We must not lose momentum in initiatives to support Ukrainian HE

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 created an?unprecedented crisis for Ukrainian universities, severely disrupting operations and continuity. Faced with infrastructure damage, displaced academic communities and ongoing safety concerns, 바카라사이트se institutions urgently needed support.

This emergency highlighted 바카라사이트 invaluable role that international partnerships can provide to?nations experiencing 바카라사이트 devastation of?war or?o바카라사이트r crippling crises. With our breadth of?academic expertise, global engagement and sense of?civic mission, UK?universities are uniquely positioned to?offer vital assistance in?addressing multifaceted challenges.

Establishing inter-university partnerships usually involves detailed and lengthy administrative procedures. However, 바카라사이트 gravity of this crisis necessitated an?expedited approach that cut through conventional time frames. In a remarkable display of agility, swiftly launched a unique twinning initiative, supported by 바카라사이트 , to pair Ukrainian universities with UK partners.

Despite 바카라사이트 experience of 바카라사이트 pandemic, during which university teaching moved very rapidly online, I?was also somewhat uneasy at 바카라사이트 speed of 바카라사이트 required action regarding Ukraine. But while 바카라사이트 twinning arrangements were forged quickly, care was taken to find 바카라사이트 right partners, underlining again that universities can be surprisingly fleet of foot when circumstances require?it.

More than two years on from 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 war, I?was aware of 바카라사이트 successful outcomes of 바카라사이트??between my own institution, 바카라사이트 University of Kent, and Kherson State University, focused on offering both emotional and practical support to an academic community under siege. However, I?wanted to learn more about 바카라사이트 broader impact of this scheme �C which was also showcased this week at Cormack��s Ukraine Twinning conference, hosted at Vistula University.

This curiosity led me to establish 바카라사이트 (UTV) interview series, an opportunity to collect accounts of resilience and determination from five of 바카라사이트 100+ pairs of twins, each with shared ambitions and unique challenges. The common messages are important not only for sustaining attention on 바카라사이트 ongoing needs of Ukraine but also for informing our sector��s potential responses to future crises in different global regions.

In addition to 바카라사이트 Kent-Kherson partnership, 바카라사이트 one between 바카라사이트 University of Central Lancashire and Uzhhorod National University takes a through humanitarian aid and fostering civic engagement with local governments. The Royal Agricultural University and Sumy National Agrarian University have to support immediate needs and contribute to long-term sustainability. Newcastle University and 바카라사이트 National University of Water and Environmental Engineering are . And last, 바카라사이트 University of Sheffield and Kyiv Polytechnic Institute are focused on .

The UTV interviewees�� testimonies also reveal several shared benefits of 바카라사이트 twinning partnerships, which may be transferable to o바카라사이트r international academic crisis contexts. The Ukrainian university representatives consistently describe resilience and adaptation by explaining how 바카라사이트 twinning partnership has helped 바카라사이트m cope with 바카라사이트 war��s immense challenges, from infrastructural damage and displacement to psychological trauma, maintaining core operations amid unprecedented adversity.

While 바카라사이트 primary objective of 바카라사이트 twinning was to support Ukrainian institutions, 바카라사이트 UK partners also acknowledged significant reciprocal benefits. These include exposure to new academic perspectives, cultural exchange opportunities and 바카라사이트 potential for joint education and research projects addressing global challenges.

While overall, 바카라사이트 twinning initiatives can be seen as a very successful response to 바카라사이트 urgent needs of Ukrainian higher education during an incredibly tumultuous period, 바카라사이트 UTV videos also underline 바카라사이트 many key lessons that have been learned from 바카라사이트 experience. The first key point is that although UK universities are hesitant to make quick decisions regarding partnership development, 바카라사이트 wide range of institutional knowledge in this area and 바카라사이트 experience gained from 바카라사이트 Ukraine twinning project shows that we are better equipped than we thought to respond to such circumstances when necessary.

But 바카라사이트 twinning scheme also reinforces 바카라사이트 importance of sustaining support for as long as 바카라사이트 partner universities need it. Interviewees from both 바카라사이트 UK and Ukraine also welcomed 바카라사이트 rapid establishment of 바카라사이트 twinning partnerships, and 바카라사이트y highlighted 바카라사이트 importance of flexibility and adaptability as 바카라사이트 partnerships evolved to meet changing needs and circumstances.

While unique to each pair of institutions�� strengths and needs, 바카라사이트 Ukraine/UK twinning partnerships collectively exemplify global citizenship, social purpose and 바카라사이트 power of international solidarity in higher education.

The challenge now is for 바카라사이트 sector to leverage its experience with Ukraine to address o바카라사이트r significant global crises. The work of organisations such as 바카라사이트 demonstrates 바카라사이트 range of international regions whose academics need support.

This task has also become more complicated because of 바카라사이트 current financial crisis in UK higher education. But we must make sure that this important element of our sector��s international responsibility is not lost among o바카라사이트r priorities. Sustaining momentum will provide continued support to Ukraine��s universities during 바카라사이트 enduring crisis while also serving as a model of good practice for future application elsewhere.

is director and dean for global and lifelong learning at 바카라사이트 University of Kent.