Professional Integration HUB

08/10/2026

Professional Integration HUB 4.0 – Entrepreneurship is officially underway!

On 30 September 2026, we officially opened the fourth edition of Professional Integration HUB at the Vienna Business Agency, bringing together our new cohort, program partners and experts for the start of the Entrepreneurship edition.

The participants were welcomed by Olena Bekreniova and Olga Olefirova, co-founders of The European Centre for Freedom and Independence, Nina Metternich, EUCFI Board member, and Yana Barinova, Program Director Ukraine at ERSTE Foundation, who reflected on the development of the HUB and the thinking behind its new entrepreneurship focus.

We were also pleased to welcome Celine Rudorfer from the Vienna Business Agency, whose presence connected the opening with Vienna’s wider entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Prof. Johannes Lindner, Founder and Chairman of IFTE , introduced the entrepreneurship curriculum and gave participants a first look at the intensive work ahead: developing and testing their ideas, working with experts and coaches, and building structured business concepts over the coming months.

It was also the first opportunity for the new cohort to meet in person, exchange ideas and start building connections that will continue throughout the program.

The journey will culminate in Demo Day in February 2027, when participants will publicly pitch the business concepts developed during the HUB.

Professional Integration HUB is initiated and funded by ERSTE Foundation, implemented by the European Centre for Freedom and Independence, with the HUB 4.0 entrepreneurship curriculum delivered by IFTE .

Thank you to the Vienna Business Agency for hosting us and supporting the program and its participants!

A unique internship program for Ukrainian professionals in Austria

28/09/2026

90+ applications, six weeks of a thorough selection process, and 26 Ukrainian women selected to join Professional Integration HUB 4.0 – Entrepreneurship this autumn.

Different professional backgrounds, ideas, and starting points, but a shared ambition to develop their entrepreneurial potential in Austria.

We are pleased to introduce the new HUB 4.0 cohort!

🟠 Halyna Pastukh
🟠 Liudmyla Chesnova
🟠 Diana Fedoriaka
🟠 Daria Driuchenko
🟠 Nataliia Weinwurm
🟠 Halyna Nosulich
🟠 Kateryna Baranchuk
🟠 Daria Yehorova
🟠 Maria Golotsvan
🟠 Kateryna Bekreniova
🟠 Yeva Povalinska
🟠 Olha Karasevych
🟠 Marja Nesterova
🟠 Maria Barannyk
🟠 Iuliia Viatkina
🟠 Maria Yavonenko
🟠 Yelyzaveta Vlasenko
🟠 Iryna Hrebenets
🟠 Alla Stashchenko
🟠 Olena Komendant
🟠 Yuliia Nezvinska
🟠 Oksana Grytsenko
🟠 Yuliia Kadibash
🟠 Anastasiia Kozlova
🟠 Yuliia Reshetnikova
🟠 Iryna Malyniak

Over the coming months, participants will work on their business and social enterprise ideas, develop practical skills, and learn from experienced Austrian experts and coaches. The program will culminate in Demo Day in February 2027, when they will present the projects they have developed.

We congratulate all 26 participants and thank every applicant who shared her idea with us. The level of interest and the quality of applications made this year’s selection particularly competitive.

Our sincere gratitude goes to ERSTE Foundation for initiating and funding Professional Integration HUB and making this new entrepreneurship edition possible.

The program is implemented by The European Centre for Freedom and Independence, with the entrepreneurship curriculum led by IFTE experts Prof. Johannes Lindner, Founder and Chairman of IFTE, and Valentin Theodor Mayerhofer, Managing Director and Board Member of IFTE.

21/09/2026

From Point A to Point B: Anastasiia Yevstratenko

When Anastasiia moved to Austria, she already had degrees in Art History and Law and professional experience in cultural management. But entering a new labour market proved challenging: numerous applications resulted in only one interview, followed by a rejection.

Professional Integration HUB 3.0 opened a new professional opportunity: the chance to gain direct experience within an Austrian institution.

Through the program, Anastasiia joined Creative Europe Desk Austria at the Federal Ministry for Housing, Arts, Culture, Media and Sport. The experience gave her the opportunity to adapt her expertise to the Austrian and European working environment, build new professional connections and gain deeper knowledge of European cultural policy and funding.

Today, Anastasiia continues her work at Creative Europe Desk Austria at the Ministry.

Her journey also reflects something at the core of Professional Integration HUB: creating an opportunity for Ukrainian professionals to demonstrate their expertise within the Austrian working environment and build further professional paths from there.

⬇️ Explore Anastasiia’s journey from Point A to Point B in the slides below.

🔗 Read her full story on our website. Link in the comments.

15/09/2026

Over the past three years, Professional Integration HUB has become one of the most visible professional integration initiatives for Ukrainian women in Austria.

The program brought together Ukrainian professionals, Austrian institutions, experts, and employers — creating not only opportunities, but a strong professional ecosystem.

More than 50% of HUB alumni received contract extensions, new positions, or further professional opportunities after completing the program.

But the real impact goes beyond employment statistics.

HUB helped Ukrainian women professionals:

— understand how the Austrian labour market works;
— become visible to employers;
— build professional connections;
— regain confidence in their expertise.

At the same time, the program became an important signal to the Austrian professional environment: Ukrainian women are highly qualified professionals, capable of creating value, taking
responsibility, and becoming full participants in the labour market.

In our new series, From Point A to Point B, we will share real stories of HUB alumni: their professional journeys, challenges, turning points, and growth after the program.

👀 What does life after HUB actually look like?

Starting soon.

Our sincere thanks to ERSTE Foundation for initiating and continuously supporting Professional Integration HUB, and for its long-term commitment to the professional integration of Ukrainian 🇺🇦 women in Austria 🇦🇹.

21/08/2026

What happens after candidates apply?

The selection process for Professional Integration HUB 4.0 – Entrepreneurship is now underway.

Every application is being carefully reviewed to ensure a transparent and fair selection process. The selection consists of three stages:

✅ Technical screening

All applications are reviewed to ensure they meet the program’s eligibility requirements, including residency status, required documents, English proficiency, and other formal criteria.

✅ Intermediate selection

Applications that pass the technical screening are evaluated based on the submitted business or project idea, CV, and motivation letter. At this stage, we assess the potential of the idea, the applicant’s motivation, and their readiness to further develop it throughout the program.

✅ Final selection

Shortlisted candidates are invited to an online interview with the Selection Committee, consisting of representatives from EUCFI and IFTE. The interview allows us to get to know each applicant better, discuss their idea in greater depth, and assess their motivation, commitment, and readiness to actively participate in the program.

📢 The final results will be announced between September 21 and 25, 2026, on the official Professional Integration HUB website and across our social media channels.

We wish all applicants the very best of luck throughout the selection process! 💙💛

17/08/2026

Applications are officially closed!

A big thank you to every Ukrainian woman who applied for Professional Integration HUB 4.0 – Entrepreneurship and trusted us with her idea 💙💛

The selection process starts this week, and we’re looking forward to discovering the people and ideas behind the applications.

Stay tuned for the next updates!

14/08/2026

Last call! ⏰

Only 3 days left to apply for Professional Integration HUB 4.0 – Entrepreneurship.

This is your chance to understand how entrepreneurship works in Austria and turn your idea into a structured business or project plan with expert guidance and practical support.

The program is completely free and designed to be combined with work or studies.

❕There won’t be another intake this year.

🔗 Apply by August 16 via the link in the comments.

10/08/2026

7 DAYS LEFT TO APPLY!

Professional Integration HUB 4.0 – Entrepreneurship is a program for Ukrainian women in Austria who want to build their own business or social project, from an idea to a real, structured plan.

Throughout the program, you’ll learn directly from leading Austrian entrepreneurship experts Prof. Johannes Lindner, founder and chairman of IFTE ( ), and Valentin Mayerhofer, Managing Director and Board Member of IFTE. They’ll guide you through the key aspects of building a business in Austria, step by step.

🗓️ October 2026 – February 2027 (part-time)
👥 In-person and online
🗣️ English

🤝 The program is initiated and funded by ERSTE Foundation and implemented by The European Centre for Freedom and Independence in cooperation with IFTE ( ).

🔗 Applications close August 16 — apply via the link in the comments.

07/08/2026

❔What can Professional Integration HUB 4.0 – Entrepreneurship actually give you?

We’ve put together 8 reasons to apply — from learning how to build a business in Austria and developing your idea with leading experts to individual coaching, a strong community, and a format you can combine with work or studies.

➡️ Explore all 8 reasons and see what the program can offer you.

🗓️ Applications are open until August 16.

🔗 Apply via the link in the comments.