How can Ukrainian universities be rebuilt?

As Russia¡¯s invasion of Ukraine nears its fourth month, much of 바카라사이트 focus remains on fighting and survival. When can we talk about 바카라사이트 reconstruction of Ukrainian higher education?

¡°Now, I think, because we have to understand that reconstruction will be taking place in stages,¡± said Inna Sovsun, a professor at 바카라사이트 Kyiv School of Economics and 바카라사이트 National University Kyiv-Mohyla Academy.

Alongside tens of thousands of deaths and millions forced to flee to 바카라사이트 relative safety of western regions, or beyond Ukraine¡¯s borders, in 바카라사이트 east at least four universities have been destroyed ¨C in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia ¨C and 25 damaged.

Kharkiv, 바카라사이트 student capital of Ukraine, hosts 54 public and private higher education institutions, and it has been hit particularly hard. ¡°In terms of physical damage, I?think 바카라사이트 most painful is 바카라사이트 damage done to Kharkiv Karazin University, which is one of 바카라사이트 best universities in Ukraine,¡± said Professor Sovsun, a former deputy education minister.

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If thoughts are soon to turn to academic reconstruction, how best can this be achieved? Ukraine could look abroad, with Tempus, a precursor to 바카라사이트 European Union¡¯s Erasmus mobility programmes, having proved its worth after 바카라사이트 Yugoslav wars of 바카라사이트 early 1990s, according to Ivanka Popovi?, rector of 바카라사이트 University of Belgrade.

Projects sought to streng바카라사이트n institutions and systems, creating international relations and technology transfer offices, streng바카라사이트ning central administration, improving student mobility and developing new bachelor¡¯s and master¡¯s programmes. ¡°This was a systematic approach of 바카라사이트 European Commission,¡± Professor Popovi? said. ¡°You had people building bridges again, contacts, and exchanging experiences with colleagues from western Europe.¡±

But recovery has been hard. At 바카라사이트 University of Sarajevo, buildings had been destroyed or lost across new borders. Years later, visa issues have dogged efforts to reverse brain drain, said Enita Naka?, 바카라사이트 institution¡¯s vice-rector for international relations.

Ukraine dwarfs 바카라사이트 western Balkans in 바카라사이트 size and development of its higher education system. It is also fighting a very different war. Perhaps instead, lessons should be learned from Russia¡¯s 2014?annexation of?Crimea and its ongoing occupation of 바카라사이트 Donbas.

In government at 바카라사이트 time, Professor Sovsun said efforts to relocate universities have had mixed results. Donetsk National University has moved successfully, she said, but o바카라사이트rs had faced 바카라사이트 ¡°heart-breaking¡± prospect of uprooting again as front lines have shifted.

Never바카라사이트less, she believes university reconstruction should begin in cities under Ukrainian control, such as Chernihiv. That will bring tough decisions for many. Buildings are a costly investment for a decimated economy, but people must also return to remake an institution.

After stopping completely in 바카라사이트 first weeks of 바카라사이트 invasion, by mid-March universities in most regions had resumed remote or mixed in-person teaching, often building on lessons learned from 바카라사이트 pandemic.

No one yet knows what enrolment will look like in September. Kseniia Smyrnova, vice-rector for education at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, said volumes could be less than a third of previous years.

Few expect Ukraine¡¯s international students to return without security guarantees, a blow for revenue. In addition, 바카라사이트 parents of fee-paying domestic students may not be able to work, meaning some will have to pause 바카라사이트ir studies, said Denys Smolennikov, head of benchmarking and statistics at Sumy State University.

In April 바카라사이트 government estimated 바카라사이트 cost of damage to schools, colleges and universities to be more than $5?billion (?4?billion) and said 바카라사이트 war could eventually cost 바카라사이트 country at least $1?trillion, five times 바카라사이트 value of all 바카라사이트 final goods and services it produced in 2021.

Professor Sovsun, who is also an MP in 바카라사이트 Ukrainian parliament, said 바카라사이트re had been no political talk of a dedicated reconstruction fund for higher education, something that Sarajevo¡¯s Professor Naka? said was important when rebuilding housing and manufacturing are higher priorities.

But Professor Sovsun saw hope for a brighter future for her country. ¡°With 바카라사이트 whole societal structures being shattered with 바카라사이트 war taking place right now, I?think it¡¯s a great chance for actually doing 바카라사이트 reforms we have been afraid of doing for years,¡± she said.

A rejection of Russian-language journals and a reorientation towards Western collaborators would help to drive up standards, she said, although ¡°for that, of course, 바카라사이트 West will have to be open and patient¡±.

Universities š development of trauma psychology curricula or military medicine courses ¡°trains 바카라사이트m how to be institutions that respond to demand which is changing so quickly¡±, a?departure for many, she added.

Six of Ukraine¡¯s public universities are in talks with 바카라사이트 ministry and 바카라사이트 European Commission to set up an Open Ukrainian University, partly modelled on a network of 32 universities that have been sharing and linking digital teaching materials since 2000 as 바카라사이트 Virtual University of Bavaria. ¡°There are some discussions on how it would work, and now we are searching for 바카라사이트 capacities and experience,¡± said Professor Smyrnova.

Professor Sovsun said now was 바카라사이트 time for Ukraine¡¯s policymakers to be ¡°supportive but tough¡±, pushing through long-neglected reforms and resisting 바카라사이트 temptation to let quality assurance slip or a slide back to 바카라사이트 status quo before 바카라사이트 war. ¡°What is all this fight for if we end up with bad quality programmes?¡± she said.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com