The Presidency of Danube Rectors' Conference stands with Ukraine

The DRC Presidency strongly condemns the Russia's aggression as a completely unjustified attack on Ukraine. While we fear for the safety of our friends and partners at the universities across Ukraine, in particular our members Uzhhorod National University and Odessa I. I. Mechnikov National University, we ask our network for any support in these dark times. For the DRC as a unique institution based in and gathering universities and organisations of higher education in the Danube region, the current developments in Ukraine are particularly painful given the historical memories and experiences of our member universities.
 

On this background, the DRC Presidency appeals to all DRC member universities and their representatives for openness, solidarity and maximum support towards Ukrainian universities and their staff, scholars and students. The DRC Presidency calls for the maintenance of existing educational and exchange scholarships and mobilities and endorses the opening of new supporting programs and channels for Ukrainian lecturers, researchers and students, recognizing the limited capabilities and possibilities of some of DRC member universities.

The DRC will continue its efforts and engagement with Ukrainian universities throughout its several formats like the DRC Strategic Foresight Project, the DRC Summer School, Danubius Awards or within the EU Strategy for the Danube Region (EUSDR). Moreover, the ongoing Call for DRC Initiative Fund supporting students of doctoral study programmes is now open to researchers at all Ukrainian universities. Finally, the DRC has contacted its two Ukrainian members, the Uzhhorod National University and Odessa I. I. Mechnikov National University, offering scholarship for one student coming from each university to conduct her/his research at the DRC Secretariat in Vienna (up to six months).

The DRC Presidency believes in the soon end of the war and hopes for the Ukrainian universities to be able to return to their operations as early as possible, in order for them to recover and to repair the damages caused by this horrible conflict.

Zdravko Kačič
DRC President

Ivanka Popović
DRC Vice-President

Friedrich Faulhammer
DRC Vice-President