Science for Ukraine, Kristiania University College, All European Academies (ALLEA), and the International Science Council (ISC) are jointly organizing an online conference on 15 June 2022. The conference seeks to bring different stakeholders together to discuss best practices, begin planning for medium to long-term actions to support and redevelop Ukraine’s higher education and research sectors and to strengthen relationships within Europe. Maintaining and extending in-country and international research collaborations, preserving existing, and rebuilding damaged education and research systems and infrastructure, will ultimately serve to lay the groundwork for peace that collectively benefits societies and people across borders.
This is neither the first, nor is it likely to be the last time that large numbers of academics, scholars and researchers will be displaced, and it is necessary that the lessons learned are not forgotten:
We hope that this conference will identify recommendations on how to take these objectives forward.
The conference aims to bring together key stakeholders in Europe to address the international crisis of the war in Ukraine, specifically its impact relating to academia and scientific research. Invited guests include members of the higher education and research sectors, relevant government bodies (e.g., ministries of education, science, and technology), funding and donor agencies, and humanitarian organizations. Participants will consider current initiatives and their intended impacts, as well as identifying the future action needed to rebuild the Ukrainian higher education and research sectors. Recommended actions that result from conference proceedings will likely be applicable to future crises and should be situated within existing policy frameworks and international documents. Such initiatives outline the well-being and protection of individuals as well as the preservation and rebuilding of the knowledge, systems, and structures of the academic and scientific sectors.
Objectives | Intended Outcomes |
1. To share and identify best practices for how the European higher
education and research sectors can offer impactful support that addresses the actual needs of Ukrainian scholars and researchers. | 1. A shared list of recommended and/or best practices and programmes for European higher
education and research sector stakeholders to support Ukrainian scholars and researchers. |
2. To identify priorities for medium and long-term plans for the ongoing support and rebuilding of the scientific and academic systems of Ukraine to ensure resilient higher education and research structures and systems. | 2. A set of priority actions and recommendations (at both the programme and policy level) for the European higher
education and research sector to guide the medium and long- term support for the rebuilding of the scientific and academic systems of Ukraine. |
3. To maintain momentum for advocacy and support for the Ukrainian higher
education and research sectors beyond the initial emergency response. | 3. The outline of a plan for a future event that builds on the outcomes of this conference. |