The devastating Russian invasion of Ukraine has forcefully displaced hundreds of thousands of people. Despite the unprecedented wave of support for the Ukrainian people from across the globe and the great mobilization of the national governments, civil society, and the private sector, this humanitarian crisis in Europe will have devastating consequences for years to come. One of those consequences is the deprivation of the fundamental human right to education, recognized as such under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
We, the undersigned organizations and individuals, call on institutions, universities, and colleges across the globe, particularly in Europe, as well as civil society organizations and the private sector to:
- As soon as possible, accept all students from Ukraine, domestic and international, who are able and willing to continue their studies, regardless of their visa or residence status, whether in-person or through virtual classes.
- Waive all fees, where possible, and provide financial assistance in the form of scholarships and bursaries when needed.
- Meet the educational needs of the Ukrainian students and provide the necessary materials and equipment that will allow them to participate in class.
In the words of Nelson Mandela, “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” Helping the students of Ukraine is the first step to achieving that.
After the collection of signatures, the petition will be handed over to the International Association of Universities. We encourage signatories to share it with universities within their respective jurisdictions.
An organization wishing to sign the petition can do so by emailing at secgen@iapss.org or filling out a form below.
