CESCI has traditionally placed a strong emphasis on the training and mentoring of future professionals. In this spirit, we participated in the Professional Day organised by the István Pálfi Regional Development Foundation on 23 June 2026, which once again provided an excellent opportunity for dialogue between the participants of the scholarship programme and practitioners working in the field of regional development.

The event opened with welcoming remarks by Dr Andrea Gál Némethné, Rector of Edutus University, and Georgina Verhás, Deputy State Secretary of the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development. Professional presentations were delivered by Zsuzsanna Farkas, Senior Adviser at the Ministry of Rural and Regional Development, entitled “The directions of the renewed regional development policy – Urban-rural relations on the horizon of territorial policy”, and by Mátyás Jaschitz, entitled “The importance of locality-based planning: The example of the BOTILA EGTC”. In his presentation, the Director of CESCI highlighted that one of the key factors behind the success of cross-border cooperation is a conscious planning process based on local needs. Through the example of the BOTILA European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC), he demonstrated how an institutional framework can become an effective driver of practical implementation and sustainable regional development, as well as how strategic objectives can be aligned with overcoming everyday challenges. Following the professional presentations, the scholarship recipients presented and discussed the results of their research projects with each other.

As in previous years, the professional day was not only about knowledge sharing but also about building professional networks: participants gained first-hand insights into the challenges and successes of cross-border projects, further reinforcing the importance of cross-border thinking for future generations.