Signing ceremony confirms 71 ‘twinning’ partnerships now in place between UK and Ukrainian universities
Last updated on Tuesday 20 Dec 2022 at 10:28pm
71 partnerships between UK and Ukrainian universities are now in place with eight more nearing formal agreement, facilitating the sharing of resources and support in a collective gesture of solidarity and reciprocity to help Ukrainian institutions, staff and students.
The scheme has generated huge support since its recent launch by the Cormack Consultancy Group (CCG) and Universities UK International (UUKi) with UK universities partnering directly with their Ukrainian counterparts for a minimum of five years.
In further confirmation of the impact of the scheme, the signing ceremony – on Ukrainian Constitution Day – comes as the UK government announced £190,000 of financial assistance to establish and support the twinning initiative.
100 academics and university leaders celebrated the ground-breaking university ‘twinning’ scheme between the UK and Ukraine at the event, where 24 institutions signed a formal partnership.
Heads of institutions such as the University of Liverpool, Wrexham Glyndŵr University and the University of Glasgow formalised their commitment to partner with Ukrainian universities whose day-to-day operations have been disrupted by conflict.
The partnerships will provide a wide range of practical assistance through:
- helping to physically rebuild campuses of Ukrainian universities that have been damaged and destroyed
- mutually recognising credits so that English-speaking Ukrainian students can take online courses from UK universities that count towards their final degree
- allowing Ukrainian teaching and research to continue in UK laboratories and classrooms where their own facilities were destroyed or damaged
- facilitating the sharing of academic resources such as libraries and technical equipment
- preserving Ukrainian archives in UK institutions; facilitating more cultural and language exchange opportunities
- sharing mental health support – particularly for Ukrainian staff and students suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) due to conflict
- allowing Ukrainian students to ‘catch-up’ on the learning they have missed at summer schools hosted in UK institutions.
The scheme will help prevent ‘brain drain’ and ensure Ukraine’s universities not only survive but emerge stronger from the war, allowing them to play a critical role in post-war reconstruction.
It has been coordinated by Cormack Consultancy Group with the support of Universities UK International, drawing on each group’s expertise in the needs of Ukrainian institutions and the international outreach activities of UK universities.
Kateryna Zhuk, a 6th year student of Medical Institute, Sumy State University, said:
I have incredible impressions from my participation in the summer school at the University of Liverpool, enjoying the daily modules, excursions and social activities with other students from around the world. I am also impressed with the accommodation provided by the university: with comfortable rooms on campus with all the amenities I need. The lecturers at the summer school deserve particular mention, they are very friendly and positive.
I am lucky to study here and it has been hugely important to me to help me continue my studies at this time – I will be able to use this experience back at Sumy State University and my future professional activity.
Kateryna Zhuk
6th year student, Medical Institute, Sumy State University
Professor Dame Janet Beer, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Liverpool and the International Policy Lead on the Universities UK (UUK) Board, said:
UK universities unequivocally condemn Russia’s unprovoked and illegal occupation of Ukrainian territory. This initiative will offer vital support to Ukrainian staff and students determined to continue their learning and research despite the ravages of war.
While short-term assistance is crucial, both sides are seeking to build lasting ties of cooperation and cultural exchange that will outlast the war and contribute to the rebuilding of the Ukrainian education system when the war is over.
Professor Dame Janet Beer
Vice-Chancellor, University of Liverpool; International Policy Lead, UUK Board
24 new partnerships were confirmed today, bringing the total of confirmed partnerships to 71, with 8 more partnerships nearing formal agreement.
Full list of twinned universities, correct as of 18 August 2022
Abertay University – Simon Kuznets Kharkiv National University of Economics
Aberystwyth University – Odesa National Economic University
Anglia Ruskin University – Lesya Ukrainka Volyn National University
Atlantic Technological University, Ireland – Ternopil Ivan Puluj National Technical University
Bangor University – Khmelnytskyi National University
Bath Spa University – Private Higher Education Establishment 'Academician Stepan Demianchuk International University of Economics and Humanities'
Bishop Grosseteste University – Drohobych Ivan Franko State Pedagogical University
Canterbury Christ Church University – Open International University for Human Development
Cardiff Metropolitan University – H.S.Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University
Cardiff University – National University Zaporizhzhya Polytechnic
De Montfort University – West Ukrainian National University
Durham University – Zaporizhzhia National University
Edge Hill University – Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University
Glasgow Caledonian University – State Tax University of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine
Glasgow School of Arts – Lviv National Academy of Arts
Harper Adams University – Odesa National University of Technology
Lancaster University – National Technical University 'Dnipro University of Technology' (DUT)
London Metropolitan University – National University ‘Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic’
London South Bank University – Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas
Loughborough University – O.M. Beketov National University of Urban Economy in Kharkiv
Monroe College, USA – Lviv State University of Internal Affairs
Newcastle University – National University of Water and Environmental Engineering (NUWEE)
Nottingham Trent University – Lviv Polytechnic National University
Open University – Horlivka Institute for Foreign Languages of State Higher Education Institution Donbas State Pedagogical University
Private University for Business and Technology (PHWT), Germany – Ukrainian Engineering Pedagogics Academy
Queen Mary University of London – Odessa National Medical University
Queen’s University Belfast – Borys Grinchenko Kyiv University
Queen's University Belfast (Medical School) – Shupyk National Healthcare University of Ukraine
Royal Agricultural University – Sumy Agrarian University
Royal Holloway, University of London – Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University
Royal Veterinary College – Stepan Gzhytskyi National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies of Lviv
Sheffield Hallam University – Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design (KNUTD)
St Andrews University – National University of Ostroh Academy
St George's, University of London – Ivano-Frankivsk National Medical University
St Mary's University – Dnipro Humanitarian University
St John's University, USA – Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University
Swansea University – Petro Mohyla Black Sea National University
Technological University of the Shannon, Ireland – Kharkiv National University of Civil Engineering and Architecture
University of Bath – State Institution 'Luhansk Taras Shevchenko National University'
University of Bedfordshire – National University of Ukraine on Physical Education and Sport
University of Birmingham – Ivan Franko National University of Lviv
University of Bristol – National Aerospace University 'Kharkiv Aviation Institute'
University of Cambridge – Kharkiv National Medical University
University of Cardiff – National University Zaporizhzhya Polytechnic and Zaporizhzhia State Medical University
University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) – State University 'Uzhhorod National University'
University of Derby – National Technical University 'Kharkiv Polytechnic Institute'
University of Dundee – Dnipro State Medical University
University of East Anglia – Vasyl Stefanyk Precarpathian National University
University of East London – Cherkasy State Technological University
University of Edinburgh – Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv
University of Exeter – King Danilo University
University of Glasgow – National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and Poltava State Medical University
University of Glasgow (Medical School) – Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University
University of Greenwich – Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy
University of Guelph, Canada – Dnipro State Agrarian and Economic University
University of Hertfordshire – University of Customs and Finance
University of Hull – Mariupol State University
University of Kent – Kherson State University
University of Leeds – Kyiv National Economic University
University of Leicester – Kremenchuk Mykhailo Otrohradskyi National University and Poltava State Agrarian University
University of Lincoln – Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University
University of Liverpool – Sumy State University
University of Manchester – Ivan Horbachevsky Ternopil National Medical University
University of Nottingham – Ukrainian Catholic University
University of Plymouth – State University of Infrastructure and Technologies and Kherson State Maritime Academy
University of Portsmouth – Odesa Polytechnic National University
University of Reading – National University of Life and Environmental Sciences of Ukraine
University of Sheffield – National Technical University of Ukraine 'Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute'
University of Sussex – Oles Honchar Dnipro National University
University of the Arts London – National Academy of Fine Arts and Architecture
University of Warwick – Kharkiv National University of Radio Electronics
University of Wolverhampton – Nizhyn Mykola Gogol State University
University of Worcester – Kremenets Pedagogical Academy named after Taras Shevchenko and Ternopil V. Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University
University of York – V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University
Wrexham Glyndŵr University – Chernihiv Polytechnic National University
Formal twinning agreements signed on 28 June 2022
Abertay University – Simon Kuznets Kharkiv National University of Economics
Aberystwyth University – Odesa National Economic University
Bath Spa University – Private Higher Education Establishment 'Academician Stepan Demianchuk International University of Economics and Humanities'
Canterbury Christ Church University – Open International University of Human Development 'Ukraine'
Cardiff Metropolitan University – H.S.Skovoroda Kharkiv National Pedagogical University
Durham University – Zaporizhzhia National University
London Metropolitan University – National University Yuri 'Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic'
Loughborough University – O.M. Beketov National University of Urban Economy in Kharkiv
Newcastle University – National University of Water and Environmental Engineering
Royal Veterinary College – Stepan Gzhytskyi National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies of Lviv
Sheffield Hallam University – Kyiv National University of Technologies and Design
St Mary's University – Dnipro Humanitarian University
St John's University, USA – Odesa I. I. Mechnikov National University
University of Birmingham – Ivan Franko National University of Lviv
University of Bristol – National Aerospace University 'Kharkiv Aviation Institute'
University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) – State University 'Uzhhorod National University'
University of East London – Cherkasy State Technological University
University of Glasgow – National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy
University of Glasgow (Medical School) – Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University
University of Guelph, Canada – Dnipro State Agrarian and Economic University
University of Kent – Kherson State University
University of Liverpool – Sumy State University
University of Portsmouth – Odesa Polytechnic National University
Wrexham Glyndŵr University – Chernihiv Polytechnic National University
Notes to editors
Professor Dame Janet Beer will be available for media interviews on request. Please contact pressoffice@universitiesuk.ac.uk to arrange interviews.