UK-Ukraine Twinning: University of East London and Cherkasy State Technological University

Could you provide some background on the partnership work of the University of East London (UEL) and Cherkasy State Technological University (ChSTU)?

Shortly after Russia’s attempted full-scale invasion of Ukraine began, a Twinning initiative was set up to pair UK universities with Ukrainian universities. The academic sector, like other sectors across Ukraine, is under huge strain from physical attacks, loss of staff and students, and reallocation of resources, as the country and its people fight to survive and win the war. The Twinning scheme is designed to support Ukrainian universities in the immediate term and foster long-term collaboration between institutions in the UK and Ukraine.

At UEL, we are twinned with Cherkasy State Technological University. Both Cherkasy and UEL’s Docklands campus share a unique connection, being just a stone’s throw from the Dnipro River and the Thames.

Over the last couple of years, the University of East London’s Sustainability Research Institute has been working closely with the team at Cherkasy to deliver The Pilot Project: Drone-Enabled Participatory Evaluation of Ukraine’s War-Damaged Buildings.

What are some of the key aims of the Pilot Project and how does your work contribute to this goal?

During the invasion, immense destruction has been inflicted not only on the lives of Ukrainian families but also on infrastructure and buildings. A huge investment will likely be coming for Ukraine’s reconstruction, and it’s important to first have a clear understanding of the damage to buildings and reconstruction needs.

Gaining this understanding is a monumental task due to the extensive destruction and the significant dangers of conducting building surveys. The considerable risk of unexploded ordnance, which escalates daily as Russia continues to fire artillery shells and lay mines, further complicates the effort.

At UEL, we’ve been working with Cherkasy to develop and trial an approach where ordinary people are trained to use drones to survey buildings and create 3D models. These models are then used to remotely conduct basic damage assessments. We are designing this approach to be both scalable and safe, addressing Ukraine’s unique challenges. 

So far, one group of Cherkasy students and one group of volunteers have been trained to use drones to survey damaged buildings and create 3D models. These models were then evaluated by a panel of experts in the UK, including architects and structural engineers, to assess both the damage to buildings and the usefulness of the 3D models for structural evaluation. The first set of students also helped train the second group of survey volunteers, showcasing an approach to scaling up drone survey training.

A crucial aspect of the project has been assessing the suitability of this trialled approach. This includes evaluating the training, equipment, and the 3D models produced. Now that Cherkasy and their student volunteers have trained a second group, we’re exploring how the information collected during drone surveys could guide sustainable rebuilding efforts. This could involve ensuring the sustainability of individual buildings or identifying opportunities to integrate nature-based solutions in urban spaces.

Looking ahead, we plan to continue working together to scale up and improve this approach. Training people across Ukraine to use drones for building damage surveys will help us identify the best places and ways to rebuild, always with sustainability in mind.

What have been some of the other highlights of working together?

The Ukraine Twinning conferences have been an incredible experience. The determination and enthusiasm at these events are unlike anything I’ve encountered before. Everyone is eager to share their work, support each other, and collaborate in any way possible. Unlike typical conferences, where networking enthusiasm wanes, in this case, the need is so crystal clear that there is no fatigue, only resolve and the strongest desire for cooperation.

Another highlight has been the growing interest in our work. Several institutions in both the UK and Ukraine have expressed a desire to collaborate on the initiatives Cherkasy and UEL are pursuing together.

Personally, one of the most rewarding moments was meeting my Cherkasy colleagues, Liudmyla and Emil, in person for the first time at the Twinning conference in Warsaw in July 2024. Despite working closely with them for years, this was our first opportunity to meet face-to-face. The conference was a chance to solidify our relationships, both personally and institutionally.

What challenges have there been?

Working together hasn’t been without its challenges, but the resilience of the Cherkasy team has been truly inspiring.

Increased Russian attacks on the energy grid have caused frequent power cuts in Cherkasy, making communication difficult at times. These outages can last up to eight hours a day. Training schedules were also disrupted by air raid sirens, and on occasion, it was impossible to use survey drones due to Russian electronic warfare jamming the signals.

Initially, we thought students would be limited to practising drone operations only on campus. However, the Cherkasy team managed to arrange a field trip to Irpin. This town, just north of Kyiv, marks the farthest advance of Russian forces during their northern push before retreating. The students surveyed damaged buildings in Irpin using the drones and created 3D models of their findings. One of these models, showcasing the Irpin Central House of Culture, was further developed by UEL’s Richard Lindsay to show the building’s condition before and after the invasion.

What’s next?

Liudmyla, Emil, and I view our first meeting in Warsaw as the beginning of an expanded and strengthened relationship between UEL and Cherkasy. We’re committed to continuing and scaling up our research at the Sustainability Research Institute with Cherkasy.

As Ukraine’s Deputy Minister for Education said at the Warsaw Twinning conference, ‘we have a war to win and a country to build’. It’s my aim, and that of my colleagues Alan and Richard, to assist in this effort in every way possible. 

We’re confident that the new UK government recognises the value of this Twinning scheme. Sir Patrick Vallance, the Minister for Science, even cited our project in detail during a Royal Society seminar co-hosted by the Ukrainian Ministry of Education and Science in July 2024. Together, we are committed to this collaboration.