Conference MAGNETIZE 2025: October 9, 2025 | Congress Hotel ROCA, Košice

Registration here: bit.ly/Magnetize2025

Every year, international students and young professionals bring energy and fresh ideas to Košice. Yet, many of them leave after graduation. The MAGNETIZE Conference seeks concrete solutions to make Košice a city where talent not only comes to study but also chooses to stay – with a particular focus on Ukrainian students.

About the Conference

• Topic: Retaining international students in Košice – from barriers to solutions for integration and talent development, with a focus on Ukrainian students
• Objective: To open a constructive dialogue about the future of talent in Košice, identify barriers to entering the labour market, and propose steps to improve linguistic, cultural, and professional integration.
• Moderators: Martin Mudrák (Business Košice) and Lýdia Baluchová (IOM Slovakia)

What to Expect

• Panel discussions with representatives of universities, employers, institutions, and students
• New findings on youth migration from the Slovak Academy of Sciences
• Keynote: Marcus Andersson (Founder & CEO, Future Place Leadership) – an internationally recognized expert on talent attraction, investment promotion, and city development
• Networking with actors shaping the future of the region

Roundtable (14:00)

Making Košice a hotspot for international talent – How to attract and retain talent and students

• Facilitator: Marcus Andersson
• Language: English
• For: city leadership, public sector, universities, chambers of commerce, innovation and science parks, NGOs, clusters, and employers
• Focus: identifying main barriers preventing international students from entering the labour market and proposing feasible measures to address them (linking education with practice during studies, language preparation, systemic support)

Practical Information

• Date & Time: Thursday, October 9, 2025, 09:00 – 13:00 (conference) | 14:00 (roundtable)
• Venue: Congress Hotel ROCA, Košice (Google Maps)
• Registration: bit.ly/Magnetize2025
• Roundtable registration: please confirm at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
• Language: Slovak (roundtable in English)

Organizers & Patronage

The conference is organized by Business Košice in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) – IOM Slovakia.
The event is held under the auspices of the Mayor of Košice, Jaroslav Polaček.

Why Attend?

• Gain insights into the latest data and needs of international students in Košice.
• Connect with partners across academia, the public, and private sectors.
• Contribute to shaping concrete steps to improve integration and retention of young talent in the city.

We look forward to seeing you at MAGNETIZE 2025!