The Guild expresses support and deep concern about the conflict in Ukraine: Europe’s Universities must stand up for democracy

Publicat: 28 Febuarie 2022

The Guild statement on the conflict in Ukraine

The Guild calls on Europe’s governments, and the EU, to enable our universities to support Ukrainian students and staff on our campuses, and through the provision of distance education where needed.

In recent years, we have seen a growing recognition of universities underpinning European societies and free political institutions, as places where the universal values of human rights – as articulated by the United Nations, adopted by the European Union, and expressed by Europe’s national constitutions and political systems – can be learnt, articulated, and defended. Now, in this dark day of European history, Europe – and our values of democracy and freedom – are under attack.

In response, the Presidents of The Guild’s member universities call on Europe’s universities, European governments, and the European Union, to commit to four immediate actions:

(1) We must ensure that all Ukrainian students in our communities are cared for and supported at this trying time, and we will endeavour to support all students and staff who have been affected by this crisis, as much as it is in our power to do so.

(2) We will continue to take the greatest care that our communities remain distinguished by free debate and respect. Prejudice – whether it is based on nationality, ethnic origin, or any other characteristic, has no place in our university communities. All must continue to feel welcome.

(3) We call on governments to enable universities to support Ukrainian students in continuing their education, and to support Ukrainian academic staff as much as possible, so that their education and work can continue as seamlessly as possible under the circumstances. Where students and academics are forced to flee, we need urgent government assistance in supporting them.

(4) Universities have developed important capacities to provide distance learning courses. We call on governments to support us in opening up distance learning opportunities for students in Ukraine, to ensure that they are supported academically as much as possible. Opening up such opportunities is less a technical question, but requires careful pedagogy, as well as linguistic support, and it is important that Universities are enabled to develop this support for students at speed.

We are called to solidarity that brings all democratic states in Europe together. We are committed to support Ukrainian students and staff to the best of our abilities as individual universities, but also collectively, sharing our knowledge, ideas, and creativity across borders. We also honour and recognise the academic communities in Russia that are speaking out against this violence. As universities in Europe, we stand for democracy, for human rights, and for the right to critical enquiry and the pursuit of knowledge. We urge our political leaders to support us in doing whatever we can to extend this right to Ukrainian faculty and staff.

The Guild rectors express support and deep concern about the conflict in Ukraine

Many university presidents across The Guild member universities have responded with shock and alarm to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Svein Stølen, Rector of the University of Oslo and Vice-Chair of The Guild, wrote of his concern for the Ukrainian population, adding that ‘This is a dark day for Europe and the World’. Stølen recorded his particular worries about the university’s students and staff affected by this tragedy. These sentiments were echoed by Sir Anton Muscatelli, Principal of the University of Glasgow, who wrote about the anxiety felt by ‘students and colleagues concerned about friends and family in Ukraine’.

The Rector of the Jagiellonian University, Jacek Popiel expressed his solidarity with Ukraine and addressed Ukrainian students and staff by emphasising that they are not alone and that they ‘can count on our assistance for you, your families and friends in these difficult circumstances.’ Gregor Majdič, Rector of the University of Ljubljana, also conveyed his university’s deep solidarity with all the Ukrainians caught up in the conflict.

Building on these sentiments, Daniel David, Rector of Babeș-Bolyai University, urged Romanian universities to find solutions to support Ukrainian academics and researchers who might seek to continue their work in Romanian institutions.

Writing on Estonia’s national day, Toomas Asser, Rector of the University of Tartu and member of The Guild’s board, announced that the university would put everything in place to ensure the university’s Ukrainian members would receive every possible support. In a statement re-published as a Guild blog, Asser also announced that the University would develop a long-term strategy to define the university’s role as a partner to the EU, NATO and other bodies standing up for the independence of Estonia and other European countries.

A number of The Guild’s universities, including UC Louvain and the University of Oslo, have also expressed their solidarity to Ukraine by flying the flag of Ukraine at the institutions.

Jan Palmowski, Secretary-General of The Guild, added “In the face of brutal force, it is tempting for students and academics to feel powerless. We can offer no more than ideas, values, and knowledge, driven by collaboration and exchange. To those affected by loss and suffering, that will offer little immediate consolation. But the history of Europe has shown that even in its darkest times of oppression and violence, values and ideas could not be overcome. The mission of universities, the inspiration offered by our students, and the understanding enabled by our researchers, are now more important than ever.”

Read the full statement HERE

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