We are helping to Ukraine

The University of Ústí nad Labem publishes basic information about the types and forms of assistance to Ukrainian students and victims of the war conflict on the main page of its website. At the same time, it helps coordinate central forms of assistance in cooperation with the city and involves its students and staff in them.

There are 92 Ukrainian students studying full-time or in language courses at UJEP and 7 academic staff members (5 of them already have Czech citizenship). Although they are currently dealing with a difficult life situation, they offer their own help in working with refugees seeking help in our city and the Czech Republic.

“Solidarity is huge,” says Rector Martin Balej. “We are already registering over a hundred students and employees of UJEP who are ready to help the city and the region, especially in taking in families affected by the military conflict. These are people who speak Ukrainian, Russian or English and can interpret, help refugees with the paperwork at the authorities, etc.,” he adds.

Www UJEP also contains basic contacts for those in need in the field of study and psychological counselling, applications for emergency scholarships or accommodation. In addition, each faculty of UJEP has its own student ambassador, who can be contacted by existing and incoming Ukrainian students at a particular faculty. “Our counselling centre is currently registering 7 applications for extraordinary support from the students of our faculties and we will address them individually according to the specific needs of the applicants,” explains Alena Chvátalová, Vice-Rector for Studies.

UJEP is ready to release CZK 1 million from its budget to help Ukraine. In the area of financial support, the Ministry of Education and Science is helping universities in a fundamental way by supporting the study of Ukrainian students at Czech universities. The assistance concerns both newly admitted students to study the entire study programme and students coming for short-term study stays.

“Unfortunately, we have to assume that the war in Ukraine will not end any time soon, and it is therefore good to prepare for the fact that our assistance will be needed in the longer term,” the Rector specifies.

The faculties of UJEP are currently announcing their willingness and possibilities to accept at least 220 Ukrainian students into their studies in the form of internships, for example. “However, the willingness to help in this direction has no limits and we are ready to do much more if necessary,” emphasises Vice-Rector Chvátalová.

So far, UJEP dormitories have made a total of 70 accommodation places available for those coming from Ukraine. As an accommodation provider, they are involved in the Integrated Rescue System of the city, for which they have allocated half of their free capacity and are reserving the rest of the free places for the expected new Ukrainian students. “Currently, we have already accommodated 30 people from Ukraine, mostly mothers with children, in our dormitories across the city, and we are expecting three more families within the day,” says the rector.

UJEP can also provide accommodation capacity of 42 places at the Bukovina Training and Recreation Centre in the village of Karlovice.

UJEP also announced a Material Collection for Ukraine on 1 March 2022. “Students and employees of UJEP can deliver necessary medical supplies, non-perishable food, baby food, blankets, sleeping bags, mattresses or mattresses, hygiene items, etc. to the lobby of the Rector’s Office,” specifies the Vice-Rector for External Relations Prof. Doulík. The material collection will be closed on 11 March 2022 and then transported to the House of National Minorities in Prague, from where it will be transported to Ukraine.

The Faculty of Art and Design of UJEP is also organising its own collection.

On March 1, 2022, students of the Faculty of Arts of UJEP organized a protest action to condemn the Russian aggression and express support for Ukrainian students and academics. It was possible to buy refreshments on the spot and send the price directly to non-profit organizations. At the same time, an e-petition was published and could be signed online.

UJEP is also preparing an online charity concert “Ukraine, we are with you!“, which will involve the choirs of the Faculty of Education of UJEP and other performers with ties to the Department of Music Education of the Faculty of Education UJEP.