Ukraine:

Education Under Fire

As Ukraine is ravaged by war and millions are fleeing, the education and academic system is literally crumbling into ruin. Countless refugees seek to pursue their academic and professional aspirations abroad, and countries and organizations around the world are stepping up to prove their friendship, with the UK prime among them. The island nation is providing Ukrainian refugees not only with asylum, but with generous financial support and access to the country's renowned universities and schools.

A War on the mind

On October 11^th, 2022, rockets hit at the literal and symbolic heart of Ukraine. The attack lay waste to the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, an institution that over the years has shaped national statehood and culture.  Almost a year into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, tens of thousands of civilians and soldiers have died, millions have been displaced, cities and villages alike have been razed, and an entire nation's life has been disrupted.

With 70% of its population possessing secondary or higher education, pre-war Ukraine enjoyed one of the highest rates of education and literacy in the world. This should not come as a surprise, as the Ukrainian government spent a significant portion of its GDP on education. Above all, a foresighted focus on science and technology has produced some of the world's best engineers, computer scientists, and mathematicians. But all of this is being undone by the Russian invasion, which has and will have an enormous impact on an entire generation of students.

Seeking refuge across Europe

By now, millions of Ukrainians have fled the country. According to the United Nations, more than six million Ukrainians are recorded as refugees across Europe. Many of these are academics, some of which (but alas too few) have found their feet overseas. The support of organizations and institutions such as the Council for At-Risk Academics has brought some researchers to safety in the UK, granting a bittersweet ending to their search for a safe haven.

The UK has welcomed more than 200,000 Ukrainian refugees to come to the UK. Half of these are hosted by local families as part of then Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine Scheme. Local hosts are even given courses by the Open University to learn Ukrainian and learn about the culture of their refugee guests.

Young Ukrainians in pursuit of knowledge

Meanwhile, millions of Ukrainian refugees are facing new challenges as they seek to enroll in foreign academic institutions. To begin with, Ukrainian students have to find the motivation and optimism to work towards a now-precarious future. Then, they most likely need to adjust their style of learning. Unlikely to find courses in Ukrainian abroad, they also have to learn the languages of their host countries. All of this will require time, and risks setting them far behind in their academic programmes.

To add to these stresses, many of these Ukrainians face financial complications. Young refugees from the Eastern European country have fled their homes without their personal belongings, and some without their families. Having found safety and opportunity, they now lack the funds, supplies and provisions needed for their studies. In addition, some of these families can't afford to send their children to these foreign schools and universities since many are simply too expensiv

A lesson in compassion: the UK and Europe are stepping up

Fortunately, many governments, institutions, and universities all around the world have been offering generous academic financial support for Ukrainian refugees. In the UK, this support has been wide and heartwarming. Wales has explicitly and officially stated its support for higher education students seeking sanctuary from the war in Ukraine. Similarly, the Scottish government has announced that it will fund studies for Ukrainians entering the UK. 

In England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, people granted leave under the Ukraine schemes are eligible for home fee status and student support if they are studying an approved course at an approved higher education provider in the UK. Students from Ukraine can be entitled to an impressive range of support including tuition fee loans, maintenance loans, grants, and bursaries to make sure they can pursue their educational and professional goals. In fact, the Student Action for Refugees (STAR) group lists over 70 universities in the UK that offer scholarships for students who are seeking asylum or from a refugee background. The British Red Cross has stepped up as well, proving its unconditional support for the world's oppressed. The humanitarian organization allows Ukrainian nationals to study in the UK using public funds as part of its Ukraine Extension Scheme. 

This support by the Brits of their fellow Europeans on the other side of the continent extends to the education of the youngest among Ukrainian refugees. As of now, thousands of Ukrainian refugees have been offered school places around the country. Almost 10,000 children from Ukraine residing in the UK since the war have thus been given a chance at normalcy at a crucial stage in their development. 

We can only hope that the war will soon come to end, as this brave and knowledge-hungry nation fights for its future both at home and abroad. The present may not be too bright for the Ukrainian people, but with uncompromising education maintained at all ages and at all costs, Ukraine's future will be in good hands.