For over two years, the war in Ukraine has continued to profoundly transform life in the country, affecting the higher education system as well. Universities, students, teaching staff and researchers face daily consequences that go far beyond the educational sphere, including instability, displacement and difficulties in ensuring academic continuity.
It is within this context that FreeAc has developed a joint research project on the effects of the armed conflict on the academic sector in Ukraine, with the aim of promoting and defending academic freedom. The study offers an in-depth overview of how the war is affecting university life, institutional autonomy and access to education.
The research paints a picture of an academic system forced to constantly reinvent itself. Many universities have had to relocate their premises and activities, adapting to online or hybrid learning methods whilst coping with power cuts, disruptions and conditions of constant insecurity. Academic activities are often suspended or reorganised, whilst many members of the university communities are experiencing displacement, both within Ukraine and abroad.
Alongside logistical and economic difficulties, the war is also having a significant psychological impact, which is reflected across the entire education system. Falling enrolment figures and uncertainty about the future of higher education are making the academic landscape even more fragile. In this context, academic freedom plays a central role as an essential condition for ensuring democratic, open and resilient education systems.
The study also highlights how the conflict is making it increasingly difficult to maintain international collaborations, conduct research freely and preserve the institutional autonomy of universities.
Restrictions on mobility, particularly for male citizens, further limit access to international exchanges and academic opportunities. Despite this situation, Ukrainian universities continue to demonstrate adaptability and resilience, strengthening partnerships with European institutions and developing innovative solutions to support students and academic staff.
The research also examines post-conflict recovery experiences in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo, emphasising the importance of coordinated reconstruction strategies, sustainable investment in education and long-term international cooperation. According to the research, rebuilding Ukraine’s higher education system will require strong national leadership, mental health support services, reintegration programmes for displaced academics, and the protection of academic freedom as a fundamental democratic value. Read the full research.
In this regard, FreeAc continues to strengthen collaboration between Ukrainian higher education institutions and European partners, supporting displaced academic communities and facilitating the integration of Ukrainian universities into the European Higher Education Area.
Through research activities, institutional support and cross-border cooperation, the initiative promotes academic resilience, innovation and educational continuity, contributing to the defence of academic freedom even in the context of the ongoing war.
To find out more about FreeAc and learn about all its innovations, visit the project page.
Contact Marco Gennaro: marco.gennaro@cesie.org.
About the project
FreeAc – Promoting Academic Freedom in Ukraine is a project funded by the Erasmus + Programme: Key Action 2 – Cooperation partnerships in higher education.
Partners
- Universitaet Graz (Austria, coordinator)
- World University Service – Osterreichisches Komitee Verein (Austria)
- International Humanitarian University (Ukraine)
- Sumy State University (Ukraine)
- Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Ukraine)
- CESIE (Italia)
- KMOP – Education and Innovation Hub (Greece)
- Uniwersytet im. Adama Mickiewicza w Poznaniu (Poland)
For further information
Read more about the project.
Contact Marco Gennaro: marco.gennaro@cesie.org.
