The University of Glasgow has secured funding to expand partnership activities with two Ukrainian universities through the UK-Ukraine Twinning Initiative.

The funding is announced on the one-year anniversary of the Twinning Initiative (29 March 2023) and delivers £270,000 towards research and mobility programmes. 

The UK-Ukraine Twinning Initiative is led by Cormack Consultancy with support from Universities UK International (UUKi). So far, it has established 106 partnerships between Ukrainian institutions and universities around the UK, including three involving the University of Glasgow.

The funding announced today will expand the University of Glasgow’s activities with two of our Ukrainian partners, the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (NaUKMA), and Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University.

The partnership with NaUKMA supports research collaborations and staff mobility programmes across a range of academic disciplines including Physics, Computing Science and War Archaeology. It will also fund a Summer School programme for Early Career Researchers.

The funding with Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University will support collaborative research into prostate cancer and early cancer detection. 

Professor Dame Jessica Corner, Executive Chair of Research England, said: “This £5 million investment being made by Research England, on behalf of the UK government, not only builds a strategic research and innovation response but supports the UK-Ukraine twinning initiative established by Universities UK International earlier in the year. 

“The partnerships being created through the scheme are hugely important to support and build both longer-term research and innovation collaboration and capacity between our 2 countries. 

“The injection of funding will be vital in enabling UK universities to increase and strengthen their commitment to supporting their Ukrainian partners allowing them to address research and innovation challenges; while also providing new resources, which will enable the UK higher education sector to respond to future crises.” 

Achievements over the last year

Over the last 12 months, the University of Glasgow has established partnerships with three Ukrainian universities, the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, Poltava State Medical University and Danylo Halytsky Lviv National Medical University.

Through these partnerships we have introduced student mobility programmes, hosting 100 students from NaUKMA and 21 from Poltava over the last academic year, with the University continuing to fund these mobilities for 2023/24 academic year. We have also begun to develop a broad and strategic approach to building long-term research collaborations with our partners. 

Speaking about the progress achieved over the last year, Rachel Sandison, Deputy Vice-Chancellor for External Engagement and the University’s Sanctuary Champion, said: “As a University of Sanctuary, Glasgow has an important role to play in supporting refugees and providing safe and welcoming spaces for all.

“We see the UK-Ukraine Twinning Initiative as an important part of this commitment, and we are proud of our partnerships with all three of our Ukrainian partners, where we are focused on supporting research collaboration, learning and teaching opportunities, and student and staff mobilities. 

“I am delighted that Glasgow has received funding to support the future success of our Ukrainian partnerships, which will provide mutual and long-lasting benefits to our communities.”  

First published: 29 March 2023

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