Work with Ukraine

EUPeace is committed to supporting Ukrainian higher education, now and in the future, to fully connecting institutions together and to enabling students to benefit from all the advantages of the European higher education landscape. Building on its full integration in the EHEA, common work for and with Ukrainian higher education is setting the stage for future developments towards EU membership.

As noted in the European Parliament’s “Report on a new vision for the European Universities alliances”, ” alliances are at the right level for establishing partnerships with non-EU countries, in particular candidate countries”. EUPeace is actively pursuing collaboration with all non-EU countries, beyond Bosnia & Herzegovina and Türkiye which are directly represented in the Alliance, first and foremost with Ukraine. 

Next to our own Alliance activities mentioned below, EUPeace is also contributing to the FOREU4ALL Topical Group “Cooperation with Ukraine” which allows the sharing of good practices and the development of new joint initiatives – directly with Ukrainian higher education, but also with other Alliances.

The integration of Ukrainian higher education institutions into the European University Alliances is being driven by the deepening of existing partnerships, the development of new forms of cooperation, and the networking of cooperation partners. The strategic expansion of these collaborations and their concrete operational implementation provide sustainable impetus for institutional transformation. The EUPeace logo depicts the reconstructed bridge of Mostar, a symbol of overcoming conflict through dialogue. The Ukrainian partnerships add an additional layer of meaning to this image of the bridge. During the conflict, EUPeace maintains bridges to Ukraine and strengthens the foundations of cooperation. These bridges have proven effective in emergency assistance, for example through the hosting of displaced Ukrainian scholars at several Alliance universities. Deeper cooperation has given rise to new connections, particularly through joint virtual educational offers. They offer an inclusive approach to cross-border study that also includes male Ukrainian students. At the same time, they provide an important link to the home country for displaced students. For effective bridge-building, reliable structures on both sides are, of course, essential. Indeed, in an open letter to the European Commission in May 2025, European University Alliances called for flexibility in the use of funding for Ukrainian partners. Thirty-six of the 73 European University Alliances cooperate with Ukrainian partners. Since 2021, Ukrainian higher education institutions have participated in almost 2,000 Erasmus projects and have coordinated 15 capacity-building projects. More can be done together!

Some of the activities of our universities for and with Ukraine include:

• KNEU on the MO:VE: With the Russian aggression against Ukraine, Marburg University has expanded its partnership (initiated 2008) with Kyiv National Economic University (KNEU) through the project “KNEU on the MO:VE”, initially funded by the DAAD. The initiative involves digital course offerings, improved digital infrastructure, scholarships, joint curricula, and double degree programmes. KNEU students can access Marburg’s online resources and courses, while KNEU lecturers contribute to key finance programmes. This collaboration helps KNEU maintain academic operations and support students’ educational progress amid war-related disruptions.
• Furthermore, throughout the war, Marburg University has upheld its partnership with the National University Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (NaUKMA) and is integrating NaUKMA as an associated partner in EUPeace.
• German-Ukrainian University Network “Ukraine in Europe”: The project by JLU with Ukrainian partner universities aims to establish a long-term network “Ukraine in Europe” to address challenges in Ukraine’s science and higher education system due to the Russian invasion. Key elements include developing an English-language Master’s programme, joint chemistry modules, and building an alumni network. The project builds on long-standing collaborations with the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (NaUKMA) and the National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute” (KPI).
• Ukraine digital: Ukraine in its transcultural and transnational context: A project of virtual mobility of JLU together with the National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” (NaUKMA). Our “Co-teaching programme for European integration (Taste)” in form of the online tandem seminars (courses) provides students and teachers of NaUKMA and JLU with a room for exploring Ukrainian language, history, culture, literature, and society, reflecting on the current state of war, and strengthening Ukrainian voices.
• NaUKMA Teaching at JLU: Starting in the winter semester 2025/26, NaUKMA with the support of JLU offers two Bachelor’s degree programmes in “International Relations” and “Chemistry” for the Ukrainian diaspora in Germany. NaUKMA enrols the cohort as regular degree-seeking students, while JLU admits them as exchange students.
• Scholarships and Academic Support: Ukrainian academics and researchers have also been welcomed though specific support at Comillas Pontifical University. Several Ukrainian students have also received scholarships to study at Comillas, enabling them to continue their education in a safe and supportive environment.
• Comillas has hosted several events and published reflections to raise awareness and foster dialogue: “We will support Ukraine, no matter the cost and for as long as it takes”; “The War in Ukraine: A Moral and Political Reflection”; “A Precise Analysis on the Anniversary of the War in Ukraine”; “Debate on Ukraine – Pignatelli Series”.
• Several projects have been organised at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen together with Ukrainian partners, including, “Research in the field of renewable energy sources and the use of digital twins”, “Strengthening capacities and transferring experience in the effective use of renewable energy sources in community energy, and expanding long-term cooperation between NTU Kyiv, VNTU Vinnytsia, and the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen”.
• In Pilsen, individual scholarships were provided through a support scheme of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MŠMT) to Ukrainian students at public higher education institutions in the Czech Republic who, due to the war, cannot continue their studies at Ukrainian universities or have found themselves in financial hardship as a result of the conflict.
• The University of Mostar is developing its cooperation, among others, signing an MoU with the International Humanitarian University in Odessa, Ukraine, from 2024.