UK-Ukraine Twinning: Newcastle University and National University of Water and Environmental Engineering

Over two years have passed since Newcastle University signed a five-year agreement with the National University of Water and Environmental Engineering (NUWEE) in Rivne, Ukraine. Through this twinning partnership, we secured a UUKi Research and Innovation Twinning grant to launch PEACE-R2UK (Programme to Enhance Academic Collaboration for Enabling Regenerative Reconstruction in Ukraine). Our aim has been to establish a sustainable, long-term collaboration between Newcastle University’s Centre of Research Excellence in Water and NUWEE. 

In July 2023, the grant supported a successful summer school for 29 Ukrainian academics and students, which represented a key milestone in our partnership. 

With further funding, we expanded our activities, including participation in the Second International Twinning Conference in Warsaw in July 2024. The event provided an excellent platform to engage with other institutions involved in twinning partnerships, exchange best practices, and explore new avenues for collaborative funding. We also used this opportunity to increase involvement in our COST Action proposal consortium, which focuses on rebuilding water infrastructure in post-conflict zones. 

As well as this, the additional funding allowed more NUWEE academics to attend a hands-on water quality workshop in July 2024, initially supported by Newcastle University’s Global Partnership Fund. Using the innovative "suitcase laboratory" developed by Professor David Werner’s team, we provided critical training in portable methods for testing water quality. This initiative equips our Ukrainian partners with the practical tools and skills needed to address the pressing challenges posed by damaged water infrastructure, thereby contributing to public health efforts. 

We also supported the participation of two NUWEE academics in the Summer Challenge Week of the Water Infrastructure and Resilience (WIRe) Centre for Doctoral Training. Their involvement added valuable insights and case studies from Ukraine, enriching the experience for PhD students and encouraging them to develop innovative solutions for complex water infrastructure issues. 

These activities have further strengthened the partnership between Newcastle and NUWEE, reinforcing our commitment to long-term collaboration and shared research and educational goals. We are excited about the future and look forward to continuing our cooperation to support Ukraine’s recovery and academic development.