Marking the start of russia’s invasion of Ukraine a year ago, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has called for an action plan until 2030 aimed at reconstructing the country’s higher education system, and forging lasting links between Ukrainian higher education and research institutions and European and German partners.
DAAD President Joybrato Mukherjee highlighted the situation of Ukrainian universities and appealed for further support for refugee Ukrainian students and researchers in Germany.
“The DAAD, its member institutions and student bodies have stood firmly by the people in Ukraine since the war began. German universities and their student bodies have in this past year demonstrated considerable commitment to welcoming and supporting refugee students and researchers, and through joint projects with Ukrainian partner universities.”
Financial support via Germany’s Foreign Office and education and development ministries enabled the DAAD to provide around €21 million (US$22 million) for maintaining higher education in Ukraine and assisting refugee Ukrainian students, academics and researchers in Germany.
Furthermore, it funded around 170 projects involving German and Ukrainian universities addressing issues such as digitisation of education and administration.
The DAAD has emphasised the need to swiftly rebuild the higher education sector once the war ends. It has also demanded that Ukraine be more closely involved in the European Research Area and the European Higher Education Area. It stressed that projects implemented by German universities require reliable and long-term federal government funding.
“We in Germany need to have an action plan until 2030 that ensures the rapid and successful rapprochement of Ukraine with the EU and a comprehensive reconstruction of the Ukrainian higher education system,” Mukherjee said. “After all, a close and lasting link between Ukrainian higher education institutions and research institutions with European and German partners also increases our security within Europe.”
“Education, research and science, academic freedom and free international exchange are the hallmarks of the European Higher Education Area,” Mukherjee noted. “The way to Europe naturally goes via education, research and science – also for Ukraine.”
Source: https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20230224070618675