On 22 May, TNO and ISCTE presented the Synclusive project at the 22nd European Congress of Work and Organizational Psychology (EAWOP) in Prague!
Together with colleagues from the sister project CARE4CARE, they hosted a symposium titled “Stimulating Labour Market Inclusion of Vulnerable Groups in Europe: SYNCLUSIVE and CARE4CARE.” This session brought together two Horizon Europe-funded projects that both aim to tackle labour market inequalities through innovative, interdisciplinary, and evidence-based approaches.
The symposium began with Gerben Hulsegge (TNO) presenting an overview of the Synclusive project. He introduced the ENGINE approach, which fosters inclusive labour markets by building regional coalitions and implementing integrated interventions that enhance the mobility and development of vulnerable groups. Next, Vince Pelzer (Tilburg University) shared insights from the Dutch Living Lab, focusing on how local coalition-building helps drive inclusion, specifically in the child daycare sector.
Experiences and challenges in building coalitions across three diverse regions were presented by Maria José Sousa (ISCTE), highlighting the contextual nuances of implementing Synclusive at a national level.
The focus then shifted to the CARE4CARE project. Maria Luisa Vallauri (University of Florence) introduced the project’s scope: improving the working conditions of formal and informal care workers across six European countries, with attention to gender- and migration-related discrimination. Francisco José Medina followed with a presentation of the project’s first research findings, based on cross-national survey and focus group data.
The session concluded with a reflection by the discussant, Prof. Edwin van Hooft, who drew thoughtful comparisons between the projects and raised important questions to inform future directions.
The session attracted around 50 participants, underlining the relevance and urgency of addressing labour market inclusion in today’s Europe. Participating in EAWOP 2025 was a great opportunity to share our work and engage with fellow researchers and practitioners passionate about inclusive change.
