Rzeszów is a strong academic centre, welcoming thousands of students every year. Yet for many, the city has long been perceived as a temporary stop—rather than a place to build a career, a business, or a long-term future. Entrepreneurial support, cultural life, and business opportunities often existed side by side, but rarely connected.
Through C4TALENT, Rzeszów chose to shift this perspective. The city placed students at the heart of its talent strategy, linking education with entrepreneurship, culture, and the local labour market. Mentoring programmes, networking opportunities, and initiatives connecting student life with business support were brought together under a shared vision.
This change is clearly reflected in Rzeszów’s Integrated Action Plan: students are no longer seen only as learners, but as potential founders, employees, and long-term residents. Keeping talent starts with recognising who is already there—and creating pathways for them to stay.
Sharing Results Locally
At the beginning of December, Rzeszów brought together members of its URBACT Local Group and local stakeholders to reflect on more than two years of joint work within the C4TALENT project. During the event, the city presented the key assumptions of its Integrated Action Plan, developed collaboratively throughout the project.
The plan focuses on three main areas:
Cooperation and ecosystem building, strengthening collaboration between business support institutions through joint and more comprehensive initiatives
Attracting and retaining talent, with a particular focus on startups, entrepreneurs, and students
Quality of life, addressed through micro-innovations and small-scale urban projects that improve everyday living
The meeting also served as a moment of reflection, highlighting local “success stories” and demonstrating how stronger connections between people, institutions, and opportunities can shape the city’s future.
📄 Rzeszów’s full Integrated Action Plan, its short version, and an infographic summarising the key actions are available in the Integrated Action Plans section of this website.
