Welsh universities support Ukraine through twinning
SIX of Wales’ universities have confirmed their participation in a UK-wide twinning scheme with Ukrainian universities whose operations have been disrupted by the Russian invasion.
They are among 71 partnerships put in place across the UK.
The Welsh universities participating in the scheme to date are Wrexham Glyndŵr, Cardiff Metropolitan, Bangor University, Aberystwyth, Swansea and Cardiff universies.
The twinning scheme will provide Ukrainian universities, students and staff with 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;
sharing 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 posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) due to conflict; and
allowing Ukrainian students to catch up on the learning they have missed at summer schools hosted in UK institutions.
In Wales, Global Wales, a partnership between Universities Wales, British Council Wales, the Higher Education Funding Council for Wales and the Welsh Government, has pledged up to £15,000 per university for the partnerships.
Professor Maria Hinfelaar, vicechair of Universities Wales, said: “UK universities unequivocally condemn Russia’s unprovoked and illegal occupation of Ukrainian territory.
“I am proud to see universities in Wales participating in this incredibly important scheme which will provide vital resources and support to Ukrainian institutions, staff and students, enabling them to continue their work under the most challenging of circumstances.
“Wales’ universities stand united with Ukraine and we hope that this scheme is the first step in a long relationship between our two countries.”
Professor Cara Aitchison, vicechancellor of Cardiff Metropolitan University and chair of the Universities Wales Ukraine HE Sector Group in Wales said: “The signing of our twinning agreement with HS Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University (Skovoroda University) is an important outward demonstration of our support and we look forward to playing our part in the peace-building in Ukraine.
“The agreement will enable Ukranian academic and students to continue their education, despite the horrific circumstances.
“As Wales’ first University of Sanctuary, Cardiff Met is committed to playing our part in not only helping the post-war recovery of education in Ukraine, but also working closely with the Council for At-Risk Academics to offer appropriate sanctuary and support for Ukrainian academics and students at this extremely testing time.”
The Ukraine Universities Twinning Scheme is a UK-wide initiative launched by Cormack Consultancy Group and Universities UK International.
Universities involved said they hoped that the scheme will provide short-term support to Ukrainian institutions but also be the start of long-term collaborative partnerships.
The scheme aims to help prevent “brain drain” and ensure Ukraine’s universities emerge stronger from the war and help post-war reconstruction, universities taking part in the scheme said.