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1. Official guidelines on traineeships and apprenticeships

2. Promoting traineeships and apprenticeships

3. Recognition of learning outcomes

4. Funding

5. Quality assurance

Official guidelines on traineeships and apprenticeships

In Hungary, internships appear in the system of higher education and vocational education. In higher education the specific training and outcome requirements define the exact details (including duration and timing). In vocational and dual training, the professional and examination requirements define these. The latter are set in decrees of the ministries responsible for the relevant areas. The training and outcome requirements need to be approved by the Educational Authority (Oktatási Hivatal), based on the expertise of the Hungarian Accreditation Committee (Magyar Felsőoktatási Akkreditációs Bizottság).

Traineeship in the system of vocational education

The Government Decree 12/2020. (II. 7.) on the implementation of the vocational training act [12/2020. (II. 7.) Korm. rendelet a szakképzésről szóló törvény végrehajtásáról] states that the Council for Innovation in Vocational Training (Szakképzési Innovációs Tanács), in cooperation with the respective sector of the government, creates the professional and examination requirements and the related programme curricula for vocational training. The programme curricula include the necessary internship information (the number of hours) for each training. The students are employed on the basis of an internship agreement, which means that the employers have to pay a wage to the student for their work.

Dual training in the Vocational Training System

In 2020, the system of vocational schools was changed by the 1168/2019. (III. 28.) Government Decision. An important provision was the introduction of dual training in vocational schools (duális szakmai oktatás) with the aim to provide professional experience in a 'real' work place rather than in a vocational training place. The dual training ensures that the students can participate in a professional traineeship, can learn the business culture and can acquire competitive knowledge and skills.

In addition, students get a salary for this work, with the amount of HUF 100 000–170 000 (about EUR 256–435). The students are employed with a vocational training employment contract. 

Changes in the dual training

The Act XXXIII of 2023 (2023. évi XXXIII. törvény) changed the vocational training regulations at several points, based on the impact assessment of the earlier changes since 2020. The responsible ministry, the Ministry of Culture and Innovation (Kulturális és Innovációs Minisztérium), stated that the aim of the act is to make dual training more efficient, to broaden the programmes for social inclusion, to make the administration simpler and to provide professional experience for students before entering the labour market.

One change was that the short-term vocational training employment contract may be concluded with a student participating in specialized education or with a person participating in the training twice a year for 2–12 weeks each time, instead of the previous 4–12 weeks. This change adapts to the shorter, two-week professional internships.

Besides that, juvenile workers (young people under the age of 16) who are taking part in a dual training programme can be employed again for 7 hours per day. Those who are over 18 years old can participate in dual training for eight hours per day. The duration of the break between work assignments must also be included in the daily working time. 

The number of days' leave that must be granted continuously during the summer holidays changes 15–20 working days. After the change, the total amount of annual leave no longer depends on age, but on the type of legal relationship.

Internships within higher education

The most relevant official document regarding internship in higher education training is Government Regulation 230/2012 (VIII. 28.) [230/2012. (VIII. 28.) Korm. rendelet]. According to the regulation the students are able to be employed on the basis of an internship agreement and there are specific rules for this type of internship. One rule is that night work and overtime shall not be required and the student's daily working time shall not exceed eight hours, in the case of the application of the working time framework, a maximum working time of one week is prescribed. The employer has to ensure a rest period of at least 12 hours every day for the student, and they are not allowed to require a trial period.

The Act CCIV of 2011 on National Higher Education (2011. évi CCIV. törvény a nemzeti felsőoktatásról) states that the student

'shall receive remuneration during the completion of a continuous practice period of at least six weeks and a dual study programme, the amount of which is 65% of the mandatory lowest remuneration for work (minimum wage) and, unless otherwise agreed, shall be paid by the workplace.'

Special target groups

Target groups for the student employment contract (available in dual training) are students in full-time school-based training and students in adult education.

Promoting traineeships and apprenticeships

Upon completion of the Youth Guarantee Programme, it is the priority of the Hungarian Government to carry on this programme. (For more information about the Youth Guarantee, see 3.2.)

As of 2016, student jobs are permitted as traineeship. Student manpower associations are allowed to certify the students' traineeships if the company, where the students work, declares that the conditions of the work carried out and the workplace are in line with the requirements regarding the traineeship.

Introduction of student pre-contracts

Since 2023, this initiative has supported the development of relationships between students and companies before the actual start of dual training and could thus offer advantages in the admission process. Signing student pre-contracts is also a tool for well-founded career and profession selection. This makes the future more predictable both for the student and the employer.

The Action Plan 2021-2024 for the 'Grade Change in Higher Education' strategy

The Action Plan 2021-2024 for the 'Grade Change in Higher Education' strategy ('Fokozatváltás a felsőoktatásban középtávú szakpolitikai stratégia 2016.' 2021-2024. évekre szóló cselekvési terve) has an objective titled 'Enhancing the Quality and Labor Market Relevance of Higher Education Programmes'.

To achieve this objective, the action plan outlines the importance of further strengthening the practical orientation of higher education programmes and ensuring territorial coverage. They also support the digital transformation of higher education programmes (development of 1 800 digital training materials). Collaboration with economic and regional stakeholders and increasing cooperation with municipalities, companies, and the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is also highlighted. It is also important to strengthen systemic collaborations with vocational training and public education institutions operating in the region, and to support student employment during their studies and strengthen partnerships between higher education institutions and employers who hire graduates with higher education qualifications.

Recognition of learning outcomes

In formal education, traineeships are part of the vocational education framework curriculum, meaning that recognition is achieved through the acquisition of the qualification. In higher education, the process is also similar, with different credit values assigned to different types of traineeships. The recognition of traineeships carried out earlier is also possible.

The  Act CCIV of 2011 on National Higher Education (2011. évi CCIV. törvény a nemzeti felsőoktatásról) states that

'The credit transfer committee may recognise prior non-formal and informal learning, as well as work experiences, furthermore, the knowledge acquired during a vocational training, for the purpose of the fulfilment of academic requirements, as set out in this Act and the applicable government decree.'

Adult Education and Training

In 2023, the Government adopted the Action Plan effective until 2030 for the 'Vocational Training 4.0' strategy (‘Szakképzés 4.0’ stratégia 2030-ig tartó cselekvési terve). There is an objective in the Action Plan that aims at creating flexible learning paths in adult education and training, and one indicator of it is to reduce the training duration by the recognition of previous learning outcomes or traineeships. (For more information on the Action Plan, see 6.1 and 6.4.)

Funding

Those workplaces that join the dual training programme in vocational education or in higher education or have an internship agreement with the student can apply for a tax allowance for the additional cost of the student's net wage. In dual training, an additional tax allowance can be applied if the student takes a successful professional exam at the end of the training. The base amount of the tax allowance is determined in the budget of Hungary and there is a unique multiplier for all of the professions and grades, and this is calculated for each workday.

Quality assurance

The practical training based on student contracts are monitored by the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Magyar Kereskedelmi és Iparkamara). It controls the conditions that were set at the time of registration of the business organisation. Furthermore, with the involvement of the vocational training school, it supervises the business organisation's activities during the training by observing the fulfilment of material and personal conditions, such as the compliance with the vocational training framework curriculum or overseeing maximum group size.