Scholarships and double degrees
Ukraine has over 250 universities with a total student population of 1.3 million, around 75,500 of whom are international. Due to the war in Ukraine, a lot of students have lost their possibility to continue or complete their degree.
International universities could offer Ukrainian counterparts’ double degree and credit transfer agreements that would allow Ukrainian students to continue their studies in their home institutions. This will be essential in making sure that Ukraine is able to retain and train its best and brightest, and that they will return to assist with the painstaking rebuilding that will need to be undertaken in the coming years. Retaining research and teaching capacity in country will be essential to recovery.
Offering scholarships to Ukrainian students is undoubtedly welcome, and a good way to offer solidarity and opportunities to students who are unable to continue their studies. What will be most important, though, is to ensure continuity and survival of Ukrainian higher education, so that it has a solid base from which to rebuild after the war.