Kyiv Academic Community’s Mission – to Defend Their Homeland

One year ago, the Center for Baltic Studies was solemnly opened at the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, in collaboration with the Embassy of Lithuania in Ukraine, Vytautas Magnus University and the Ministry of Education, Science and Sports of the Republic of Lithuania. At the opening ceremony, it was emphasized that the establishment of such cooperation is of great significance: at first the ideas coincide, and later, their wise and creative development results in long-lasting, significant, and important works. Today, in the capital of Ukraine, hundreds of teachers and thousands of students of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv defend their homeland and its capital. Some of the male and female students have become soldiers of the regular Ukrainian armed forces, others have joined the ranks of territorial defense, and hundreds have engaged in various voluntary activities.

“As Russia invaded Ukraine at 5 a.m. in the morning on February 24, the war affected every one of us. Today, thousands of casualties, millions of refugees and destroyed cities are the everyday reality of a month-long war. From the very first minute, we have been in touch with our friends and colleagues, communicating in every way possible: by e-mails, social network messages, or by telephone,” said Professor Jonas Vaičenonis, a historian at Vytautas Magnus University.

When communicating with members of the academic community, the need for technology, equipment, medicine and food is constantly mentioned. “A lot of people do informational work. Hackers are hacking Russian websites. My friend Professor Ivan Patrylak, Dean of the Faculty of History, together with the faculty administration and teachers joined the fight against the invader. They became soldiers of the Territorial Defense Forces. Among them there is also a colleague and author of many scientific works Associate Professor Artem Papakin, and many others. As Ivan jokingly says, it’s now his new job,” Prof. Vaičenonis maintains. He also mentions receiving special expression of gratitude for supporting friends in a difficult struggle. “Today, however, the most important thing is not to relax and to continue all the big and small work that allows us to contribute to the Victory in Ukraine,” professor asserts.

Dean of the Faculty of History I. Patrylak and his assistant A. Koval during a minute of respite.

Vytautas Magnus University has been cooperating with Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv for several years now. In 2019, for the first time in the history of higher education in Ukraine, students of the bachelor study program “Polish Language and Literature, Ukrainian Language” at the Institute of Philology of Kyiv University started learning Lithuanian. Since 2020, Kyiv University has been running a new and unique bachelor study program “Polish Language and Literature, English and Lithuanian Languages”, in which around 30 students are enrolled.

Although the university is unable to continue studies due to hostilities in Kyiv, Professor Igor Korolyov, head of the program and the Center for Baltic Studies, is currently working to provide students with the opportunity to attend remote lectures. Prof. Korolyov together with Aliona Shyba, head of the Center for Baltic Studies at the Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, contributes to the preparation of an intensive Lithuanian language course program for Ukrainians who have come to Lithuania after fleeing the war.

Every year, Ukrainians participate in the Lithuanian Language and Culture Summer and Winter Courses organized at Vytautas Magnus University: since 2015, more than 120 students and researchers from Kyiv University have participated in various programs organized by VMU. VMU has signed cooperation agreements with 30 Ukrainian universities, which allowed many years of successful cooperation in the implementation of double degree programs, student and teacher exchanges, as well as scientific and other joint projects.

Historian Assoc. Prof. Artem Papakin serving in the defense of his Homeland

Vytautas Magnus University is reaching out to help Ukrainians in these difficult times. A support fund established by Vytautas Magnus University in 2020 for students affected by the government repression in Belarus now also supports students affected by Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. Since the beginning of the war, several dozen Ukrainian students have been admitted to VMU to continue their studies. They enroll in the following study programs: Informatics Systems, Biotechnology, Performance Art, Business Administration, Economics and Finance, Accounting and Finance, International Politics and Development Studies, Society, Culture and Communication, English Philology, and Logistics and Commerce. Students will also have the opportunity to improve their English language skills and learn Lithuanian.

VMU CLARIN-LT consortium researchers have initiated a web page that offers an overview of initiatives supporting the Ukrainian research community.

Moreover, VMU offers help to Ukrainian war refugees and provides free-of-charge intensive and short Lithuanian language courses for all Ukrainians who wish to learn the basics of the Lithuanian language. The aim of these courses is to develop the language skills of those learning Lithuanian, in order to help them to adapt and live in Lithuania. You can find all the information about the help the university offers to Ukrainians in Lithuanian and Ukrainian languages here and in Ukrainian and English languages here.