War in Ukraine

Newcastle University and the National University of Water and Environmental Engineering (NUWEE) in Ukraine have established a twinning partnership under the UUKi/Cormack scheme.

About NUWEE

NUWEE is situated in Rivne, Northwestern Ukraine. Established in 1915, it has created a thriving environment for students and researchers.

It is the largest higher education establishment in the Rivne region and consists of nine institutes. This includes five training and consulting centres and five colleges. It also provides professional engineering expertise and services to the Ukrainian Government and private companies. 

The two insititutions have complementary strengths in water, engineering, agriculture, and economics. They both signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding in June 2022. This laid the foundation for long-term research and educational collaboration.

Key elements of the partnership

Student exchange

Newcastle University funds 20 NUWEE students to participate in a semester-long exchange programme. It runs from 2022 to 2025 offering financial support from the Development Trust and internal university funds.

Language support

Since 2022 our Language Resource Centre has offered a successful peer-assisted learning programme. Led by Newcastle University students, these six-week courses have benefited over 190 NUWEE students and 25 academics.

Research and innovation

Our joint efforts have also extended to securing a UK-Ukraine Research & Innovation grant. This enabled the organisation of two Summer Schools at Newcastle, and a meeting in Krakow to discuss water security in Ukraine.

The two universities continue to work together on events. They've hosted virtual workshops, symposiums, and joint research projects in areas such as agriculture, architecture, and finance.

Read more about Newcastle University's partnership with NUWEE.

Newcastle University’s Community Sanctuary Network is a group of volunteers working with strategic partners:

• King’s College London
• Leicester
• Open University Citizens UK
• Ukraine Sponsorship Pathway UK

They also work with the University Sponsorship Model (USM).

The USM utilises the UK Government's Homes for Ukraine scheme to bring people to the UK who have been displaced as a consequence of the Russian Federation’s invasion of Ukraine.

University Strategic Partners have recruited hosts and volunteers from their respective communities. They offer accommodation and provide wraparound support for all parties for up to six months. The longer-term aim is to integrate guests into local communities and independent living.

As a University of Sanctuary, we provide a welcoming place of safety for all.

Through CARA (the Council for At Risk Academics), we identify opportunities to assist academics threatened in the current conflict. And for students, we've introduced the NU Sanctuary Scholarship Scheme.

We know many people in the community are being impacted by this war. We offer support to all our students, colleagues and alumni with links to:

• Ukraine
• Russia
• Belarus
• Lithuania
• and other bordering nations

We're working to extend the support we can provide with the help of our colleagues, local partners and regional organisations. 

Contact us

If you have any queries, please get in touch: sanctuarysupport@ncl.ac.uk

As always, any student needing support can:

• access 24/7 support from talk campus
• contact Student Health and Wellbeing during the working day on 0191 208 3333.

Our teams in the International Office have also checked to ensure that we have no students on exchange visits in Ukraine or Russia at this time.

Any students affected by the situation can also access Sanctuary Support for practical and/or emotional support, as well as attend the Sanctuary Drop-ins. Students can get in touch by emailing sanctuarysupport@newcastle.ac.uk.

Some students are struggling to access funds due to the conflict. We're providing a one-off non-repayable emergency bursary of £1,500 to help those students at this difficult time. To access this support, students can complete a short application form.

Students may also be eligible to apply for additional, discretionary, financial support made available by the University. We encourage them to explore all the options.

Our Sabbatical Officers have voiced their solidarity with all those affected by the ongoing crisis. The Students’ Union is signposting any student who has been affected by the events in Ukraine to a range of assistance available through the Support and Advice Hub.

As a University of Sanctuary, we're committed to providing a welcoming place of safety for all. As a partner of CARA (the Council for At Risk Academics), we have for many years welcomed at-risk scholars to Newcastle. Through this partnership with CARA, and through the CARA-British Academy Researchers-at-Risk scheme, we have welcomed a number of Ukrainian academics to Newcastle, and continue to assist academics threatened in the current conflict. 

The Home Secretary has confirmed that Ukrainian Nationals (on work, study or visitor visas) in the UK will have their visas temporarily extended. This includes the option to switch onto different visa routes.

Read further guidance on the support available to Ukrainian nationals and their family members.

We continue to closely monitor the situation. We strongly recommended that you follow Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office advice. Currently, the FCDO advise against all travel to Ukraine and Russia.

The Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) has launched a Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. This is helping raise funds for food, water, medicine, protection and trauma care for people fleeing the war.

The DEC brings together 15 leading UK aid charities to raise funds quickly, efficiently and safely. Charities include:

• the British Red Cross
• CAFOD
• Care International
• Save the Children UK

Other humanitarian aid agencies doing excellent work include:

• British Red Cross Ukraine Appeal
• CARE International UK
• International Rescue Committee
• World Vision
• Save the Children UK | International Children's Charity

The UNHCR is also providing help to Ukrainians displaced as a result of the war. The Ukrainian Institute London has listed additional suggestions for people wishing to support Ukraine and Ukrainians.

You can buy an extra drink (for £2) when you buy your own from any cafe on Newcastle University’s campus.

By doing this you will create a 'credit' for a drink to be made available to refugees and asylum seekers.

We hope this will bring together those who may feel isolated so they can meet new people, network and seek out new opportunities. Our University is perfectly placed in the centre of Newcastle to help this interaction and support. We are proud to do this as part of being a University of Sanctuary.

The internationally-recognised student-led project at Newcastle University Students’ Union (NUSU) is looking for volunteers.

There are a number of volunteering opportunities including:

• supporting in schools
• teaching adults
• supporting with art and sport sessions
• driving and coordinating volunteers

You can also work with our community distribution scheme. You will:

• help to organise donations
• keep stock of what we have
• package up care packs
• help to deliver and distribute to the community.

If the region has new arrivals from Ukraine demand will be high for this service so volunteers are essential.

You can find out more on Facebook or by emailing nest.union@ncl.ac.uk.

The Tyneside hub of HostNation is seeking friendly volunteers to help refugees and asylum-seekers settle into the North East.