TEEI (Transforming Education for Equity Initiative) has launched an urgent campaign to support Ukrainian universities forced to relocate due to Russian occupation. This critical effort focuses on helping these institutions continue their vital educational missions despite extreme circumstances.
Melitopol State Pedagogical University: A Case Study in Resilience
Bogdan Khmelnytsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University exemplifies the challenges faced by Ukrainian higher education institutions in occupied areas:
- Ranked in Ukraine’s top 10 pedagogical universities
- Over 100 years of history
- 4,000+ students, many from occupied territories
- 37 Bachelor’s and 30 Master’s programs
- Temporarily relocated to Zaporizhzhia due to Melitopol’s occupation
Impact of Occupation:
- All university buildings and equipment seized by Russian forces
- 12 modern laboratories and research centers lost
- Some staff collaborating with occupiers under duress
- Several professors kidnapped and tortured
Despite these hardships, the university continues operations within Ukraine’s legal framework and is actively recruiting students for the 2022-2023 academic year.
The Importance of International Support
Dr. Olena Arabadzhi, Vice-Rector, emphasizes the critical need for global assistance:“We do really value the world’s understanding and empathy to the Ukrainians in their struggle against Russian terrorism, violence and aggression. Bogdan Khmelnytsky Melitopol State Pedagogical University teachers and students still need support and help from the international community. We do all possible and impossible to stay alive as an institution, to be engaged in the struggle and to share the victory over Russian aggression.”
TEEI’s Emergency Relief Campaign
TEEI’s campaign aims to secure essential funding and equipment for Melitopol State Pedagogical University to continue its crucial work. The university serves as a key educational hub for young people from occupied southern Ukraine, making its survival and success vital for the region’s future.
How You Can Help
Your support can make a significant difference in the lives of Ukrainian students and educators affected by this crisis. By donating to TEEI’s university support program, you can help ensure that institutions like Melitopol State Pedagogical University can continue their important work despite overwhelming challenges.
Donate Now to Support Ukrainian Universities
Your contribution will help provide:
- Essential equipment and resources
- Support for displaced students and faculty
- Funding for continued operations and research
Stand with Ukrainian education.
Donate today to help these resilient institutions overcome adversity and shape a brighter future for Ukraine.
