Conference for academic and HR leaders in the V4

Certainty in Uncertain Times: Rethinking HR in the V4

Closing Online Conference of the “Best HRM Solutions in V4 Countries” Project

May 14, 2026 (Thursday), 13:00–16:30 (CET), Online

From research to real HR moves in the V4. Discover tested models, practical tools and regional insights that are ready for implementation.

Online (Zoom link will be sent to registered participants only).

Language: English.

The event will be recorded for internal documentation and summary purposes only and will not be published.

The goal of this conference

Good HR ideas don’t always cross borders — even when the context would allow it. In the V4, many organisations face similar constraints, yet strong practices often remain “local knowledge” and never reach neighbouring countries.

This closing conference is about changing that: we bring together V4‑tested HR models, honest company stories and country‑level insights, and turn them into concrete steps you can apply, adapt and scale in your own organisation within the next 30–60 days.

What are we working from?

We build on three things:

Large-sample regional insight on HR gaps in the V4 (research involving 2,000+ organisations).
National workshop learnings and tested “what actually works” experience from each country.
The draft content of the V4 toolkit: concise HR models, process-based implementation guidelines, and curated V4 best practices that are being integrated into the Best HRM Solutions Database.

The project turns academic and corporate know-how into practical HR tools for the region. HR 2026 delivers this in a 3.5-hour interactive workshop.

Five key topics – and the related action opportunities

We focus on five HR areas where the V4 shares similar structural gaps. Each topic is about one thing: what can be standardised across the region to make implementation faster, clearer and defensible in business terms?

1. Strategic HR integration

2. HR digitization

3. Talent and succession development

4. Rethinking job descriptions and roles

5. Performance management systems

Who is the event for?

For Senior HR professionals and HR leaders

shaping systems and priorities

Consultants and HR ecosystem experts

who translate models into practice

University educators, HR networks

supporting long-term adoption and regional learning

What will participants likely take away?

A sharp, evidence‑based snapshot of HR in the V4 today

A focused list of practical actions across strategy, roles, performance, digitalisation and talent

Access to slides, a concise conference summary and the growing V4 HR community

Five clear HR models and how to use them in real organisations

Program

Opening & Project Context

12:50-13:00

Entering the zoom space

13:00-13:05

Walking the Bridge Together

Where Academic Thinking Meets Business Innovation

Dr Krisztina Schottner, PhD
Acting Rector, Associate Professor at Milton Friedman University
Budapest, Hungary

13:05-13:15

Introduction of the project

Project overview, the five HR gap areas, the five HR models, and the aims of the closing conference.

Edina Kálmán, CEO of Knowhouse Consulting Ltd., the consortium leader of the Best HRM Solutions project

13:15-13:35

HR in the V4 BANI World

How HR has evolved in the V4, key research findings, and what they mean for strategic HR, digitalisation and talent.

Dr. József Poór

DSc, Research Professor, MATE, Certified Management Consultant (CMC), President of HSZOSZ

Lukáš Smerek

Associate Professor, Vice-Dean, Matej Bel University (Faculty of Economics, Slovakia)

Plenary session: Company-Level HR Challenges

The V4 HR Playbook & Practice Insights
Short inputs on the five HR areas, presented by the partners who developed each topic.

Strategic HR Integration

Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Faculty of Economics (Slovakia)

Ivana Šimočková, Associate Professor at Matej Bel University

HR Digitalisation

Silesian University in Opava, School of Business Administration in Karviná (Czech Republic)

Mr. Sampras Femi Robert, PhD Scholar at Silesian University

13:35–14:40

Talent Development Programmes

University of Szczecin (Poland)

K. Shihan D. Fernando, PhD Scholar at University of Szczecin

Job Design and Role Descriptions

From the world of tasks to the skill universe

Szilard Malatyinszki, Associate Professor at Kodolányi János University

Performance Management Systems

4 main secrets of a successful performance management system

Anett Dobos, International Affairs Coordinator at Knowhouse Consulting Ltd.

14:40–14:55

Break

Roundtable 1: Company-Level HR Challenges

How can the ecosystem support CEOs and HR leaders?

Company leaders and HR directors from different V4 organisations discuss

the most pressing HR and people challenges they face,
what kind of support they would need from HR associations, networks and the wider environment, and
how external communities and tools – including the V4 HR Playbook – can help them move forward.

14:55–15:35

Roundtable discussion

Moderated questions from participants.

Klára András dr.

HR and Communications Director at Egis Group, Vice President of the Hungarian Association of Human Professionals (Hungary)

Jozef Ďurian

Chief Executive at ZIAROMAT, A.S., and Associate Professor at Matej Bel University (Slovakia)

Helena Marková

Assistant Professor, Silesian University in Opava – School of Business Administration in Karviná (Czechia)

Roundtable 2: V4 HR Ecosystem, Policy and Networks

What do country-level actors see – and how can they help develop companies and regions?

Representatives of HR associations, chambers, academia and/or policymakers discuss

key HR trends, gaps and strengths at country and regional level,
how companies, sectors and regions could be developed more effectively from an HR perspective, and
how the project’s models and the V4 HR Professional Network can feed into programmes, curricula and policy discussions.

15:35–16:15

Roundtable discussion

Moderated questions from participants.

Noémi Csaposs

Director BDO Hungary/ HR Advisory, President of the Hungarian Human Resource Management Association (Hungary)

Assoc. prof. Ing. Jana Blštáková

PhD. Faculty of Business Management, University of Economics in Bratislava, Vice-Dean for International Relations, Vice- president of Slovak Academic Association for Personnel Management (Slovakia)