2023

Micro credentials from January 1, 2023

Through legislative amendments, the government promotes the spread of micro-credentials in higher education, as well as in vocational and adult training.

After completing any subject, course or module of a higher education institution, a micro-credential can be issued to prove learning outcomes, which also describes the subject. Micro-credentials can also be obtained in short-term training experience by persons without a student or a visiting student status. Fulfilment of the completed course or module can be counted towards higher education studies according to the rules of credit transfer.

A VET institution may issue a micro-credential for the knowledge and skills acquired in vocational education in accordance with the Act on Vocational Education, the procedure, the content and prerequisites are specified in the Act.

In adult learning, micro-credentials can be obtained by completing the full range of learning resources listed on the vocational training textbook list, but the detailed rules are still being worked out.

The micro-credential is a public instrument. The micro-credential is practically equivalent to the "credit certificate". 

Training subsidies

In the framework of the Economic Development and Innovation Operational Programme Plus 3.2.1 call for proposals, employers can receive a conditionally non-refundable subsidy to cover the costs incurred in connection with the training of their employees, based on the application submitted to the government office acting as the state employment agency. The programme supports professional competence building training, IT, soft-skills and language training with a support intensity of 50-70%, depending on the size of the applicant company.

The programme provides funding for professional training, language training, ICT technology training, and soft skills training, and thus every company can develop its training plan necessary to enhance the skills of its employees, tailored to its own needs. Depending on the company's needs, the trainings can be internal trainings or external trainings carried out as a purchased service. The programme provides conditional non-refundable subsidy to companies, the conditions of which include continued employment after the completion of the training, and a wage increase for the employees participating in the training, in a tiered system; the conditions were revised in the fourth quarter of 2023.

Youth employment, student work

Before 2010 the youth unemployment rate was close to 30%, today it has fallen to a third, 10%, and their number has decreased by 12,000 people compared to the level in the last year. The government successfully encouraged those under the age of 25 to get a job with a tax discount. Employment of this age group is also encouraged by the summer student work program, which is supported by the government with nearly three billion forints, approximately 22,000 students are working in the program.

On 1st January, 2022, the vocational training contribution ceased, the related tax reduction for specialized education and dual training can now be claimed in the social contribution tax. Eligibility is established for whom who

• have a vocational training employment contract (including the apprenticeship contract) with a student or with a person participating in training, or who have a cooperation agreement concluded according to the previous regulations.

• have a HE student employment contract with the student.

• have a cooperation agreement with a higher education institution (in case of HE initial programmes requiring practice).

The new tax rebate can be also claimed after all the reductions from the social contribution tax. If the reduction is more than the tax to be paid, or if the taxpayer does not have to pay social contribution tax, they can claim the rebate with a general tax refund.

The new tax rebate can also be claimed by budgetary authorities. (Változtak a szakképzési hozzájárulás szabályai)

The government launched a  call for grant to advance the labour force capacity of parents with young children. The grant could be used for adult education and training and its amount was 100 000 HUF per month. The programme helped participants complete grades 5-8 of basic school, grades 9-12 of upper secondary school, or the participant could opt for enrolling in programmes carried out in the framework of adult education or adult trainings regulated in the National Vocational Qualifications Register or in the VET Act number LXXX of 2019. The amount was given for a 12-month period at a maximum, and e.g. could also be spent for travel costs incurred during school visits. The overall budget was 3 billion HUF and the initiative targeted at least 2500 parents with small children and last until 31 December 2022. One of the requirements was that the applicant's highest level of education should be upper secondary or less.