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German-Ukrainian University Network: Hope for Ukraine!
The University of Duisburg-Essen will receive over 500,000 euros from the DAAD to support Ukrainian universities and to promote digital teaching formats.
German-Ukrainian University Network: Hope for Ukraine!
Students and teachers in Ukraine face significant challenges in their everyday academic life. Daily power outages and the ongoing effects of war shape their everyday lives. Despite these difficult conditions, many universities are continuing teaching, often in digital form. In this context, the University of Duisburg-Essen has received significant support from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). Over half a million euros will be spent over the next four years to support the German-Ukrainian University Network (DUHN). uni-due.de reported.
The financing contract was signed by the Rector, Prof. Dr. Barbara Albert, signed. This initiative includes collaboration with four Ukrainian universities: Kharkiv, Sumy, Vinnytsia and the newly added Kryvyi Rih Pedagogical University. The main aim of this collaboration is to support academic development and show international solidarity.
Funding from the DAAD
The project management is in the hands of Prof. Dr. Matthias Epple and Prof. Dr. Heike Roll. Planned measures within the program include the development of digital and hybrid teaching offerings as well as the design of common curricula and the internationalization of study modules. Annual summer schools in Germany are intended to promote academic exchange, practical laboratory experiences and interdisciplinary workshops. Block courses are also planned in Ukraine, which also include German teachers and students.
In order to promote networking, a common online platform is provided that brings lecturers, students and alumni together. This platform is also intended to provide teaching materials and develop research ideas. The overall goal of the network is to secure academic structures and promote hope in Ukraine.
Long-term support for the Ukrainian higher education system
As part of the fourth “Ukraine Recovery Conference”, which will take place in Rome on July 10th and 11th, 2025, the focus topic “Human capital for the future” will be addressed. DAAD speaker Katja Thevs highlights the importance of well-educated young people for the reconstruction of Ukraine, while DAAD programs aim to maintain the number of highly qualified Ukrainian university graduates despite the influence of war. This support is provided in three areas: scholarships for Ukrainian researchers, teachers and students, programs for the further development and internationalization of Ukrainian universities and the promotion of research and knowledge transfer, such as daad.de describes.
Since the Russian attack on Ukraine in 2022, the DAAD has initiated emergency aid and long-term strengthening programs for Ukrainian universities. The DUHN program, which started in June 2025, already includes 30 cooperation projects between German and Ukrainian universities. These projects aim to develop joint teaching and learning modules and study programs.
An example of this cooperation is the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, which will be offering joint courses in urban planning from the 2025/26 winter semester. Prof. Barbara Engel emphasizes the need for dialogue with local actors for responsible urban planning. The University of Stuttgart is also developing digital teaching modules to support post-war reconstruction.
A network for shaping the future in Ukraine
The DAAD program DUHN is divided into two program lines. The first promotes binational cooperation in studying and teaching, the second intensifies exchange in university administration and internationalization. These initiatives aim to build sustainable cooperation between German and Ukrainian universities and to integrate Ukraine into the European higher education area kooperation-international.de supplemented.
The DAAD President, Prof. Dr. Joybrato Mukherjee, highlights the commitment of German universities to the Ukrainian partner institutions. The number of university partnerships between Germany and Ukraine has now risen to over 340. The first program line can provide funding of up to 800,000 euros per project until 2029, while the second part provides around 400,000 euros.