Following the attempted invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and the continuing war the Ukrainian HE sector is under significant pressure. Universities in the towns and cities that have been attacked have suffered significant damage, and both students and staff are displaced. Many of the Ukrainian male students and academics have stayed in Ukraine to fight, and many of the female and international students and female academics have either moved to the west of Ukraine or have left the country altogether.
Many universities have been significantly impacted and with staff and students spread across Europe there will be no quick solution to the problem, even if the war were to end tomorrow.
The Royal Agricultural University (RAU) is entering into a pioneering twinning initiative with Sumy National Agrarian University (SNAU) in Ukraine, as part of a programme led by Cormack consultancy.
SNAU is located in Sumy, in North-East Ukraine, just 60km from the border with Russia. It is a small institution with around 6,8000 students before the war. It is comprised of six colleges and eight faculties including: BioTechnology, Veterinary Medicine, Environmental Management and Food Science.
Sumy, and the surrounding area, was attacked by Russian forces in February; 3 of the SNAU colleges, dormitories and their greenhouse and other technical facilities and equipment were damaged during the attack.
The SNAU community are very keen to resume their studies, with a view to rebuilding their country after the conflict.
The RAU is proud to be entering into what we hope will be a long-lasting partnership and collaboration with SNAU.
This will include support for academics and students such as: access to databases, and libraries; collaborative online international learning (COIL); cultural, informational and scientific events among students from both organisations; a partnership for research collaboration; and potential scholarships for academics and students to travel to the UK to continue their studies.
It may also include short-term on the ground humanitarian support for day-to-day running of SNAU, including replacing damaged scientific equipment and repairing damage, and basic supplies including beds, office furniture, medical supplies and other items for displaced (and in some cases orphaned or widowed) students and staff.
Longer term, our twinned institutions will work together to promote agricultural education in Ukraine and on an ongoing international collaboration of teaching, scholarship and research around agriculture, land management and rural business.
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