A Year of Impact and Structure: Safavi Impact Institute Year in Review 2025

In 2025, the Safavi Impact Institute further strengthened and systematically expanded its role as a specialized organization supporting the professional integration of Ukrainian women in Austria. The focus remained on labour market–oriented qualification, individual guidance, and the development of sustainable integration and employment structures.

By the end of 2025, nearly 500 women were receiving regular support, including 205 new clients during the year alone. The continuously growing demand confirms the need for specialized, application-oriented services for highly qualified women with a refugee background.

A central pillar of the Institute’s work continued to be professional-specific language training. In 2025, 33 specialized language courses were delivered, including German for Accounting, Management, Office Communication, Law and Economics, Business English, and, for the first time, German for Medicine.

The launch of German for Medicine marked a key highlight of the year. The program is designed for highly qualified Ukrainian doctors seeking to continue their professional careers within the Austrian healthcare system. It focuses on precise medical terminology, clinical communication, documentation standards, and language preparation for recognition and professional entry procedures. Although all participants already possessed a high level of general German, the course clearly demonstrated the need for targeted professional language training tailored to real clinical settings, both in hospitals and outpatient care.

The pilot group generated strong interest and received consistently positive feedback. In addition, the program attracted attention from Austrian media, resulting in numerous inquiries from other medical professionals as well as healthcare institutions. Against the backdrop of acute staff shortages in the healthcare sector, a significant expansion of the program is planned for 2026, including additional course groups and further structural development of the curriculum.

At the same time, the Institute significantly expanded its labour market–oriented support services. Demand for job search guidance, application support, and interview preparation increased markedly compared to the previous year. In total, 22 group job search training sessions, 13 individual interview preparation sessions, and regular professional CV photo sessions were conducted. The focus remained firmly on real job vacancies, concrete application processes, and effective self-presentation within the Austrian labour market.

In addition, the Institute organized 125 integration-focused workshops combining language practice with insights into the Austrian labour market and social context. 25 film clubs, along with visits to cultural and civic institutions, supported language acquisition, orientation, and social participation. Overall, 52 thematic workshops addressed topics such as employment, soft skills, digital competencies, and professional positioning.

Another core component of the Institute’s work was psychosocial support. In 2025, 15 psychological group programs involving 123 participants were delivered. These programs focused on strengthening professional self-esteem, coping with migration-related stress, and building emotional resilience as a foundation for sustainable labour market integration.

At the same time, the Safavi Impact Institute further deepened its strategic partnerships with Austrian institutions. In cooperation with PwC Austria, epunkt, the Vienna Chamber of Commerce (WKO), as well as research institutions such as the Complexity Science Hub and the Austrian Institute of Technology (AIT), the Institute continued to develop practice-oriented formats, expert workshops, and the digital integration project Win²Work. These collaborations aim to systematically reduce structural barriers to labour market access and improve the efficiency of integration-relevant processes.

The impact of this work is also reflected in measurable outcomes: 82 women successfully entered employment in 2024–2025 after participating in programs offered by the Institute. In this way, the Safavi Impact Institute makes a tangible contribution to addressing skills shortages and promoting sustainable social and economic integration in Austria.

The year 2025 in review clearly demonstrates that successful integration emerges where language competence, professional qualifications, psychological stability, and labour market realities are addressed together. Over the past year, the Safavi Impact Institute has consistently implemented and structurally embedded this integrated approach.