Ukraine’s Universities Push to Restore Campus Life

Universities in Ukraine have been gradually returning to in-person learning over the past few years, student representatives in the country have said, as part of a push to restore campus life after four years of war caused widespread damage. 

“Universities are trying to use all their resources to provide for students the opportunity to continue their studies in person,” said Polina Hombalevska, president of the Ukrainian Association of Students, at a webinar organized by the European Students Union.

Speaking from Ukraine, Hombalevska said that in the first week of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, it was difficult to comprehend how higher education could continue, but universities quickly adapted, becoming a lifeline for their communities. Many provided shelter and food while switching to remote learning to keep millions of students in education.

“Online education gave us a sense of stability,” Hombalevska said. “Education continues, not because it’s easy but because it’s necessary. After the war, Ukraine will need universities more than ever to shape societies and rebuild economies.”

Many of Ukraine’s 120 state universities operate close to the country’s front lines. More than 400 higher education institutions out of 625 have been damaged, according to the National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance in the country. Of these, 43 have been displaced and 11 completely destroyed.

Among the institutions to suffer the most severe damage in the early weeks of the war was State Tax University in Irpin, a city on the outskirts of Kyiv where fierce fighting took place before Ukrainian forces recaptured it.

“At the center of all of this was the university, which went through the most difficult period in its history,” said Anastasiia Lishchyna, a member of the university’s student parliament.

Six buildings at the university and its sports complex were destroyed by the shelling and fire, she said, adding that 50 percent of the infrastructure was largely destroyed. 

As fighting engulfed the city, the university’s basement was converted into a shelter, housing up to 1,000 staff and their families. “The university became a place of safety and support,” Lishchyna said. “Despite big losses, the university has worked to return to regular activity.”

She added that in-person learning had since resumed and educational programs are now being restored. “Even though the war is ongoing, the university still remains resilient. Every day we attend lectures.”