Support activities Ukraine

Aurora universities stand in solidarity with the Ukrainian people in these sad and world-changing times. As so many higher education institutions around the world, Aurora has been working hard to offer support to our Ukrainian colleagues who are forced into this devastating reality.

Aurora has an associate member university in Ukraine, the Karazin Kharkiv National University. Under the coordinated efforts of Palacký University Olomouc in the Czech Republic, Aurora is supporting Karazin’s students and staff in these difficult times. The Aurora universities’ leaders have expressed their explicit wish to – now and in the future – continue to offer any and all support that we can provide.

On this page, you will find more information about the activities undertaken, and the help provided by Aurora and its member universities.

Published statements

Aurora has published and participated in several statements, as network, but also with other European University Alliances. You can find them below:

• Statement by Aurora President and rector of the University of Iceland, Jón Atli Benediktsson
• Statement by Palacky University Rector, Martin Prochazka
• Statement by the Aurora Student Council

In addition, the Aurora President sent a letter to the President and leadership of Karazin Kharkiv National University condemning Russia’s actions and expressing our full support.

Overview Aurora actions

The Aurora actions that have been underway are based on the Action Plan for supporting Karazin Kharkiv university based on assessment of the needs in immediate (humanitarian), mid-term (recovery) and long-term (development) phase of needs, as a joint collaborative work between CDS task team and International office of the Karazin University.

The overview provides the periodic support planned accordingly:

1) Short-term priorities and actions for the immediate emergency period

For the immediate and urgent needs of Karazin University, the Aurora office and CDS staff at Palacký University Olomouc has been in regular and continued contact with Karazin International Office management to exchange information on necessary needs and identify support measures for their staff and students. In addition, Karazin University has launched online teaching as a form of resistance and continued academic mission on March 28^th.

In line with above, the concrete Aurora support activities that have been underway in this emergency phase are following:

• Alliance level fundraising to support Karazin online teaching. Aurora has so far raised central funds to purchase necessary equipment for Karazin staff in support of the online teaching process in Ukraine.
• Providing support for Karazin International office staff and Aurora contact persons including relocation, work and accommodation at the Aurora institutions
• Providing support for Karazin academic staff and students to study at the Aurora institutions and receive accommodations

2) Medium-Term actions and plans for the continued functioning of Karazin University during war-period

• Ongoing fundraiser, leading up to the Aurora Spring Biannual in May in Innsbruck as a continuous effort to support emerging needs of the institution under siege, during war and dislocation phase. At the Biannual, the fundraiser will be opened up to wider activities where in addition to financial donations, collaborations to support student graduations, co-teaching and academic time can be donated as well
• Possible redirection of Aurora Alliance mobility funds toward mobility and accommodation of Ukrainian students
• Securing/prioritising access to study programmes, enrolment and graduation of Ukrainian students across Aurora universities
• Securing/prioritising Karazin staff collaboration and further training opportunities via the CDS programme

3) Long-term actions for the post-war period

• Arranging donations and support for the recovery and reparations of the devastated teaching and support facilities of the Karazin University Campus
• Deepening partnerships and collaborations between Karazin University and Aurora universities to enable staff and students’ exchanges
• Providing Visiting Research programme for Karazin staff and enabling access to research infrastructure in Aurora (labs and equipment to support continued research work and publications)

Support provided by individual institutions

The Aurora members also are working tirelessly to welcome displaced Ukrainian staff and students. In the table below, you can see a short summary of the activities of the individually Aurora members.

Support and resources at European level

On European level, several initiatives have developed, both in an official capacity by the European Union, as well as initiatives set up by volunteers. Below you will find a non-exhaustive overview of these initiatives.