Supporting universities in Ukraine

Cardiff University is twinning with National University Zaporizhzhya Polytechnic, Ukraine to support staff and students affected by the current conflict in the country.

The collaboration is part of a UK-wide initiative that see’s institutions across the country providing Ukrainian universities, students, and staff with a package of support including:

• Helping to physically rebuild campuses of Ukrainian universities that have been damaged and destroyed.
• Mutually recognising credits so that English-speaking Ukrainian students can take online courses from UK universities that count towards their final degree.
• Allowing Ukrainian teaching and research to continue in UK laboratories and classrooms where their own facilities were destroyed or damaged.
• Facilitating the sharing of academic resources such as libraries and technical equipment.
• Preserving Ukrainian archives in UK institutions; facilitating more cultural and language exchange opportunities.
• Sharing mental health support – particularly for Ukrainian staff and students suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to conflict.
• Allowing Ukrainian students to ‘catch-up’ on the learning they have missed at summer schools hosted in UK institutions.

The scheme, which has been coordinated by Cormack Consultancy Group with the support of Universities UK International, aims to help prevent ‘brain drain’ and ensure Ukraine’s universities not only survive but emerge stronger from the war, allowing them to play a critical role in post-war reconstruction.

Vice-Chancellor, Professor Colin Riordan said: “We unequivocally condemn Russia’s catastrophic aggression in Ukraine and stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.

“We hope this twinning partnership will not only provide vital support to Ukrainian staff and students, enabling them to continue their learning and research, but that it lays the foundation for a rich, long-term collaboration between us.”

The University also has a second link in place through the School of Medicine and Zaporizhia Medical University. Three virtual meetings have taken place, facilitated by Cormack Consultancy Group.

Zaporizhia Medical University is a multi-faculty organisation and there are options for support across different clinical professional groups.

Professor Steve Riley, Dean of Medical Education and Head of the School of Medicine said: “We are still in the early stages but we have agreed to facilitate the provision of clinical placements for a small number of Ukraine Medical Students during the summer.

“We have had excellent help from Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and we are currently dealing with the logistics of this exchange programme. We are exploring with colleagues in Zaporizhia what support can be provided including support for faculty, provision of on-line teaching material, and access to remote library resources. We hope that this will be the beginning of a fruitful and supportive relationship.”