Report: Conference "Education in times of war" in Berlin

Since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, the DAAD and German universities have achieved a great deal together: new funding programmes have been launched, contact and advisory opportunities have been created and existing funding programmes for the participation of Ukrainian universities, students and academics have been expanded.

The aim is to integrate Ukrainian refugees at German universities and provide the best possible support for universities in Ukraine. The war continues and the destruction has reached terrible proportions in many places. Many teachers and students have fallen victim to the war or have fled and are researching and studying at European, and in many cases German, universities. Others are teaching and studying under difficult conditions at their home universities.

The event highlighted the cooperation approaches that were and are helpful in this acute emergency situation. Participating university representatives from Ukraine and Germany reported on their collaborations and projects. A panel discussion with DAAD President Prof. Dr Joybrato Mukherjee and representatives from politics and higher education examined which measures can be used to rebuild and renew Ukrainian science and research institutions and which additional initiatives are necessary. Finally, the Secretary General of the DAAD, Dr Kai Sicks, presented the DAAD’s plans for further support for Ukraine. Their realisation requires sustained support from politics and science. Two initiatives have already been announced: funding for a centre for interdisciplinary Ukrainian studies and short-term scholarships for Ukrainian researchers.

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