War in Ukraine

On 24 February, Russia invaded Ukraine. Many Ukrainian students have friends and family in their home country who have been impacted by this war. Their fellow students have taken the initiative to help Ukraine to the best of their ability. At the same time, many Dutch universities have cancelled collaborative partnerships with Russian universities. In this special, you will find the stories of several Ukrainian and Russian students, articles on how EUR students are springing into action against the war and interviews with researchers who share their opinions on the invasion.

 

The higher education sector has expressed its horror at the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In their brief initial responses, universities, universities of applied sciences and representatives of academia in general sought to explain where they stand.

Some four hundred people convened in front of the City Hall on Friday evening to protest the superpowers’ response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which they feel is too passive.

While Russia is subject to increasingly strenuous sanctions, academics are wondering how to deal with their relations with their Russian counterparts. MIT has cut its ties with a Russian partner, and German education institutions, as well, have halted their collaboration with Russian universities.

Many EUR students have direct or indirect ties to Ukraine, Russia or both, so they feel very connected to what is happening. In association with the EESA student society, Polish student Sandra Garstka established a major collection drive.

The ABP pension fund has about half a billion euros’ worth of investments in Russia but is now seeking to divest of these due to the Russian invasion.

Students are not just collecting things, but also raising money. For instance, they did so at a fundraiser organised by the Erasmus Food Lab. The dinner party was initiated by the Erasmus Sustainability Hub. More than €2,000 was raised.

Following in the footsteps of the European Commission, Germany and Denmark, Dutch tertiary education institutions have ceased to collaborate with Russian universities.

Bohdan Markiv is a completely normal EUR student who now finds himself in an absurd situation. While he is sitting his exams, his parents are seeking to flee the rockets landing on Kyiv.

Several universities have established emergency funds that will help Ukrainian and Russian students who are experiencing financial problems due to the war access money.

The Russian Union of Rectors has issued a statement expressing its complete support for President Putin’s decision to invade Ukraine. A couple of days earlier the union had issued a more reticent statement.

Dutch universities have ceased collaborating with Russian education institutions for the time being but do want to maintain a dialogue of sorts.

Vitalii Zharinov studies Communications and Media at EUR and is from Kyiv. He thinks that protest rallies are useful. “In this way we can put pressure on governments to really act. Moreover, I believe that if we stay silent now, we are agreeing to the war.”

René Repasi is a professor affiliated with the Erasmus School of Law and recently became a Member of the European Parliament, where one of the first sessions he attended was a session in which Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky addressed Parliament. In this episode of The Issue, Repasi reflects on the various ways in which the EU can and must not get involved in the war.

Putin definitely does not have the support of all Russians. EUR student Polina strongly opposes the dictator and believes the assault on Ukraine was a despicable act. At the same time, she is worried about her family in St Petersburg and about increasing anti-Russian sentiment.

The father of Ukrainian business administration student Macha Tacquet was Odessa’s last vet. He had to leave the animals he cared for behind’. She was also afraid that he would be kidnapped. Now she dedicates herself to helping other Ukrainians.