Ukrainian universities are gradually resuming in-person learning as the country continues to navigate the challenges of war, with institutions adapting to provide continued education and support to students and communities.
Restoring Campus Life Amidst Conflict
“Universities are trying to use all their resources to provide for students the opportunity to continue their studies in person,” said Polina Hombalevska, president of the Ukrainian Association of Students, at a webinar organised by the European Students Union (ESU).
In the initial days of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the future of higher education in Ukraine was uncertain. However, universities quickly adapted, offering shelter, food, and transitioning to remote learning to ensure millions of students could continue their education.
“Online education gave us a sense of stability,” Hombalevska said. “Education continues, not because it’s easy but because it’s necessary. After the war, Ukraine will need universities more than ever to shape societies and rebuild economies.”
Damage and Resilience
More than 400 of Ukraine’s 625 higher education institutions have sustained damage, according to the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance. Forty-three institutions have been displaced, and eleven have been completely destroyed. Many of the 120 state universities operate near active front lines.
State Tax University in Irpin, located on the outskirts of Kyiv, experienced significant damage in the early stages of the war. Shelling and fire destroyed six university buildings and its sports complex, damaging approximately half of its infrastructure.
“At the centre of all of this was the university, which went through the most difficult period in its history,” said Anastasiia Lishchyna, a member of the university’s student parliament.
During the fighting, the university’s basement was converted into a shelter, providing refuge for up to 1,000 staff and their families. “The university became a place of safety and support,” Lishchyna said. “Despite big losses, the university has worked to return to regular activity.”
In-person learning has since resumed at State Tax University, and educational programs are being restored. “Even though the war is ongoing, the university still remains resilient. Every day we attend lectures,” Lishchyna added.
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