
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has triggered international condemnation and what risks to be the worst humanitarian crisis on the European continent in 20 years. The European Students’ Union, together with the Global Student Forum and the Ukrainian Association of Students issued a joint statement condemning the invasion, and many ESU member unions published their statements against the war. The response of the European civil society has been a big mobilisation across the frontiers to provide help and support to people fleeing Ukraine and to those remaining in the country.
This tab serves as a collection of various initiatives and methods of assistance developed for the purpose of assisting Ukrainian students throughout Europe in order to ensure their safety. It can be used by both students studying in Ukraine and those interested in providing assistance from anywhere in the world.
If you have any initiatives that you would like to propose or that you have recently discovered, please contact us at ukraine@esu-online.org.
Our goal is to compile a comprehensive list of potential sources of assistance for our fellows
FYI: Because we’ve been gathering initiatives from all over Europe since the war began, some of the links below may be out of date.
HELP FOR UKRAINE
Austria
- In light of the Russian Invasion of Ukraine and the threat the war poses on civilians, including academics, the Field of Excellence “Dimensions of Europeanization”, the Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Graz are supporting three fellows from the Ukraine to spend one semester (4 months) in Graz to conduct and present research and collaborate with other researchers. For further questions, please contact europeanization@uni-graz.at
- The Austrian Student Union has gathered on a website all the essential information for Ukrainian students in Austria, in English, German, Ukrainian and Russian.
- Opportunities for students, perspective students, researchers at University of Vienna. Psychosocial support also in Ukrainian. Website in German.
Belgium
- Information on staying in Belgium by UNHCR, in English, French, Dutch and Ukrainian.
- Information for Belgians staying in Ukraine or Russia, and for Ukrainian and displaced persons in Belgium.
Bulgaria
- Bulgarian citizens who are on the territory of Ukraine and want to be evacuated can also contact the Situation Center Directorate of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria via e-mail crisis@mfa.bg
- Ukrainian citizens who are seeking shelter in Bulgaria can sign up in our Embassy in Kiev and consulate in Odessa Bulgarian Embassy in Kiev
Bulgarian Embassy in Kiev
+380 44 235 4389; +380 44 235 2202 – embassy.kiev@mfa.bg
Consulate General in Odessa
+380 48 7466 554; +380 48 746 65 58; +380 48 746 63 75 – consulate.odessa@mfa.bg
- Ukrainian students studying in Bulgaria under the intergovernmental agreement are advised to travel to Bulgaria immediately.
Contact centers Ministry of Education and Science – press_mon@mon.bg as well as universities.
- Government issued official portal for Ukrainians seeking shelter in Bulgaria
- BG4UA page is run by a group of Bulgaria-based entrepreneurs, tech community members, and friends of Ukraine. They are part of the Bulgarian evacuation, relocation, and accommodation efforts for Ukrainians who wish to leave Ukraine for Bulgaria, or who have found themselves in Bulgaria and would like to stay.
- Ukrainian students studying in Bulgaria under the intergovernmental agreement are advised to travel to Bulgaria immediately. Contact centers Ministry of Education and Science – press_mon@mon.bg as well as universities.
- National portal for the people affected by the war in Ukraine
- Information about what is needed to travel from Ukraine to Bulgaria
Czech Republic
- Scholarship for students in risk at Charles University
- Admissions and assistance for (prospective) students from Ukraine at University of West Bohemia
- Masaryk University providing accomodation for Ukrainian citizens at B&B HOTEL UNIVERSITY BRNO and dormitories, financial assistance for Ukraine
- Admittance and assistance to refugee students at University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice
- Centralised web made by nonprofit organizations to gather all help for Ukraine from the Czech Republic
- Database with all the initiatives Czech Universities are doing for Ukrainian students
- General webpage of nonprofit organization uniting all requests and possibilities in the Czech Republic (from the material help to courses of Czech language)
- List of doctors in the Czech Republic who accept Ukrainian citizens
- For students who want to study in the Czech Republic, this page explains how to apply to university
Egypt
- Egypt set up an e-platform for returning Egyptian students from Ukraine to register their academic and educational data to examine the available alternatives through their possible inclusion in Egyptian universities.
- Equivalence of Ukrainian degrees with Egyptian ones (in Arabic)
Estonia
- Ukrainians with expiring Estonian residency permits may stay for time being
- The University of Tartu has established a scholarship fund to collect and channel donations to support the studies of Ukrainian students at the University of Tartu.
- Some Estonian universities have indicated that they are willing to take in Ukrainian students and if necessery house them (and if that is not workable then together with other refugees).
https://www.tlu.ee/en/news/rector-tonu-viik-tallinn-university-stands-ukraine
- EÜL is willing to coordinate the arrival and allocation of Ukrainian students and we are in contact with relevant government offices and NGO-s. Arriving student-refugees will receive a free ISIC card.
Europe
- List of multiple funds/aids, events, organisations etc.
- The European Youth Forum has assembled a list of safety/security tips, including border crossings
- The European Youth Forum has assembled useful links for the population still in Ukraine, which also includes transport links, at the border and outside Ukraine
- List of help for BIPoC , LGBTQIA , Disabled/Chronically ill refugees in different countries
- Help for Black People / BIPoC in the Ukraine
- Matching Ukrainian refugees with hosts
- A map listing several hosting initiatives for people fleeing Ukraine, and beyond
- The European University Foundation and the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki have created a browser to find emergency shelters, access to health and psychological support, fast track application procedure for studies and special scholarships for studies in several Higher Education Institutions across Europe. It is constantly updated, and , you can browse through institution, city or country
- Platform where to find voluntary host places for Ukrainians in Europe
- The European Youth Forum has assembled a guide for Help for refugees from Ukraine, in Russian, English and Ukrainian
- Tips to be safe on the way towards the border and avoid human trafficking
- A comprehensive guide to travel towards the EU, made by the European Commission (in English, Ukrainian and Russian)
- The European Qualifications Passport for Refugees (EQPR) “is a standardized document that explains the qualifications a refugee is likely to have based on the available evidence. Although this document does not constitute a formal recognition act, it summarizes and presents available information on the applicant’s educational level, work experience and language proficiency”. The EQPR is meant to be a first step in the direction of the recognition of qualifications; it has been used by individuals seeking to continue their higher education in their host country. It is also directly addressed to individuals who can apply online by themselves. More information is available here!
- The ENIC-NARIC’s website contains comprehensive information on the national information centres that populate the ENIC-NARIC Networks. National information centres will be able to provide information to individuals about
1) the education system of their jurisdiction
2) assessment and recognition procedures.
It could be a very starting point to help displaced students navigate both these things in their host country. We currently have a landing web page featuring all members of the ENIC-NARIC Networks. More information here! - The Council of Europe has compiled a list of dedicated actions from its Member States in support of Ukrainian students.
- Comprehensive website with info for people in Ukraine, refugees, educational opportunities etc. also divided by country
- UNESCO compiled a website with the educational response to the Ukrainian crisis in several European countries, including Higher Education.
- A comprehensive publication on support systems for scholars at risk from the University of New Europe with a focus on Ukraine.
Finland
- Mentalhealth support on chat in English
- Instructions on arriving in Finland from Ukraine
- In response to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Ukraine, the University of Eastern Finland will make it possible for Ukrainian degree students to apply for admission to the University of Eastern Finland under a separate right to study, and to apply for a grant
- Finnair supports Ukrainians with a 95% discount on net fares for one-way tickets from Warsaw, Krakow, Gdansk, Budapest and Prague to Helsinki. The discount is available with code Ukraine95 at Finnair.com through March. Taxes and fees will be added to ticket prices.
- All Ukrainians can travel free of charge upon presentation of a Ukrainian passport on board of VR Group’s trains in Finland
France
- The association af Ukrainian Students in France organizes the reception and accomodation of Ukrainian students who arrive in France
- Programme for hosting researchers from risk areas. Held by the ministry of HE & Collège de France
- The Presidential Council for Africa and the Cooperation of African Associations for Education have created a personal, educational and academic e-platform for registering Africans who have been studying in Ukraine and whose studies have been disrupted. The platform aims to enable them to follow the same course they were enrolled in in Ukraine at French universities participating in the initiative. Questionnaire in French
- On 22 March, the Ministry of Higher Education issued a circular outlining all the actions that universities and student welfare services should take. Here is the summary:
– Temporary protection
– Registration in a higher education institution
– Accommodation
– Social protection
– Psychological support
– Financial assistance
Germany
- Shelter placement platform for Germany (Elianor Network)
- Translator against war – help with translations (German, English, Ukrainian, Russian)
- Help in Berlin
- Mission Lifeline – rescue ship which has so far mainly rescued refugees from the mediterranean sea is raising money to evacuate Ukraininias. Fundraisers are collecting donations. They are also collecting initiatives which help regarding Ukraine
- LeaveNoOneBehind are collecting donations. They are also collecting initiatives which help regarding Ukraine
- DGO – A scholarship programme for Belarusian students is already in place, and plans are in the works for additional scholarships for Ukrainian students as well.
- GFPS – They have a large padlet of information, both in German and in English. Scholarship programmes, shelters in Germany, and other assistance with translation are all examples of such initiatives.
- Libereco – fundraising to transport families, provide medical care for those in need, make temporary repairs to homes, and ensure the safety of the general public
- Information for Ukrainan students and PhD canddiates at the University of Potsdam, information on residence and visas as well as psychological counselling. Selected information also in Ukrainian.
- Contacts of embassies in neighbouring countries and contacts in Germany
- Free rides from Poland to Germany for Ukrainians
- The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has created a centralised website as a first orientation in Germany and especially in the German higher education and research system, including support measures and opportunities for students and researchers from Ukraine.
- Third-country students from Ukraine will be able to apply for a Fictional Certificate in the state of Berlin, which allows them to stay in Berlin for 6 months (to sort out their studies in Berlin). There are several student unions that counsel international students (TU Berlin; FU Berlin; HU Berlin), as well as a refugee law clinic that can help with legal matters for free.
Global
- Academic opportunities for refugees and people at risk
- The Ukrainian Global University is an initiative supported by the Ukrainian government to match Ukrainian students with supporting Universities around the world, to offer scholarships for those students that commit to come back to Ukraine after their studies to rebuild the country.
- The National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University (Taiwan) offers full tuition fee waiver and stipend to the Ukrainian students admitted to the NYCU.
- Help for displaced African students to be connected with universities, including full/partial tuition aid and extended international transfer application deadlines.
- The Educational Equality Institute provides free language courses for Ukrainian students in English, Lithuanian, French, German, Norwegian, Spanish, Portuguese, Danish, Swedish, and Polish, as well as a free online university for Ukrainians, where students can start new university studies or continue existing studies via TEEI and undertake exams at partner universities for full accreditation. Registration is open for students to enrol for next semester.
Hungary
- Information for students in upper education about studying in Hungary
- Ukrainian speaking call center to aid refugees hosted by Hungarian students (Call 1818 in Hungary)
- Ukrainian speaking medical call center to aid refugees hosted by Hungarian students. Ideal to get help in the adjustment of medicines in Hungary (Call 1812 in Hungary)
Ireland
- Removal of visa requirements for Ukrainian citizens seeking asylum in Ireland
- Ukrainian Students have until the 2nd of August to apply for third level education in Ireland as Temporary Protection status has been granted. Applications can be made here.
Israel
Call for applications: Tel Aviv University – Emergency Scholarship for Research Students from Ukraine
In the name of academic freedom and in solidarity with the Ukrainian people, Tel Aviv University (TAU) established an emergency fund to support research students from Ukraine. TAU is offering to host up to 20 research students from Ukrainian universities in all disciplines for a full semester at TAU. During their stay at TAU, scholarship recipients will have the opportunity to further their research through collaboration with TAU’s leading scholars and scientists.Program Outline
The program is intended for Postdoctoral students, PhD students, and research-track MAMSc students currently enrolled in a university in Ukraine in any discipline.
- Students must be Ukrainian citizens to apply.
- Students must be able to communicate effectively in English.
- Scholarship recipients will be invited to come to TAU soon after notification of acceptance and to remain for up to six months.
- The university will match each scholarship recipient with a TAU faculty member who will serve as the student’s mentor while at TAU.
- The scholarship will cover full tuition and a stipend. Please email the following material to Ms. Michal Linder at TAU International –
Intlprojects@tauex.tau.ac.il
Requirements:
- 1-page (up to 500 words) statement describing the research.
- Letter of recommendation from an advisor.
- Document showing active status at home university in Ukraine.
- Interested applicants can also contact Nurit Shnabel – shnabeln@tauex.tau.ac.il and he will connect you to relevant researchers at TAU.
Italy
- In collaboration with the Friuli Venezia Giulia Regional Authority, the Universities of Trieste, Udine and SISSA are preparing to welcome Ukrainian students and researchers and support them through scholarships. In particular, regional universities make available up to 18 semesters for doctoral students or master degrees for thesis preparation. Additional mobility grants for visiting faculty are available at SISSA.
Contacts:
diamond@sissa.itphd@sissa.it
mobility@sissa.it
research@sissa.it
lucia.piani@uniud.it
giorgio.alberti@uniud.it
delegato.internazionale@units.it
delegato.ricercassh@units.it
relazioni.internazionali@amm.units.it
- The University of Camerino is offering 15 scolarships reserved for students from Ukraine. Click here for further details!
- The University of Bologna has already made available more than 30 opportunities for PhD students, post-docs, researchers, and professors who are either refugees from Ukraine, refugees in Ukraine or holders of permanent residence permits in Ukraine. Learn more here!
- The University of Naples Federico II has decided to offer free distance learning courses in Italian language and culture. Since April 4th, it is possible to enrol in online Italian courses for levels A1 and A2. If you wish to register, fill this form!
Latvia
- The centralised site for refugees from Ukraine. Includes additional support contacts, useful links, etc. Everything from getting housing to legal assistance for working permits and visas.
- All information necessary, as well as contacts, are available on a centralised webpage: +37180000800 and t.me/ukrainelatvia
- Information about what is needed to travel from Ukraine to Latvia
- Assistance from an NGO to travel to Latvia, with a Facebook group.
Lithuania
- An NGO that has been active since 2014 supporting freedom fighters and civils in Ukraine. They are gathering money to send supplies.
- National Volunteer Support Coordination Center – accommodation in Lithuania for war refugees.
- Lithuanian Governmental information for Ukraine refugees: registration, accommodation, relevant contacts.
- Vytautas Magnus University in Kaunas, Lithuania is ready to accommodate 50 teachers and 500 students from Ukraine in its dormitories and guest houses. Contact: milda.alisauskiene@vdu.lt
Morocco
Norway
Poland
- Safe place for UAS representatives at the AGH University of Science and Technology in Cracow. There is place to live and work. Contact: Joanna Maruszczak, 0048 601784704 via Telegram/ Signal
- Free mental health and psychological support at the HEIs. Also PSRP project
- 24-hour hotline for Ukrainian citizens (with the Card of Pole).
Contact: 0048 22 523 88 80
- 24-hour hotline for Ukrainian citizens.
Contact: 0048 47 721 75 75
- Facebook group for announcing / receiving transports on UA / PL border.
- Medical students from Ukraine can continue their studies in Poland
- Free textbook for learning Polish
- Facebook group with Ukrainian citizens seeking legal aid and Polish lawyers willing to provide it pro bono
- Dedicated website for Ukrainian citizens
- Free travel for Ukrainian citizens. Class 2 cars with seats on TLK and IC trains. On the website are also informations in Ukrainian, Russian and English.
- Information for students and researchers coming from Ukraine (in Ukrainian and Polish).
- Polish Students’ Union PSRP has prepared a special site, where you can find all necessary information regarding government announcements for Ukrainian students; Polish, nation-wide help initiatives; helpful links, and many more
- Reception points. There, refugees from war-stricken Ukraine can get warm and satisfy their basic needs. Necessary hygiene products are waiting, and there are psychologists offering assistance.
They can also declare whether they want to stay in Poland. If they do, they will be informed about the places where they can be temporarily housed. There are QR codes with more info about reception points.
- CROSSING THE BORDER: Ukrainians are not required to have a covid test and are not quarantined. Procedures are reduced to a minimum.
- List of cost-free doctors (of various specialisations) for citizens from Ukraine. (Лікарі для України).
- Travel info for Ukrainians entering Poland
- Common space organized by the Maria Curie Skłodowska University in Lublin – Among other things, language, sports and artistic activities for the Ukrainian community. The list is published every week on Chatka Żaka’s FB profile
- Solutions in the field of higher education and science included in the Law on Assistance to Ukrainian Citizens – in Polish
- Searching for members of separated families in Ukraine: PCK Information and Tracing Office: 22 326 1 264 or 261
- A guide for people who come to Wrocław from Ukraine.
- List of initiatives to support refugees in Warsaw
- At the test point at the Warsaw Modlin Airport, the Damian Medical Center offers free antigen tests to refugees from Ukraine who are going to their families and friends.
- Do you need a ride or do you know people who need one? Create a request for free transport and provide the most important information.
- Free Polish language courses for Ukrainians. For further details, contact ukraina@takyes.edu.pl
- Free travel on Stena Line ferries for Ukrainians and organizations supporting Ukraine
- Are you looking for help from the war? Do you want to support the refugees? Here you can find or give help.
- THE POLISH MIGRATION FORUM FOUNDATION LAUNCHED AN INTERVENTION PHONE OFFERING PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT. For further information, please contact 0048 669 981 038
- Psychological support in Ukrainian
- On the initiative of the Freedom and Democracy Foundation, a 5-part textbook for learning Polish for children and youth in Ukraine was created
- Free materials for learning Polish as a foreign language
- Forms of assistance for Ukrainian students and graduates from the University of Warsaw
- Forms of assistance for Ukrainian students from the Jagiellonian University in Cracow
- Psychological support for Ukrainian students offered by the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań
- Over half a million group on Facebook for people looking for and offering help in connection with the war in Ukraine
- Educational materials for Ukrainians
- Free Polish Language Course organised by the University of Warsaw
Portugal
Romania
- General help-info webpage in Romania
- A Facebook group for the people that are looking for help
- The LOGS Association – Social Initiatives Group is in contact with the authorities and provides information to Ukrainians taking refuge in Romania. There is an emergency number that they can call to get details about the asylum or assistance procedure +40765861888
- Here is a list with other options in case someone is coming in Romania and needs help, there are also places ready to help pets.
- Ukrainian academics who are planning to travel through Bucharest and are in need of help/support there may be some resources available at University of Bucharest.
Contact: claudiu.tufis@unibuc.ro / Phone: 0728942341 - At the University of Bucharest, there are at least 40 rooms available for refugees and colleagues from Ukraine (students/professors) who need temporary or long-term accommodation in Bucharest, transport from the border to Bucharest, translating documents, who want to continue their studies in Bucharest.
Contact: mpe@unibuc.ro - Information about what is needed to travel from Ukraine to Romania.
- This platform aims to identify, monitor and present in a user-friendly format the existing initiatives that support those who flee Ukraine via Romania, irrespective of citizenship.
Special attention is granted to the needs of academic refugees (i.e. students, professors, administrative and technical staff of universities) and their families.
Contact: uni4Ukraine@fspub.unibuc.ro
For further details: https://dopomoha.ro/ro
Slovakia
- General help-info webpage in Slovakia: accommodation, transport, links to other web pages
- Temporary asylum can be filled out online in Ukrainian, Slovak and English
- Comenius university started initiatives with learning Ukrainian for free, blood donations and financial and humanitarian charities
- Accomodation for free at the dormitories in Bratislava
- Train transport for free for every Ukrainian citizen. They require showing a passport or some kind of ID
- A list of elementary schools in Slovakia, that offer learning in Ukrainian
- An asylum manily for people with Haemophilia and medical assistance Contact: hozlarovak@gmail.com, or martin.sedmina@yahoo.com
- Contacts for people with disabilities Health line in Ukrainian
- Health line for people with bad eyesight
- Health line for people with hearing problems
- Health line for people with heavy disabilities
- Health line for people with spinal bifida or hydrocefalus
- Health line for people with down syndrome
- Here is a website for people crossing border to Slovakia, especially info from lawyers for people that are not Ukrainian
Spain
- Scholarships for 100 Ukrainian students at higher education institutions located in Castilla y León
- The Spanish student union CREUP created a website where they update the resources that each university is giving to Ukrainian students that may be in Spain.
Sweden
- Free public transport in cities such as Stockholm if the passenger shows a Ukrainian passport
- Scholarships for Ukrainian scientists in Sweden (up to 20000 SEK per month)
- Scholarships for Ukrainian scientists so that they may continue their research in Sweden (30 mkr).
- The Swedish Government encourages Swedish higher education institutions and research funders to stop cooperating with state institutions in Russia and Belarus
- All local students (Ukrainian, Russian, Belarussian, etc) who are in need of support related to the conflict should contact their local HEI or Student Union and they will try to provide assistance. Assistance can be in the form of access to mental health-facilities, aid with housing, etc.
- SFS are proposing to our Student Parliament that we join Scholars at Risk.
Switzlerland
The Netherlands
- The national railway company NS let’s Ukrainian refugees travel for free.
- On Monday the 8th of March there will be a nationwide action day to call for help and to raise money for the war and the refugees of the war.
USA
DO YOU NEED OR OFFER HELP? CONTACT OUR HELPDESK!
FOR THE STUDENTS IN UKRAINE ENROLLED IN UNIVERSITIES ABROAD:
We are aware of the situation at the border and are working with the Ukrainian Association of Students and our unions in the rest of Europe to raise the issue at the international level and find a solution as soon as possible.
Is there anything we can do to assist you? Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you. Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns, and please be as detailed as possible. We recently opened a special helpdesk connecting students studying in Ukraine with the European Students’ Union and its member organisations from 40 countries across the continent, so please keep us updated and do not hesitate to contact us.
ARE YOU A STUDENT IN UKRAINE OR DO YOU WISH TO HELP STUDENTS IN THIS COUNTRY?
Are you a student in Ukraine?
- The European Union has created a hotline (in the 24 EU languages, Ukrainian and Russian) on the aid to Ukraine (more info here). The EU has also compiled a comprehensive information page for people fleeing the war in Ukraine, in the 24 EU languages, Ukrainian and Russian (more info here).
- The Ukrainian Association of Students (contact: official@uas.ngo) and our member unions, in the neighbouring countries and beyond, are fully committed in supporting people studying in Ukraine that are still in the country or have crossed the border. Check our members’ list and find which unions can help you!
- ESU members and partners are compiling a file with information of help for people fleeing Ukraine, divided per country. The file contains two sheets: ‘Help/Support’ and ‘Transportation’, which includes information on border crossing and once crossed the border. The document is constantly updated: check it regularly!
- The European Youth Forum has gathered three documents to help students in Ukraine: a document with some useful links for the population still in Ukraine, which also includes transport links, at the border and outside Ukraine; a list of safety/security tips; a guide for refugees from Ukraine, in Russian, English and Ukrainian.
- Are you an international student in Ukraine? The Ukrainian government announced the creation of an emergency hotline for African, Asian and other students wishing to leave Ukraine because of Russia’s invasion. The number is: +380934185684. Furthermore, here you can find a series of contacts for people trying to cross the border, asylum and legal advice in Germany, hosts in Germany and Finland, means of transport, psychological support (document not managed by ESU). The Global Student Forum (GSF) is made of continental student organisations, including from Africa and Latin America. Should you need assistance from the student organisations, look if the union of your country is member of GSF. You can contact GSF at steering.committee@globalstudentforum.org.
Would you like to support Ukrainian students?
- Look for associations organising donations, giving voluntary help, sending humanitarian aid to Ukraine. In particular, for the organisation of humanitarian help and convoys, get in touch with the Red Cross of your country (here the contacts of the EU Member States’ and Nordic Red Cross offices).
- Donate: the Ukrainian Association of Students have started a bank account to support the Ukrainian efforts of these moments. UAS is committed to use your funds in accordance with your wish (for instance, donations with the subject ‘Humanitarian aid’ will be used only for humanitarian purposes), based on their best conscience and knowledge of the situation. UAS is ready to provide details of future funds movement to ensure full transparency. More details on how to donate to UAS here. Furthermore, the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum gathered a series of organisations open for funds, specifying the different aims of these associations: more info here.
- Join a demonstration: you can see here the demonstrations near you, or you can organise one and register it.
- Demand that your Ministries and Higher Education Institutions do their part in welcoming and supporting students and academics leaving from Ukraine (and Ukrainian students already abroad) in pursuing their academic life: you can take inspiration from the joint statement by ESU and several European and international youth and Higher Education organisations. Ask ESU and, especially in cases of international students leaving Ukraine, the Global Student Forum to cosign your demands and support you in addressing your institutions/ministries.
- The Ukrainian Association of Students published an appeal to the Ministries of Higher Education of the European Higher Education Area and to the European organisations in Higher Education. If you share those demands, you can send them to your Ministry. ESU supports the suspension of Russia and Belarus from the European Higher Education Area and demands to cease contact and cooperation with any central government agency of Russia or any other country that actively supports the Russian invasion of Ukraine and to ensure that they only engage in cooperation with organisations and institutions from Russia where these are clearly based on shared European values.
- The European Union has created a system to provide in-kind donations to Ukraine, Moldova and the neighbouring EU Member States, to help cater for the needs of internally displaced and refugees. The EU will organise and financially cover the delivery of items to its logistical hubs in either Poland, Romania or Slovakia. More info here.
- The Coimbra Group, which is an association of long-established European universities, has published on its website a page with all initiatives taken from specific institutions in order to help and support Ukrainian students. Check them all here.
We recognize the courage shown by those members of Russian civil society who are engaging in protest against the Russian invasion of Ukraine, in spite of great personal risk and ask all members and consultative members of the EHEA to offer support and protection to members of the Russian higher education community taking a public stance against the invasion. Furthermore, we need to recognise that many Belarusian students are de facto living in exile from their country, and with the rapidly deteriorating situation of civil liberties in Russia, this is going to be the case for Russian students in Europe. We ask the Member States and Higher Education institutions to consider the possibility of extending their visas and study periods in Europe.