The Guild: University of Tübingen sets up emergency research fund for Ukraine

As the war has forced many Ukrainians to flee their homes, Guild universities are providing concrete support to enable Ukrainian researchers, academics, university staff and students to continue their lives, work, and careers to the best of their ability under traumatic circumstances.

The University of Tübingen has set up an emergency fund with research fellowships to support Ukrainian researchers at risk. The University of Oslo has also earmarked NOK 10 million for emergency preparedness to support Ukrainians. The University of Tartu has established a scholarship fund to channel donations to Ukrainian students and will create up to 250 additional tuition-waiver student places for Ukrainian students for the 2022/2023 academic year. Guild members across the network are focusing on how best to integrate refugee students, with the University of Bern, for instance, preparing a simplified admission process for students from Ukraine.

Offering also financial support, the University of Ljubljana, Babeș-Bolyai University and the University of Göttingen are raising funds for Ukrainian academics, researchers, administrative staff and students. The University of Groningen has also set up an emergency fund for living expenses for students who are affected financially by the war.

Babeș-Bolyai University is arranging transport for students from the border, developing mechanisms to welcome students and faculty staff in the university. Similarly, Jagiellonian University is providing accommodation for 300 refugees, while supporting those that wish to stay in finding employment within and beyond the university. The university hospital has also opened a dedicated internal and surgical office for Ukrainian citizens. Radboud university medical center is donating 50 hospital beds that will be transported to Ukraine.

For all universities, a key priority has been to ensure the safety and wellbeing of their students and staff. Universities are providing extra psychological mentoring support for those affected by the war. The University of Warwick and Glasgow University are working closely with Cara to support vulnerable academics into fellowships. Through the Access2University programme, UCLouvain will provide access to courses, seminars, social, cultural and sports activities on campus for students and researchers fleeing the war.

Many of the universities, including the University of Vienna, King’s College London and the University of Bologna, have provided analysis and information to inform the discussion around the war and its implications across the world, to ensure the public and opinion-formers as well as politicians can rely on accurate information and analysis.

This article was first published on 4 March by The Guild.