CELSI's research director and co-founder, Martin Kahanec, delivered two talks on Thursday at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies of the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence.

First, Kahanec participated in a seminar alongside Professor Simone Tholens (EUI and John Cabot University), discussing how education reforms can enhance human capital and support Ukraine’s long-term reconstruction.

He emphasized the critical role of education not only in providing essential skills and knowledge but also in cultivating responsible citizens who uphold human rights and integrity.

Kahanec also co-authored a chapter on this subject, titled ‘Education reforms during and after the war,’ with Snizhana LEU-SEVERYNENKO, Anna Novosad, and Yegor Stadnyi, in the book ‘Rebuilding Ukraine: Principles and Policies’, edited by Yuriy Gorodnichenko, Ilona Sologoub, and Beatrice Weder di Mauro.

Later, Kahanec, together with Kamila Borsekova (EUI and Univerzita Mateja Bela v Banskej Bystrici), gave a lecture chaired by Jelena Dzankic (EUI - Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies), where they presented their paper ‘Decision Tree Insights into Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Convergence in EU Labour Markets,’ co-authored with Korony Samuel.

The event was co-organized by the European Governance and Politics Programme (EGPP) as part of the BRRIDGE project, funded by the European Union's Horizon Europe research and innovation programme.