National
Development Agency

The European Union is providing funding amounting to nearly 700 million HUF for the 2-year programme initiated by the Hungarian Talent Support Society established three years ago, within the framework of which national training courses will for the first time be organised for talent supporters. Experts implementing this plan have agreed to provide training for several thousands of school and kindergarten teachers, as well as civil volunteers and parents.

The objective of the Genius Network Programme is to create a talent-friendly social environment. The guiding principle followed by the directors of the programme is that helping talented people is a personal, as well as social responsibility. Every single talent needs to be preserved and provided guidance in a society concerned about its well-being and future, regardless of whether the given individual lives within the boundaries of the country or across the border, in any specific region or settlement in Hungarian-speaking areas or the financial and social circumstances in which they were raised. This is why it is necessary to support the development of young talented individuals, provide them guidance, ensure career building opportunities and help them make use of the knowledge they have acquired within and beyond the conventional educational and state administration institutional framework. Professor Péter Csermely President of the National Talent Support Council, highlights that the key objective of this 2-year programme is that it creates new talent support opportunities building on one another through a network of relations. This is a cause, to which all political and civil forces engaging in Hungarian education and social policy have unanimously adhered to, which is exemplary in its accord. If successfully implemented, the talent support programme may even have a positive impact on the overall quality of Hungarian education. 

A talented individual adrift in the mainstream is in a disadvantaged position, if they wish to make the most of their abilities. This is why increasing the number of regional talent support centres, i.e. Talent Points, is one of the key objectives of this project. Over 150 Talent Points were operating across the country when the programme was launched, and this figure is expected to increase by 100% over the next two years. The Hungarian Talent Support Society initiated the establishment of Talent Points and continues to support this initiative in Hungary, as well as in Hungarian-speaking regions across the border.  

Talent Points offer effective help for young people contacting the service in recognising and developing their natural talent and provide the widest and most situation-specific possible information on various talent fostering opportunities. Beyond establishing a professional background, these Talent Points also endeavour to integrate as many human and financial resources they can in the talent support process.   

Talent Support Councils operating alongside Talent Points coordinate the work of individuals committed to talent fostering in specific regions and promote cooperation between partners with vested interests in this area and concerned partners (local governments, companies, cultural institutions). Organising and holding Talent Days in every part of the country is a key component of this programme. Both smaller and larger talent support communities have the opportunity to present what they do to the general public at these festival open days. The programme itself will reach 20,000 talented students through theoretical workshops and network building activities undertaken within the framework of the project.   

When presenting the programme the teaching staff of the ELTE Apáczai Csere János Teacher Training Grammar School showed talent support best practices being implemented in the state educational system and the Tudor Foundation also active as a Talent Point revealed talent support work of the civil sector.