January 15, 2025, focused on advancing the professional integration of Ukrainian women who relocated to Austria due to russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

At the heart of the HUB lies a core activity: a three-month internship in leading Austrian institutions and organizations. This immersive professional experience equips participants with critical workplace skills, deepens their understanding of European work culture, and fosters connections that serve both personal advancement and Ukraine's broader reconstruction efforts.

Throughout the program, participants also took part in study visits, expert webinars and workshops, designed to bolster their expertise and confidence. However, it is the internship experience that provided the most transformative impact, allowing the women to gain firsthand insight into the operations of top institutions and to draw lessons directly applicable to Ukraine's post-war recovery.

As a culmination of their journey, each participant prepared a final report, a document that not only reflects their individual learning but also compiles practical recommendations for reforming and strengthening key sectors in Ukraine. These reports provide meaningful insights drawn from firsthand professional experience in Austria, offering applicable lessons for Ukraine’s future development.

These final reports now stand as a tangible outcome of the program, showcasing its real impact and furthering EUCFI’s mission of fostering European values, freedom, and resilience through practical support for displaced professionals.

You can explore the participants' reports here.

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