The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has launched an online platform aiming to help 100,000 Ukrainian students and researchers continue their studies or academic careers in Germany.
The National Academic Contact Point Ukraine website offers “comprehensive information and assistance” for Ukrainian nationals fleeing their homeland following the Russian invasion, the agency said.
More than 300,000 people have reportedly fled to Germany since the invasion began.
The project comes at the request of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in Germany and with the support of the federal Ministry of Education, according to DAAD president Joybrato Mukherjee.
“With the steadily increasing number of people from Ukraine seeking refuge, protection, but also the continuation of their studies or academic careers in Germany, the effects of the Russian war of aggression are coming even closer to German universities,” he said.
“We currently assume that up to 100,000 Ukrainian students and researchers will need support and academic prospects in Germany in the near future. This requires adequately funded support programs and a central academic information point for Ukrainians.”
The website includes essential information on studying, staying and everyday life in Germany, he continued.
“In addition, we provide them with a variety of support options from German academic organisations and universities. In this context, I would like to thank all members of the Alliance of Science Organisations for their support over the past weeks,” Mukherjee noted.
The head of the German Rectors’ Conference (HRK) – one of the 10 members of the German research organisation – spoke of the importance of the Ministry of Science and Research’s ‘Science Bridge Ukraine’ initiative in late March.
“Language courses, subject-related preparation courses and scholarships are particularly important for the smoothest possible transition. The universities need additional state funding for this,” HRK president Peter-André Alt said at the time.
Residence, university admission, studies and research information will be available on the new website in German and English, as the Ukrainian version is expanded, DAAD added.
“Since the beginning of the Russian attack on Ukraine, the DAAD has already received and answered more than 1,000 enquiries through all communication channels,” Ursula Paintner, director of Communications at the DAAD said.
“We are therefore working flat out to expand our advisory services and will soon be offering additional advice in Ukrainian on the central issues of university access, study, and research in Germany.”
It comes after UK universities announced a twinning initiative with Ukrainian institutions on April 8.