AmCham Slovakia

Košice is a city rich in potential, home to growing community of international students and young professionals. However, only a fraction of this talent chooses to remain in the region after graduation. What will it take to make Košice city where people come to study, stay to live, and choose to build their future?

We are pleased to invite you to the Magnetize Conference, organized in cooperation with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), taking place on October 9, 2025, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM, at the new conference facilities of the Congress Hotel ROCA Košice.

REGISTRATION

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/magnetize-conference-tickets-1555661057099?aff=oddtdtcreator

 
Partners of the conference: AmCham Slovakia, IT Valley Košice, Slovak Chamber of the Commerce and Industry, The British Chamber of Commerce in the Slovak Republic

 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

As keynote speaker, Marcus Andersson will take the stage – Founder & CEO of Future Place Leadership, and an expert in talent attraction and retention, investment, and city development. He has advised countries such as Finland, Denmark, Estonia, and Ireland, as well as cities like Berlin, Copenhagen, and Stockholm on becoming attractive destinations for students, young professionals, and investors. At the MAGNETIZE conference, he will share insights on how Košice can strengthen its ability to attract and retain young talent – drawing on the experiences of cities that have already succeeded in this process.

 

PROGRAM

08:30 – Registration & Refreshments

09:00 – Opening Remarks

09:15 – Talent Attraction Management for Cities and Regions – Why is It Important and How to Do It? (Keynote Presentation)

• Marcus Andersson, CEO & Founder, Future Place Leadership

 

09:40 – Retaining Talent = Building Talent: Ukrainian Students and the Internationalization of Education in Košice (Panel Discussion 1)

• Ing. Rastislav Ručinský, PhD., Vice-Rector for Development and External Relations, Technical University of Košice
• Assoc. Prof. Ing. Silvia Ručinská, PhD., Vice-Rector for Internationalization, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice
• MVDr. Martin Tomko, PhD., Vice-Rector for Education, The University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice

 
10:25 – Presentation

• Juraj Toporčák, Director of the Department for the Recovery of Ukraine, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic for the Recovery Plan and Knowledge Economy

 
10:40 – A City Open to Talent? Opportunities and Barriers in Employing Foreigners (Panel Discussion 2)

• Alena Sábelová, State Secretary, Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic for the Recovery Plan and Knowledge Economy
• Miriama Hučková, Executive Director, Košice IT Valley
• Valon Halimi, Chief of Mission, International Organization for Migration (IOM)
• Matúš Durčkáč, Vice President of Board of Directors, American Chamber of Commerce in Slovakia
  

11:25 – Coffee Break

 
11:55 – Academic Persistence, NEET Risks, and Support for Ukrainian Students in Košice (Presentation)

• Mgr. Jana Papcunová, PhD., Researcher, Slovak Academy of Sciences

 
12:10 – Choosing to Stay: Experiences of International Students and Young Professionals (Panel Discussion 3)

• International students from TUKE, UPJŠ, and UVLF

 
12:55 – Wrap-up & Closing Remarks

13:10 – Lunch & Networking

14:00 – Making Košice a Hotspot for International Talent – How to Attract and Retain Talent and Students (Roundtable)

• Facilitator: Marcus Andersson, CEO & Founder, Future Place Leadership