Valuable support for doctoral students fleeing Ukraine
In spring 2022, when Russia started its invasion of Ukraine, the EDUFI Fellowship for doctoral students from Ukraine opened up opportunities for graduate students fleeing the war to continue their academic work in Finland. By doing so, the fellowship also supported the academic community and the activities of the higher education institutions of Ukraine.
The Finnish National Agency for Education provides support to doctoral students and researchers coming from other crisis areas as well through various programmes, which made it possible to build the grant instrument for Ukrainian doctoral students based on the structures of the existing EDUFI Fellowship and Scholar Rescue Fund and lessons learned from them.
During the fellowship period for Ukrainians, the fellows could complete postgraduate studies offered by Finnish or Ukrainian universities at their hosting Finnish university. The programme was open to all disciplines, with Finnish universities serving as the applicants.
Between 2022 and 2024, fellowship grants were awarded to a total of 39 doctoral researchers, 31 of whom were women and eight were men. The total amount of funding granted was approximately EUR 900,000. The recipients consisted of nine different universities from different disciplines, such as linguistics, physics, biology, sociology, political research and literature.
During the fellowship period, the doctoral students were able to reorganise their studies and work on their doctoral research project, publish scientific articles, complete doctoral studies, participate in various seminars and scientific conferences, network and create or deepen scientific cooperation.
The programme has had a lasting impact on both researchers and the Finnish research environment
For the University of Helsinki, the EDUFI Fellowship for doctoral students from Ukraine has been an important and effective tool for supporting the academic careers of Ukrainian doctoral researchers.
- The programme has provided both concrete financial support and valuable opportunities for researchers to continue their research in a safe and academically stimulating environment in Finland, says Vice-Rector of the University of Helsinki Anne Portaankorva.
The fact that the University of Helsinki hosted 17 of the EDUFI Fellowship for doctoral students fellows is a testament to the university's strong commitment to international scientific cooperation and support for researchers in crisis situations.
Portaankorva emphasises that the programme has been seen as an important opportunity to strengthen our research community and promote scientific diversity. At the same time, the fellowship programme has shown how cooperation with national and international actors can effectively support the career development of researchers in exceptional circumstances as well.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the University of Helsinki has received and supported many Ukrainian students fleeing the war. At the same time, cooperation with Ukrainian universities has broadened. In total, 112 fixed-term students from Ukraine have commenced studies at the University of Helsinki with the help of various funding mechanisms, such as Erasmus+ mobility, the EDUFI Fellowship for doctoral students from Ukraine and the university's own crisis fund. Cooperation has been active, particularly in the fields of social sciences, the humanities and life sciences.
Furthermore, thanks to the University of Helsinki Ukraine Appeal and the associated crisis fund, the university has been able to issue 41 grants to Ukrainian students and three grants to Ukrainian researchers. These funds have supported the academic continuity and career paths of several Ukrainian researchers and students. For example, the Visiting Fellowship programme being launched at the Aleksanteri Institute makes it possible to support two Ukrainian researchers at the University of Helsinki.
Portaankorva emphasises that the University of Helsinki has sought to provide supported doctoral researchers with the best possible conditions for conducting research, including guidance, research infrastructure and peer support in the academic community. For example, the Faculty of Social Sciences has conducted research on the situation of Ukrainian refugees in Europe and on political polarisation in media.
- We see programmes like this as being capable of having a lasting impact on both the career paths of researchers and the internationalisation of the Finnish research environment, Portaankorva says.
Support for Ukrainian higher education remains a priority
Applications for the EDUFI Fellowship for doctoral students from Ukraine are no longer being accepted. Instead, we encourage Ukrainian doctoral students to seek support for their doctoral projects via the EDUFI Fellowship. The funding rules of the EDUFI Fellowship have been updated with some exceptions specifically for Ukrainian doctoral researchers so that their possible special needs can be taken into account.
Furthermore, the Team Finland Knowledge programme will be organising a separate call for applications supporting cooperation with Ukrainian higher education institutions, with an emphasis on the needs of the Ukrainian higher education sector regarding the strengthening of academic cooperation and capacity building.
- The TFK programme call ending at the end of April will fund its third call focusing on Ukraine. In other words, cooperation on doctoral education can be continued under it as well, says Counsellor of Education Maija Airas.
Various types of cooperation with the Ukrainian higher education sector can also be carried out via Erasmus+ mobility and projects.