Kick-Off Meeting marks the start of FreeAc Project supporting Ukrainian Academia
In a significant step towards supporting Ukrainian academia amidst ongoing challenges, the FreeAc project kicked off with a dynamic meeting held in Graz from February, 28-29, 2023. The meeting served as a platform for partner institutions from Austria, Ukraine, Italy, Greece, and Poland to come together and strategize the implementation of this crucial initiative.
The gathering provided an opportunity for all participating organizations to align their objectives and outline the roadmap for the FreeAc project. Discussions revolved around developing both short-term relief measures and long-term strategies aimed at sustaining Ukrainian academia and preventing talent loss. By prioritizing academic freedom and facilitating continued research, learning, and teaching, the project aims to address the challenges posed by the exodus of academics and the risk it poses to the operational capacity of HEIs in Ukraine.
The kick-off meeting marked the beginning of a concerted effort to support Ukrainian academia and lay the groundwork for sustainable solutions in the face of adversity. Through strategic partnerships and joint educational activities, the FreeAc project aims to make a meaningful contribution to mitigation of the effects of brain drain and development of the country's Higher Education system. As the project moves forward, the collaborative spirit and dedication demonstrated during the kick-off meeting will continue to drive progress towards a brighter future for Ukrainian academia.
Led by the University of Graz (Austria), the FreeAc kick-off meeting brought together representatives of International Humanitarian University, Sumy State University, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Ukraine), Adam Mickiewicz University Poznan (Poland), CESIE (Italy), KMOP (Greece) and WUS Austria committed to mitigating the impact of the conflict in Ukraine on Higher Education.
