The Hungarian STEAM Platform Strengthens Its Position at the EU STEM Coalition General Assembly in Brussels
Europe’s leading experts and institutional leaders gathered on November 5–6 in Brussels for the Annual General Assembly of the EU STEM Coalition to discuss the future, challenges, and opportunities of STEM and STEAM education. Hungary was represented by Zoltán Márton, Director of the Hungarian STEAM Platform and Head of the STEAM Office at Obuda University, who presented the country’s recent achievements and the development of the national STEAM ecosystem.
Over the past year, several initiatives supporting the STEAM approach have been launched. These include the STEAM Excellence Program targeting secondary school students, the first Hungarian STEAM Platform Conference, and the EU STEM Coalition Working Group Meeting, both hosted by the University. The institution also organized Hungary’s first International STEAM Festival with 200 participants, as well as the International GenAI Literacy Conference, engaging experts from 16 countries.
The STEAM Office developed an accredited 30-hour teacher training program and launched a five-day Summer Teacher Academy, supported by RRF and Horizon Europe funding. Strengthening international ties, teacher training was also held in Beijing, in cooperation with the Experience Workshop. The Office expanded its development program for students with special educational needs (SEN) and continued its Minecraft-based educational program. In addition, it placed strong emphasis on education research, impact assessment, and coordinated support for EdTech development.
The Children’s University Summer Camps also expanded their offerings, introducing new themes such as green city development, defense and security, coding, and e-sports, providing younger learners with opportunities for experiential learning. Based on the past year’s results, Obuda University is steadily building the collaboration and knowledge-sharing structures needed to strengthen national and international connections in STEAM-based education and research.
As part of the plenary program, Zoltán Márton delivered a presentation titled “Country Update: Hungary”, outlining how the Hungarian STEAM ecosystem has developed over the past year and how government, academic, societal, and industry actors are working together to strengthen STEAM education. The presentation highlighted a partnership model that integrates talent development, teacher training, research, and innovation into a unified framework, resulting in a more transparent and structured national operation.
The presentation received highly positive feedback. Several international experts highlighted the model’s well-structured design, the deliberate professional direction of the development process, and the strength of its collaboration-driven approach. The conference’s official summary also singled out the Hungarian presentation as a “structured, well-considered, and inspiring” example. Feedback confirmed that the Hungarian STEAM Platform’s achievements over the past year are moving in a promising direction, with new objectives proving relevant not only nationally but also regionally.
Hungary’s presence in Brussels clearly demonstrated that the country is becoming an increasingly active and visible participant in Central and Eastern European STEM/STEAM cooperation. Multiple delegations expressed interest in collaboration and indicated their willingness to join the International STEAM Festival in Hungary and other national professional programs. The ecosystem model presented thus provides valuable reference points both for policy development and for international partnerships.
The General Assembly’s professional program outlined the key European directions that will shape the future of STEM and STEAM education in the coming years. Plenary presentations and research briefings consistently emphasized that meaningful and sustainable results can only be achieved if developments are coordinated at the system level and supported by strong policy and institutional cooperation.
Research conducted by the Technopolis Group offered the first comprehensive EU-level overview of how Member States support STEM education from early childhood through vocational training, what systemic barriers hinder progress, and where quickly deployable best practices exist. Professor Louise Archer’s widely acclaimed presentation examined STEM identity, learner motivation, and social inequalities, highlighting how talent development depends on supportive learning environments and inclusive pedagogical approaches.
The Swedish national STEM strategy presentation demonstrated how industry stakeholders, vocational training institutions, and regional networks can operate within an integrated framework. One of the most significant outcomes of the General Assembly was the launch of the new Industry–Education Partnership Working Group, supporting practical cooperation between education and industry stakeholders, complementing the existing AI in Education and Primary & Secondary Education groups. The expansion of the CoVE STEM Europe network further signals Europe’s growing emphasis on centers of excellence and associated knowledge-sharing.
Overall, the plenary content reaffirmed that Hungarian STEAM efforts are moving in the right direction: the partnership-based model, the ecosystem approach, and system-level development initiatives align closely with European professional trends and emerging EU priorities.
Beyond its professional content, the Brussels General Assembly brought significant networking benefits for Hungary. Following the Hungarian presentation, numerous delegation leaders expressed interest in the Hungarian model and signaled opportunities for joint projects, professional visits, and long-term collaboration. Feedback highlighted a growing demand for Hungary’s STEAM ecosystem to serve as a point of reference for other countries, particularly within the regional cooperation context.
Several partner organizations emphasized that the Hungarian STEAM Platform has visibly strengthened over the past year and that its developments are supported by a consistent professional structure, making long-term cooperation worthwhile. Additionally, several members of the EU STEM Coalition indicated their intention to participate in the International STEAM Festival in Hungary, which is increasingly positioned to become a key regional event.
Professional discussions made it clear that Hungary may soon play a more defining role in Central and Eastern European STEAM cooperation. The actors of the Hungarian ecosystem—universities, industry partners, researchers, and civil organizations—represent a collaborative approach that many countries view as a compelling model. Thus, the General Assembly not only showcased Hungarian achievements but also initiated substantive professional cooperation processes with many partners.
The Brussels General Assembly confirmed that Hungary is entering a favorable period for expanding regional and European STEAM cooperation. Professional feedback, newly established partnerships, and Europe-wide trends all indicate that domestic developments align well with EU STEM/STEAM priorities, especially in areas such as ecosystem-based development, inclusive talent support, and educational innovation.
Several professional opportunities emerged during the event that may strengthen Hungary’s role in international collaboration networks. Numerous delegations emphasized the need for shared professional platforms where Hungary can participate as an active contributor, highlighting both national achievements and opportunities for international knowledge transfer and partnership building. Several countries expressed openness to engaging with Hungarian partners in future initiatives.
At the same time, there is growing recognition that Hungarian STEAM stakeholders would benefit from a more transparent and coordinated cooperation framework. Such a system would support regular dialogue among institutions, companies, researchers, and professional organizations, and help ensure that international findings and best practices are effectively integrated into domestic development efforts.
New guidelines presented in the plenary sessions may open additional perspectives for Hungary, especially in areas that the Hungarian ecosystem already actively addresses—demonstrating strong alignment between national developments and EU priorities.
Overall, the Brussels General Assembly showed that Hungary is increasingly well-positioned to participate in Europe’s STEM/STEAM processes. In the coming months, several strategic consultations and preparatory activities are expected to begin, shaping the long-term international presence and embeddedness of the Hungarian STEAM ecosystem.
