Development of digital learning materials within the framework of the Interreg project

In 2025, within the framework of the Interreg Austria-Hungary Cooperation Programme, the University of Pécs submitted a project proposal in consortium with the Vas County and Szombathely City Regional Enterprise Development Foundation, acting as Lead Partner, and the Austrian BFI Burgenland, a vocational education and training institution.

The project was positively evaluated and approved. Therefore, from June 2026, over a period of three years, the Szombathely Training Centre of the Faculty of Health Sciences of the University of Pécs (PTE ETK) will participate as a project partner in the implementation of the project entitled “iHealth – Improving Health Preservation through Innovative, Engaging and Stimulating Knowledge Transfer (ATHU-0100145)”, under the professional leadership of Prof. Dr. Annamária Pakai, with a total project budget of EUR 600,804.90, including EUR 405,861.94 in EU funding.

The overall objective of the project is primarily to address the challenges arising from an ageing population in Burgenland and Vas County by developing the entrepreneurial competences of providers of health and personal care services for older people, with the aim of improving the quality and accessibility of such services.

At the beginning of the project, a training portfolio and service provider needs assessment will be carried out to identify the needs of older people, as well as those of the institutions and family members involved in their care. Existing training opportunities and their shortcomings will also be assessed. Based on the findings, an action plan will be developed to address the need for new training programmes and competence development.

Pilot training programmes will then be launched, focusing on professions that are particularly important in the context of an ageing society, such as dietitians, gerontologists, physiotherapists and home care assistants. Participants will also acquire entrepreneurial and business skills, enabling them to provide services independently and respond to growing societal needs.

In addition, the training content will be modernised through the integration of innovative elements, such as aromatherapy and Basal Stimulation.

Through these cross-border cooperation activities, the project will contribute to the development of services and training programmes, as well as to improving the quality of life of older people