July 01, 2022
Ukraine University Twinning Scheme: UK Government Gives Thumbs Up to Support Scheme
T To assist students and academics impacted by the war in Ukraine, the British government announced it would donate £190,000 to a programme that pairs UK universities with Ukrainian ones. The two nations, UK and Ukraine signed the agreement recently.
A mutual recognition of credits, offers to help rebuild campuses damaged by the war, and the sharing of academic resources are just a few of the agreements made between institutions based in the two nations so that Ukrainian students can continue their education online.
Apart from supporting education, Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister of UK urged Russian scientists and researchers to apply to immigrate to the UK if they "no longer feel safe in Russia" and are "looking upon Putin's violence in dismay."
…while short-term assistance is crucial, both sides are seeking to build lasting ties of cooperation and cultural exchange that will outlast the war and contribute to the rebuilding of the Ukrainian education system when the war is over…
In the first round of agreements held in April, 71 UK institutes agreed to partner with Ukrainian counterparts to allow Ukrainian students education. With the latest agreement, eight of the 61 additional UK universities seeking partnerships with Ukrainian universities are "nearing formal agreement," according to Universities UK, which coordinates the programme with Cormack Consultancy Group. Other top British Universities too have joined the program, with the like of the Cambridge University agreeing to support at least 30 students and academics displaced by the war.
Commenting on the government’s announcement to support Ukraine University’s Twinning Project, Vivienne Stern, director of Universities UK International said the organisation was “delighted that the government is putting its weight behind this extraordinary scheme”.
The announcement drew further comments from stakeholders in the UK, Janet Beer, vice-chancellor of the University of Liverpool was one such respondent. Speaking to the media, she commented, “While short-term assistance is crucial, both sides are seeking to build lasting ties of cooperation and cultural exchange that will outlast the war and contribute to the rebuilding of the Ukrainian education system when the war is over.”
British Academy, (A partner on the project) chief executive Hetan Shah further added that demand has "been high" and there is "a real need to support researchers from Ukraine to find safety for themselves and their families and continue their work."
The recent funding is a part of a bigger package given by the British government in aid for the science, technology, and research sectors in Ukraine. This assistance included the allocation of an additional £9.8 million to the "Researchers at Risk" programme, which was established in March to assist Ukrainian academics in continuing their work in the UK.
Sources also say that over 130 academics from Ukraine will be assisted by the programme in moving to the UK, receiving a salary, and living expenses for up to two years.
Posted in News and tagged News, UK, Ukraine, British Government, UK Universities, Ukrainian Universities, Ukraine University’s Twinning Project
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