Resilience of universities in times of war: Ukrainian experience and international cooperation

The rector of Vasyl Stefanyk Carpathian National University, Valentyna Yakubiv, is participating in the Forum for Cooperation for Sustainable Development in Higher Education 2026 in Helsinki, Finland.

Special attention within the forum was paid to the panel discussion “Ukraine: Building Resilient Universities in Conditions of War and Uncertainty”. Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Mykola Trofymenko presented real cases of the resilience of Ukrainian universities – the experience of overcoming the challenges of war, preserving educational and scientific potential and continuing development.

For our university community, resilience is daily support for students and employees, ensuring quality education, developing science and helping communities. It is also the ability to find resources for change, build partnerships and work for the future.

“Resilience grows where there are shared values, responsible leadership, caring for people and openness to new experiences. International cooperation helps us find solutions and strengthens our ability to overcome the challenges of war,” emphasizes Valentyna Yakubiv.

We thank the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine and the British Council Ukraine for the invitation, the opportunity to present the experience of our university and exchange practices with international colleagues.

By developing universities today, we form the basis for the restoration and sustainable development of Ukraine.