We held an interesting online event in the frames of CYLA program, dedicated to the challenges and prospects of relocated higher education institutions operation. Due to the military aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine, 31 Ukrainian higher education institutions were forced to change their location, and for some institutions, this is not the first experience of relocation. It is not uncommon when individual departments of the same higher education institution are located in different regions. The guests of the event told how to conduct the education process and ensure its high level in such conditions.
Dmytro Marchenko, the first Vice-Rector of Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University, spoke about the experience of a double (in 2014 and 2022) relocation and related problems. He familiarized the listeners with how distance learning is currently implemented at the university: a cluster solution has been deployed at the university – a distributed digital environment; it also uses an electronic document management system. This allows coping with the challenges associated with the location of units in different regions.
Artem Shapar, Deputy Director for Educational and Research Activities of Donetsk State University of Internal Affairs, raised an issue of students (cadets) accommodation in conditions of relocation. He also spoke about some aspects of the educational process during the martial law: the university has bomb shelters equipped to which students and professors go during the threat of air strike. These shelters have everything necessary for studying, so the educational process is not interrupted after the announcement of an air raid alert.
The third speaker of the event was Ruslan Galgash, Vice-Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work, Economics and Development of Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University. In particular, he dwelt on the issue of lack of premises for housing the relocated universities and suggested a more efficient approach to their distribution, as well as implementing the format of digital universities.
Our online event also comprised a second part, with the guests being not professors, but IDPs students and graduates of the A_Ya?! Advocacy Youth Academy. Together with the representatives of the Law Faculty of Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University and PRO BONO law firm, they developed recommendations for the recovery plan of Ukraine.
The participants split into groups and worked together on topical issues related to access to education, safety during study and sports, involvement in physical activity and raising the level of national identity. The young people offered their ways of solving the most pressing problems, such as insufficient financing of sports events, unequal access to education, weak involvement of youth in the development of youth programs, etc.
The participants’ ideas will be further developed and handed over to the relevant state authorities.