For years, Nyíregyháza watched young people leave to study elsewhere—aware that many would never return. Graduates slowly disappeared from the city’s radar, while local employers struggled to reconnect with talent that once had strong local ties.
Through C4TALENT, Nyíregyháza reframed this challenge as a structural issue rather than an unavoidable trend. The city began to examine the full journey of young people—from education and early career choices to long-term settlement—and identify where connections were being lost.
This shift is clearly reflected in Nyíregyháza’s Integrated Action Plan. The focus moved toward reconnecting with former students, better aligning education with local labour market opportunities, and making return a realistic and attractive option. Rather than hoping that young people might come back, the city started building concrete reasons—and pathways—for them to do so.
Closing the Journey Locally
Nyíregyháza hosted its final dissemination event for the C4TALENT project at the Bencs Hall of City Hall. The event brought together representatives of the municipality, project partners, and key local stakeholders to reflect on the project’s main results and future directions.
The public programme highlighted international experiences from the network and underlined the importance of youth-oriented urban development and services. Discussions focused on how cities can strengthen their ability to retain and re-attract talent in a competitive environment. A follow-up closed session with local stakeholders explored opportunities for local implementation and future cooperation, helping embed the project’s results into Nyíregyháza’s long-term urban development thinking.
📄 Nyíregyháza’s full Integrated Action Plan, its long and short version infographic summarising the key actions are available in the Integrated Action Plans section of the C4TALENT website.
