Challenges and Resilience of Displaced Universities: Panel Discussion Held at Kherson State University within the VUIAS Initiative
On October 27, 2025, Kherson State University hosted the panel discussion “Holding Ground: Challenges and New Models of Resilience of Displaced Universities.” The event took place at KSU’s Ivano-Frankivsk office as part of the Virtual Ukraine Institute of Advanced Study (VUIAS) initiative, in collaboration with the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin and the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany in Ukraine.
Participants included representatives from international partner organizations, Kherson State University, and other Ukrainian higher education institutions.
Veronika Denysenko, Vice-Rector for International, Social and Humanitarian, Research and Education Affairs, welcomed attendees and emphasized the importance of international partnerships in strengthening the resilience of Ukrainian universities.
The discussion was moderated by Viktoriya Sereda, Academic Director of VUIAS at Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin and the Kyiv School of Economics.
The round table opened with greetings from Professor Dr. Oleksandr Spivakovskiy, Rector of Kherson State University; Professor Dr. Barbara Stollberg-Rilinger, Rector of Wissenschaftskolleg and Chair of VUIAS; and Dr. Mikhail Leshchenko, Scientific Attaché of the Federative Republic of Germany.
Oleksandr Spivakovskiy, speaking via video greeting, noted the special significance of this discussion for KSU, which was displaced due to the war.
“From our own experience, we know what it means to lose a home — and to rebuild it step by step through the strength of our academic community and the support of our international partners Together with VUIAS and the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, we continue to defend academic freedom, promote interdisciplinary research, and strengthen the resilience of higher education even in the most challenging times,” he emphasized, expressing gratitude to the organizers and participants for creating a platform to exchange ideas, reflect on challenges, and envision a sustainable future for Ukrainian universities.
“From our own experience, we know what it means to lose a home — and to rebuild it step by step through the strength of our academic community and the support of our international partners
Together with VUIAS and the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, we continue to defend academic freedom, promote interdisciplinary research, and strengthen the resilience of higher education even in the most challenging times,” he emphasized, expressing gratitude to the organizers and participants for creating a platform to exchange ideas, reflect on challenges, and envision a sustainable future for Ukrainian universities.
In gratitude, Serhii Omelchuk, First Vice-Rector, presented guests with the publications “Kherson Essays: Living to Win” and “The Black Swan in the History of Kherson State University, or Chronicles of a Relocated University.”
Dr. Mikhail Leshchenko highlighted that academic assistance is an important part of supporting Ukraine. He also described Germany’s funding and partnership programs for Ukrainian universities, noting that support includes not only digital platforms and online events but also in-person visits and exchange of experiences, thereby strengthening academic connections and solidarity.
Among the VUIAS fellows are representatives of KSU: Professor Daria Malchykova and Associate Professor Mykola Homanyuk. During the discussion, they presented their research:
Daria Malchykova provided a detailed retrospective of KSU’s work during the occupation and relocation, focusing on administrative, academic, research, and international measures that ensured the resilience of the university community. She highlighted the development and implementation of crisis management strategies to maintain sustainability and growth during periods of polycrisis and military threats:
“As a university that preserves the Kherson identity, we consider it necessary to pursue research on the consequences of the war in our region to develop post-war recovery strategies, study civic resistance of Kherson residents during the russian occupation, document the impact of military aggression on the environment and protected areas, and support initiatives preserving intangible cultural heritage,” the Vice-Rector stated.
Associate Professor Homanyuk emphasized that the occupation and liberation of Kherson, the relocation of KSU, and the Kakhovka tragedy drew global attention to the city, including its academic dimension:
“Of course, Kherson State University faces many challenges. Due to displacement, we became essentially an extraterritorial university. We lost our territory, where students studied and graduates worked. However, we continued providing all services remotely. This is an opportunity, not only for students but also for teachers. It allows to work from anywhere in the world, while maintaining a strongly expressed local Kherson identity,” Homanyuk said. He expressed hope that the creation of new laboratories, research centers, expansion of international cooperation, and an increase in the number of graduate and doctoral students at KSU will provide staff with more opportunities for research. “As a relocated educational institution, KSU is searching for its niche. Strategic positioning, systematic marketing, and staff development can open new horizons,” Mykola Homanyuk concluded.
“Of course, Kherson State University faces many challenges. Due to displacement, we became essentially an extraterritorial university. We lost our territory, where students studied and graduates worked. However, we continued providing all services remotely. This is an opportunity, not only for students but also for teachers. It allows to work from anywhere in the world, while maintaining a strongly expressed local Kherson identity,” Homanyuk said. He expressed hope that the creation of new laboratories, research centers, expansion of international cooperation, and an increase in the number of graduate and doctoral students at KSU will provide staff with more opportunities for research.
“As a relocated educational institution, KSU is searching for its niche. Strategic positioning, systematic marketing, and staff development can open new horizons,” Mykola Homanyuk concluded.
Professor Oksana Mikheieva (Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, VUIAS fellow) presented “Challenges of Relocated Universities (2014–2022),” summarizing years of research on displaced universities in Ukraine between 2014 and 2022. She emphasized the use of the term “displaced universities” instead of “relocated” to reflect the involuntary nature of relocation due to war. She outlined scenarios ranging from full relocation to multiple cities, mergers, or the gradual disappearance of institutions.
Associate Professor Kateryna Bondar (Kryvyi Rih State Pedagogical University, VUIAS alumna) presented “Universities in Exile: Wartime Displacement as a Test of Academic Freedom and Civic Identity.”
Kateryna Bondar presented the results of a study on academic freedom and social identity at universities that have undergone military displacement. She paid attention to the challenges faced by staff and students of displaced universities, including psychological trauma, loss of local infrastructure, competition in new communities, and administrative difficulties across multi-campus institutions.
The event concluded with remarks from Viktoriya Sereda, who thanked participants for a deep and meaningful discussion.
Background
The Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, in close collaboration with partner institutions in Ukraine, Europe, and the USA, launched the initiative to support Ukrainian scholars in establishing the Ukrainian Institute of Advanced Study (UIAS) in Kyiv. Full institutional activities in Ukraine will be possible only after the end of the war; however, the preliminary virtual institute, VUIAS (www.vuias.org), began operations in September 2023. The first six years of the project are funded by the Volkswagen Foundation.
The goals of the new institution are broad: VUIAS mobilizes support for scholars during the war and contributes to rebuilding the Ukrainian academic community afterward. By connecting Ukrainian researchers in Ukraine and abroad, VUIAS integrates them into the international academic space and promotes knowledge about Ukraine globally. The institute also aims to prevent brain drain caused by war and displacement. Its establishment phase is coordinated from offices in Kyiv and Berlin. While russian aggression continues, academic events are conducted in virtual and hybrid formats.
Since 2023, VUIAS has awarded 86 fellowships, 47 in Ukraine and 39 abroad. Fellows represent 20 scientific fields and 40 academic institutions across all regions of Ukraine.
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