Shortlisted for Times Higher Education Award
News
Ukrainian partnership shortlisted for the ‘Oscars of higher education’
Thursday, 17 October, 2024Bath Spa University’s long-running Ukrainian partnership has been recognised for this year’s THE Awards, with a coveted shortlisting for ‘International Collaboration of the Year’.
Widely recognised as the ‘Oscars of higher education’, the Times Higher Education (THE) Awards exemplify the talent, innovation and commitment of individuals and teams across all aspects of university life in the UK and Ireland.
Celebrating the 20th anniversary year of THE Awards, Bath Spa University joins the shortlisted cohort on the red carpet in acknowledgement of its ongoing and invaluable collaboration with a number of educational partners in Ukraine.
The spotlight for this year’s awards is on the 2022/23 academic year, a significant and tumultuous time for the eastern European country. The collaboration between Bath Spa University and its Ukrainian partners has evolved over the past decade, prior to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Professor Ian Gadd, who led on the Ukrainian partnerships during 2022/23, said:
“This was a very challenging time for Ukrainian universities: many staff and students were displaced with many campuses damaged and even destroyed. Nevertheless, all our Ukrainian partners persevered with their teaching and research, enabling us to continue with our collaborations. Their strength and endurance were extraordinary and humbling, and we were proud to stand in solidarity.”
During that academic year, Bath Spa University collaborated with ten Ukrainian universities, a leading radio station in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Association of Students and the Ministry of Education and Science to support and sustain economic and social capacity during a time of war.
Through multiple partnerships and projects funded by Erasmus and Research England, BSU worked together with colleagues across Ukraine to improve educational standards, teaching innovation, student attainment, graduate outcomes and student resilience.
Professor John Strachan, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Enterprise at Bath Spa University said:
“Our partnership with Ukraine has taught us of the resilience of Ukrainian students and educators, and we are proud to have played a role in supporting their efforts to continue education under such extraordinary and difficult circumstances.
"We are deeply honoured to be shortlisted for this prestigious award, particularly during such a pivotal time for our Ukrainian colleagues.”
Bath Spa University hosted in-person meetings, workshops and conferences, despite the impact of the invasion. BSU colleagues helped to strengthen Ukraine’s democratic structures through reforms in journalism education, increased public media literacy, enhanced research and innovation capacity, and shipments of specialist technological equipment.
The collaboration didn’t stop there. Bath Spa University continues to provide solidarity and support for its Ukrainian colleagues, including with the International University of Economics and Humanities in Rivne, with whom BSU was formally twinned in June 2022.
Reflecting on the development of the partnership, Professor Vitalii Demianchuk, Rector of the International University of Economics and Humanities, said:
“The DESTIN project, coordinated by the Bath Spa University, was the first large-scale international project for our university. Thanks to the collaboration of teams, we were able to gain invaluable experience from our British colleagues and make qualitative changes. The project ended in late 2022, but we maintained close ties through the Ukrainian-British Twinning Programme.
“Our partnership thrives and develops every year. We are confident that our cooperation will continue to flourish, be productive and bring many benefits to the students and teachers of the two universities.
“We are immensely grateful to Bath Spa University for their constant support since the first day of the war, we are grateful for their help and solidarity.”
Speaking about the longstanding collaboration, David Newman, University Secretary and Executive Sponsor for the Ukraine twinning partnership said:
“Bath Spa University has longstanding educational and research ties with Ukraine and I am hugely proud of our talented colleagues across the University community for coming together to collaborate so effectively.
“In continuing to harness our collective creativity, curiosity and confidence as part of this important academic endeavour, I hope that we can support the prosperity of higher education as a key enabler for the future re-building of Ukraine.”
The winners will be announced at the 20th annual THE Awards ceremony on Thursday 28 November 2024 at the ICC in Birmingham.