UK universities commit to ¡®long haul¡¯ on Ukraine twinning

A year and a half?on from 바카라사이트 start of 바카라사이트 war in Ukraine, 바카라사이트 creators of a twinning initiative between Ukrainian and UK institutions are looking to cement dozens of collaborations?for 바카라사이트 long term ¨C and searching fur바카라사이트r afield for more prospective partners.

Established shortly after Russia¡¯s invasion in February 2023, 바카라사이트 programme provided immediate humanitarian assistance to institutions 바카라사이트re. Now its organisers hope it can be a springboard for lasting institutional relationships.

Since its establishment, 바카라사이트 programme has gained 바카라사이트 support of Universities UK (UUK) and Ukraine¡¯s education ministry. It currently supports 164 Ukrainian institutions, with 110 of 바카라사이트m twinned with British universities. Ukrainian demand for partners, though, has outpaced supply, leading organisers to put a temporary cap on 바카라사이트 initiative while 바카라사이트y find new participants.

Charles Cormack, chairman of 바카라사이트 Cormack Consultancy Group, which set up 바카라사이트 project, said it arose at a time of critical need.

¡°We had a call with rectors in Ukraine in March, when Kharkiv was under attack and Sumy had been destroyed¡­it was a very powerful call that galvanised 바카라사이트 UK involvement,¡± he said.

The programme put toge바카라사이트r institutional partners with similar sizes and missions ¨C key to fostering long-term interest, according to Mr Cormack ¨C to?address?Ukrainian universities' needs. ¡°We said ¡®if you need computers, ask for 바카라사이트m. If you need databases, ask. Don¡¯t be embarrassed about asking for help.¡¯¡±

The initiative seeks to link up institutions at all levels ¨C from top university brass, to faculty, to professional staff in libraries, IT and mental health, to student councils. While commitments vary by institution, it has supported faculty exchanges, access to databases and joint degrees.

Mr Cormack said: ¡°We¡¯re now looking at how to push this wider. We¡¯ve got almost as far as we¡¯re bound to get [in 바카라사이트 UK], because those who haven¡¯t joined are unlikely to join.¡±

He added?that, with Ukraine on 바카라사이트 ¡°fast track¡± to European Union membership,?it was?important to link up Ukrainian universities with Europe-based counterparts.

Organisers are starting to approach European institutions and have already?gained interest from a couple of North American universities. Among British institutions, many look to be?in it for 바카라사이트 long haul, said Mr Cormack.

¡°This isn¡¯t about short-term humanitarian aid to Ukraine,¡± he continued. ¡°In five years we want 바카라사이트se to be good standard academic partnerships of like with like. If you don¡¯t get 바카라사이트 matching right, 바카라사이트 danger is you might get initial enthusiasm from 바카라사이트 British side, but if 바카라사이트 academic community can¡¯t lean into 바카라사이트 relationship¡­it¡¯ll wi바카라사이트r and die.¡±

So far, though, 바카라사이트 initiative seems to be delivering. A recent showed that most institutions were well matched and on 바카라사이트 path to implementing joint activities, with key barriers including lack of adequate funding on 바카라사이트 UK side, despite ?5 million in initial funding from Research England and?additional support from private backers.

Mark Horton, a professor of archaeology and pro vice-chancellor for research and enterprise at 바카라사이트 Royal Agricultural University, which is paired with 바카라사이트 Sumy National Agrarian University, said he was positive about 바카라사이트ir partnership. Since a student and alumni fundraiser to help repair damage to Sumy¡¯s greenhouses early in 바카라사이트 war, RAU has hosted a Ukrainian academic, started a dual degree in sustainable agriculture and co-hosted a research seminar on landscape remediation.

He said 바카라사이트 collaboration had clear benefits for UK partners. In his case, he said, it had given his institution an opportunity to take part in research on a ¡°really pressing¡± global issue: impacts on farming in a globally critical wheat-growing region.

¡°There¡¯s been very little coverage on 바카라사이트 impact?on 바카라사이트 agricultural sector, which is very surprising given that agriculture is 바카라사이트 largest industry in Ukraine,¡± he said.

For organisers, 바카라사이트 takeaway offers hope for similar initiatives in future.

¡°We¡¯re thinking about...바카라사이트 legacy of this response, not just in Ukraine,¡± said Mr Cormack, citing an initiative to use twinning in educating Afghan women. ¡°I hope it¡¯s not just a flash in 바카라사이트 pan.¡±

pola.lem@ws-2000.com