Shaping the Skill Agenda Together
Expats for Košice Region
Activation of the expats network and piloting formats
Overview
What has been done
The pilot activity “Expats for Košice Region” focused on activating the potential of people who left the region and are now working in other cities or abroad. The main idea was to connect these expats with the region again and involve them in regional development and sharing their experience.
As part of the pilot, a structured mapping of expats was carried out, followed by testing selected collaborative and learning formats for their engagement in regional development activities. Overall, the activity combined data collection, database building and practical piloting to explore new ways of strengthening regional collaboration and knowledge transfer.
Why was it needed locally
The activity addressed key challenges in the Košice region, especially brain drain and weak connections with expats who hold valuable skills and experience. The region faces challenges related to soft skills development, innovation capacity and stronger links between education and practice. This pilot aimed to reconnect expats with local actors and support knowledge transfer back to the region, while also helping our organisation broaden its pool of speakers and trainers for events and learning activities. The activity aimed not only to reconnect expats individually, but also to strengthen territorial cooperation between internationally experienced professionals and regional stakeholders.
Target Groups: How were they activated and their benefits
Professional network – International professionals originally from the Košice region, currently living and working abroad or in other cities of Slovakia, engaged as a network to share their skills, experience and knowledge with local stakeholders.
Activation: Target group activated through a combination of direct outreach, partnerships and online communication. First we contacted expats from our existing networks and then expanded our reach by collaborating with organisations already working with expats. We also used social media, including promo campaign, to increase visibility and engagement.
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Direct outreach to expats from existing contacts
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Cooperation with partner organisations working with expat communities
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Publication of the questionnaire on web and newsletter
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Social media communication, including posts and paid promo
Benefit: Benefited by reconnecting with their home region and gaining opportunities to share their expertise, experience and networks in a meaningful way. Through workshops and collaborative activities, they expanded their professional connections, tested new engagement formats and strengthened their sense of contribution to regional development.
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Reconnected with their home region and local community
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Opportunity to share their skills, knowledge and experience in meaningful way
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Expanded their professional network across countries and sectors
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Tested new roles such as workshop facilitators
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Stronger sense of involvement in regional development
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Increased visibility and recognition as regional ambassadors
Regional society – Key local actors positioned to benefit from the knowledge and soft skills shared by expats.
Activation: We activated the target group through a social media promo campaign aimed at the wider public in the Košice region. The campaign helped attract participants to the workshops and increase visibility of the published interviews and related activities.
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Social media promo campaign targeting the wider regional public
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Online communication promoting workshops and published interviews
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Publication of interviews in online magazine Invisible Mag to reach and engage a broader audience
Benefit: Regional society benefited from direct interaction with expats through workshops focused on practical soft skills development and experience sharing. Readers of the published interviews also gained inspiration and insights from real international career journeys and perspectives.
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Gained access to practical soft skills development activities led by expats
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Learned from real international professional experiences and career journeys
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Expanded their perspectives through knowledge sharing and discussion
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Built new connections with professionals from outside the region
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Received inspiration through published interviews and stories in the online magazine
Resources Required
Staff
Activity coordinator, Researchers for survey-based data collection, Facilitators for soft skills workshop delivery, Social media specialist.
Space
Hybrid setup combining online engagement (online survey, social media, database, online journal) and physical workshops hosted in Košice.
Equipment
Laptops, online survey tools, communication platforms and basic workshop equipment (TV screen, sound system, flipcharts, notebooks).
Budget
Medium: 2-10,000 €
Expats database: €300, covering staff and paid promo.
Workshops: €2,350, covering staff, room rentals, photos, catering and organisational costs.
Methods & Steps
Core Mechanism
Formats applied
Campaign:
The campaign focused on identifying and engaging expats from the Košice region through targeted outreach and partner cooperation. Its main output was the creation of a structured database of expats, including their skills, location and willingness to contribute to regional development activities.
Methods used: Multi-channel mapping: We combined direct contact, partner distribution and online promotion to systematically identify and engage expats from the region. This method ensured broader reach beyond existing networks and enabled the creation of a more diverse and structured expat database.Workshop:
The workshop format tested direct knowledge exchange between expats and local participants through interactive soft skills sessions. Selected expats facilitated experiential and interactive workshops focused on movement, wellbeing and soft skills development.
Methods used: Experiential learning: Expats acted as facilitators and shared their professional experience through interactive exercises, movement, body work, discussions and practical examples. The method emphasized learning by doing and peer-to-peer exchange rather than traditional teaching.Network / platform:
A dedicated expat database was created as a networking platform connecting professionals originally from the Košice region with local stakeholders. The platform serves as a resource for future collaboration, knowledge exchange and involvement in soft skills and regional development activities.
Methods used: Expat database: A structured database was developed as a platform for connecting expats with regional stakeholders and opportunities. Beyond storing contacts, it enables future collaboration, knowledge exchange and targeted involvement in regional development activities.Open Dialogue Networking: Interviews with expats published in an online magazine, as well as networking activities that were directly integrated into one of the workshops. These elements created opportunities for participants to share experiences, connect with each another and engage with the workshop topics in an interactive way.
Steps taken
Expat mapping and database building
8/25 - 4/26
- Creation and distribution of an online questionnaire to collect data on expats: Creation and distribution of an online questionnaire to map expats from the Košice region focused on collecting data about their location, professional background, soft skills and willingness to contribute to regional activities.
- Collecting and sorting responses into a database according to skills and engagement opportunities: Collecting responses from the online questionnaire into a central dataset, sorting and structuring data into a database based on skills, experience and potential forms of engagement.
- Collaboration with partner organizations to distribute the questionnaire and reach out to expats: Collaboration with partner organisations to expand the reach of the questionnaire and joint outreach to expat communities through existing networks and platforms.
- Social media campaign including organic posts and paid advertising: Social media communication to promote the questionnaire using organic posts and targeted paid promo to increase reach and participation.
Format testing - Workshops
3/26 - 4/26
- Expats selection and workshops preparation : Selection of two expats based on their expertise and possibilities to lead on site workshops in Košice and preparation of interactive workshops focused on soft skills development and practical knowledge sharing (ensure of premises, refreshments, equipment).
- Realisation of workshops : Delivery of expat-led workshops for local participants focused on soft skills development and collection of participant feedback to evaluate the format and learning experience.
Format testing – Journal interiews
2/26 - 4/26
- Interview questions preparation: Development of structured interview questions focused on expats’ experiences and soft skills.
- Conducting interviews: Coordination and scheduling of interview sessions with selected expats and conducting interviews (online and in-person) focused on expat's professional experience and soft skills development journeys.
- Preparing and publishing journal interviews: Processing and editing interview responses into a journal format followed by authorisation of the final interview content by expat and publication of the approved interviews in the Invisible Mag journal.
Results
Measurable and Direct Outcomes
The local action brought about the following concrete results:
- Ex-pat integration: Establishing the database of expats, which serves as an enduring structure for future engagement, partnerships and region development activities. The activity strengthened territorial cooperation between the Košice region and its diaspora by creating new opportunities for long-term collaboration, mentoring and knowledge exchange.
- Publications: Two interviews articles with expats published in the Invisible Mag journal focused on their professional experience and soft skills development journeys.
- Stakeholder awareness / network extensions: The activity increased awareness of the value of soft skills, international experience and diaspora engagement for regional development, while strengthening networks between expats and local stakeholders. Through its activities, the pilot created opportunities for collaboration, and knowledge exchange cross regional and international contexts.
Indirect Impacts
The activity strengthened connections between the Košice region and its diaspora by engaging expats willing to share their expertise, professional experience and international perspectives with local stakeholders. In the longer term, it contributes to addressing brain drain by creating meaningful ways for skilled expats to remain connected to and involved in regional development, even without a permanent return.
Local Outlook / Follow-up
- Expat database as a resource for future speakers and trainers: The expat database will serve also as a base for future ambassador, mentoring and collaborative activities connecting expats with regional stakeholders. CIKE will use it as a resource of new conferences speakers, trainers and workshops facilitators and for other learning activities.
- Continuation and scaling of the tested workshop format: The tested workshop format will continue, as one of the involved expats plans to further develop and deliver the workshop in the future. The emphasis will be on motivating creative professionals to broaden their portfolio with training focused on soft skills development.
Evaluation
Satisfaction - Overview
Overall, participants showed a high level of satisfaction with the activity. Many expats expressed positive feedback in the open-ended sections of the questionnaire, describing the initiative as valuable and meaningful. They appreciated the opportunity to reconnect with the region and contribute through their knowledge and experience.
Satisfaction - Details
- Strong positive perception and willingness for continued engagement: Participants expressed appreciation for the opportunity to reconnect with the region through practical and meaningful collaboration formats and several indicated interest in continued involvement in future activities.
- Usefulness: The workshops and interviews were positively perceived as authentic and relatable formats for knowledge sharing and soft skills development.
Transfer Hints
- Expats as a remote resource: Every region has people who have moved away and gained valuable experience. Engaging expats allows regions to tap into this knowledge without requiring their physical return, creating new opportunities for knowledge transfer and collaboration.
- Ongoing communication: Maintain regular communication with expats through lightweight but continuous engagement opportunities.
- Universal need for soft skills development: The need for soft skills is present across all regions and sectors. Using real-life experiences of expats as a learning source makes soft skills development more practical and engaging for local audiences.
- Flexible outreach channels: Regions can adapt how they reach expats depending on local conditions - using alumni networks, diaspora organisations, embassies, or different online platforms instead of the exact channels used in this pilot.
- Adaptable engagement formats: The involvement of expats does not have to be limited to workshops; regions can choose formats such as mentoring, talks, online sessions, or networking events based on their needs and capacities.
- Scalable scope of mapping: The size and depth of the expat database can vary, from a small, targeted group to a larger open database, without losing the core idea of building connections.
- Online vs. offline balance: Activities can be organised fully online, hybrid, or in-person depending on availability of expats, while still maintaining effective knowledge exchange.
- Lack of follow-up after initial engagement: Collecting contacts without further activation can lead to a passive database. Continuous communication and opportunities for involvement are key to maintaining engagement.
Participant Testimonials & Impressions
Impressions
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Access the complete implementation guide and connect with the team
Contact: Lucia Koukolová
Email: lucia.koukolova@cike.sk
Need more information?
Project manager:
Franziska Görmar
IfL - Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography, Germany
Email
This project is supported by the Interreg CENTRAL EUROPE Programme with co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund.
Find more information about the x-Inno Radar project on the Interreg CE projectwebsite.
x-Inno Radar is a project of: 
Creative Region Linz & Upper Austria Gmbh, 
The Regional Chamber of Commerce of the Karlovy Vary Region, 
Padova Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Crafts and Agriculture, 
Creative Industry Košice, n. o., 
BSC, Business support centre, ltd., Kranj, 
Regional Development Agency in Bielsko-Biała, 
Stebo Competence Centre Community Developmentm, 
Association of Cultural and Creative Industries Chemnitz and Region (Creative Chemnitz), Leibniz Institute for Regional Geography – Germany, Otelo Cooperative