The University of Glasgow has partnered with three Ukrainian higher education institutions to share resources, learning and ideas during the humanitarian crisis in the country.  

The partnerships, with Kyiv Mohyla Academy, Poltava State Medical University & Lviv National Medical University, will support students and academics by offering mobility programmes, access to resources to support research and shared learning and teaching activities.  

The partnerships are delivered through the #TwinforHope Twinning initiative, led by Universities UK International (UUKi) and Cormack Consultancy. To date, the campaign has fostered more than 75 mutually beneficial twinning partnerships between UK and Ukrainian universities, with colleagues from the twin universities meeting virtually to build relationships and put in place initiatives to sustain Ukrainian education despite the ongoing war. 

The University of Glasgow has also committed pastoral support to ensure Ukrainian students can continue their studies over the coming academic year, hosting over 100 students and offering financial, travel and personal assistance. 

In the future, the objective is to explore more areas where the University can collaborate with our Ukrainian partners, such as establishing collaborative research partnerships, sharing expertise and best practice, and working together on joint funding bids.   

Rachel Sandison, Deputy Vice Chancellor, External Engagement and the University’s Refugee & Asylum Seeker Champion, said: “Over a relatively short amount of time, the UUKi Twin for Hope campaign has already succeeded in harnessing the potential within UK universities and mobilising support for Ukrainian universities in their time of need. 

“Working with our three Ukrainian twin institutions, the University has pledged immediate support, particularly with respect to student and staff mobilities and the sharing of resources, whilst also looking to the longer-term and the potential to grow our partnerships via collaborations across research, learning and teaching, and exchanges. 

“I hope that despite the tragic circumstances, these shared ambitions can continue to flourish into a brighter future, and I look forward to seeing our partnerships bear fruit over the coming months and years.” 

Vivienne Stern MBE, Chief Executive, Universities UK, “I’m really proud of the way that the UK university sector has stepped up to play its part in the global response to enabling Ukrainian universities to get through this war and hopefully emerge stronger.”  

Charles Cormack, Chairman, Cormack Consultancy Group: “The response has been amazing. I’ve never seen universities respond in such an open-hearted way and to pull down the barriers that normally get in the way of a collaboration and just make things happen.”  

Learn more about what universities throughout the UK are doing to support the campaign by following the hashtag #TwinForHope or visiting www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/twinforhope. 

Follow the University’s response to the war in Ukraine https://www.gla.ac.uk/explore/ukraine/. 

First published: 14 September 2022

<< 14 September 2022


Twin for Hope

Ukraine: Our response