The CORE – “European Union: Shaping Our Common Future” national academic competition, held on April 24–25 and organised by the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence at the National University of Public Service, successfully brought together talented secondary school students from across Hungary to reflect on key challenges facing the European Union.
The two-round competition combined an essay phase with a dynamic two-day hackathon final, providing participants with an innovative learning environment in which critical thinking, creativity, and teamwork were essential. In the final, teams worked intensively with expert mentors to develop feasible, forward-looking proposals addressing real EU policy and societal challenges.
At the heart of the hackathon stood a central task formulated by the organisers: participants were asked to design a clear and feasible plan on how young people could take a more active role in identifying and addressing the EU’s current challenges.
Teams were encouraged to identify key issues, propose concrete solutions, define relevant actors at different governance levels, and reflect on how the success of their proposals could be measured. A central aspect of the task was to demonstrate why young people are indispensable actors in shaping the EU’s future and how they could be more effectively involved in decision-making processes.
The topics explored by the finalist teams reflected the complexity of today’s Europe, including social polarisation, housing challenges, agricultural sustainability, young people’s mental health, and the opportunities of the European Citizens’ Initiative. Through diverse approaches—ranging from digital solutions to policy proposals and interactive presentations—students demonstrated a high level of engagement with current European issues.
Final results:
- 1st place: Pulltimate team - CREASCOLA Két Tanítási Nyelvű Általános Iskola és Nyolcosztályos Gimnázium
- 2nd place: Akropolisz team – Békéscsabai Belvárosi Általános Iskola és Gimnázium
- 3rd place: Arrabona team – Győri Sz.C. Baksa Kálmán Két Tanítási Nyelvű Gimnázium
The jury particularly valued the originality, feasibility, and professional quality of the projects, as well as the teams’ ability to respond confidently to expert questions.
The CORE competition demonstrated its unique value as an experience-driven learning platform, where students not only deepen their understanding of the European Union but also develop the skills and perspectives needed to actively shape its future.