In July 2022, the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) 2022 scientific conference was held in Katowice. One of the panels, entitled ‘Can Science Save Ukraine?’ was attended by Ganna Tolstanova, Vice-Rector for Science at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. Today, the scientist talks about what university life looks like in the face of three most significant challenges — civilisational, related to post-pandemic reality, and finally resulting from the Russian aggression on an independent European country.
Małgorzata Kłoskowicz, PhD: Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv is one of the largest universities in Ukraine. In 2024, it will celebrate its 190th anniversary. Currently, it consists of thirteen faculties and eight institutes. As we can read on the website, it is a classic university with a research profile oriented towards education, science, and innovation. What distinguishes this university from other scientific institutions in Ukraine?
Prof. Ganna Tolstanova: Nowadays, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv is a multidisciplinary educational and research centre with a modern infrastructure and strong staff behind it. Despite its 200 years of existence, the Shevchenko University is not the oldest in Ukraine or Kyiv (for example, the Ostroh Academy was founded in 1576 and the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in 1615). Nevertheless, it is one of the leading universities in Ukraine and undoubtedly the most recognisable due to the architectural features and characteristic red façade of the main building, alluding in colour to the ribbons of the Order of Saint Vladimir, whose name it bears since its foundation in 1834.
The University has a glorious history, large educational and scientific potential, and a European perspective. The first academic units of the University were created under the motto Utilitas, Honor et Gloria (‘Utility, Honor and Glory’). Today, the University boasts extensive educational and scientific infrastructure. The university is made up of 12 faculties and 11 institutes, as well as the Astronomical Observatory, Kaniv Nature Reserve, A.V. Fomin Botanical Garden, the Maksymovych Scientific Library, the Institute of Psychiatry, several specialised centres, 2 educational and scientific centres, 10 museums. Together with several Ukrainian universities, we have established the Taras Shevchenko Science Park in Kyiv, and we also run a Business School.
M.K.: The Ukrainian identity of the university seems to be very important. It is worth mentioning that in 1939 when the Kyiv Imperial University of Saint Vladimir was transformed into the National University of Kyiv, the new institution was named after the famous poet Taras Shevchenko.
G.T.: Indeed, I suppose there is no need to explain how important is the national identity of the leading educational centres in any country. In my personal opinion, even with the status of an ‘imperial’ university, named after the Grand Prince of Kyiv, it was simply destined to become an ideological cradle of national identity. Instead of being an outpost of Russian autocracy, the University has been critical of the current order since its inception. Initially, it became one of the centres of the Polish national-democratic movement in 1830-1860, and later, in 1845-1847, it became the centre of activity of the Cyril and Methodius Brotherhood. One way or another, the University always found itself at the epicentre of all the events taking place in the state.
The name it now bears is not only a tribute to an outstanding Ukrainian poet, but also a restoration of its rightful place in history. It was here that Taras Shevchenko was arrested and exiled for promoting the idea of an independent Ukraine. Due to his role in the development of Ukrainian literature and language, he is often compared with other poets of the Romantic era, in particular with the great Adam Mickiewicz and Juliusz Słowacki in terms of their role in the formation of Polish literature. His influence is not limited to art or literature. Shevchenko’s works have an amazing ability to be prophetic and not lose their relevance. Thus, by appealing to national consciousness, many of his works encourage the awakening of a sense of national dignity and honour in Ukrainians. In particular, in the poem To my dead, alive, and unborn countrymen… (1845), the poet calls on his compatriots to love Ukraine ‘in fierce times’ and to always respect their own gains/achievements by drawing from the experience of others. This is his nationally conscious civic position, his European choice.
M.K.: While we are on the topic of the European context, I think it is worth looking at our continent through the lens of the current challenges. European, i.e., Polish and Ukrainian, scientists are responding to the effects of global climate warming, confronting pandemic realities, and responding to social changes when conducting their research. To what extent have these topics been and are being addressed by researchers associated with your university?
G.T.: In our University, we try to support bottom-up initiatives for research topics and choosing partners for cooperation. Nevertheless, analysing the strengths and synergies of our university research teams, I would identify several thematic key areas which aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and where we can have the greatest impact through our interdisciplinary teams: new medical chemistry technologies; nanotechnology; advanced materials and new manufacturing processes; mental and physical health; climate action; sustainable agriculture, cities, and communities. I would like to give you just a few examples, of how our researchers quickly reacted to the devastating effects of war.
Our University has created a well-recognised mental health research ecosystem. We have the Faculty of Psychology and the recently established Institute of Psychiatry, which combine medical research and education and initiated close interdisciplinary cooperation with the Institute of Law and Faculty of Economics to study the connection between socio-economic welfare and mental health. The researchers’ experience gained during the coronavirus pandemic allowed for an almost immediate response to the challenges of the Russian invasion through the establishment of a 24-hour toll-free ‘Stop Panic’ hotline, while the collection of raw data via questionnaires enabled us to develop evidence-based recommendations for the government on how to improve health care for people experiencing mental illness as a consequence of the ongoing war.
I would also like to mention the interdisciplinary team consisting of staff from the Faculty of Geography, the Institute of Geology, Biology and Medicine, the Institute of Public Administration and Civil Service, and the Faculty of Economics, who combined their expertise to launch a new research programme entitled ‘New developments to overcome the consequences of war’. Our researchers recognised the long-lasting effect of land and groundwater contamination with heavy metals as a result of shelling and the use of various weapons. Also, the fires in forests and steppes of national parks were considered. Each of these activities has a direct or indirect impact on various elements of the environment, e.g. climate and microclimate, air, geological environment; aquatic environment; soils; flora and fauna, nature reserves, public health, and social environment. Our researchers are actively applying for grants to get support and prevent a possible ecological catastrophe.
M.K.: When it seemed to us that we were slowly getting used to the new post-pandemic reality, in February 2022, we received shocking information about Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. In the article entitled ‘We are ready’: Ukraine’s universities calm in the face of war, published in February 2022 on the Times Higher Education portal, Vitaliy Kurylo, President of the Taras Shevchenko National University of Luhansk, said that they were in control of the situation and that the most critical task for them was to keep in touch with students and staff and provide them with access to the latest information. What were the first days after the Russian attack like?
G.T.: This is a very important question. Of course, during the first hours not the first days of the War the main order of the University authorities was to keep all the students and employees informed and give them clear instructions and support. Now, I can say for sure that our team passed this test with flying colours. We held Rector’s election in the Spring of 2021, Prof. Volodymyr Bugrov has been elected by the University employees and students for the term of 5 years and I has been appointed as the vice-Rector in May 2021. At the end of September, I gave a talk during the workshop entitled ‘Crisis management in academic institutions’ in the framework of the Virtual Academy on Science Management organised jointly by the Netzwerk Wissenschaftsmanagement (NWM Germany) and the Professional Network of Research and HE Managers (PNRM UKRAINE). Of course, I have talked about the experience of our university. To prepare my presentation, I revisited the official website of the University and retrospectively checked all our announcements and actions. We just did everything correctly. We have created the branched information system – an official website, Telegram group chats, Viber and Facebook groups, and Intranet. We organised daily reports on the living conditions of all University employees and students by adopting the multilayer report system. The Rector runs regular joint meetings with all University authorities (vice-rectors, deans, directors of research institutions, and heads of all administrative departments). We organised mental health support as well as the centre for humanitarian aid.
I would like to list the main conclusions which I made in the face of the crisis.
Firstly, be ready to admit that previous operational schemes are not reliable anymore and be ready for innovative approaches;
Secondly, be proactive and flexible in your duties.
Thirdly, don’t be ashamed to ask for help.
M.K.: Reports of the following days of the war came pouring in from many places. In an article on the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network website, Serbeze Haxhiaj published numerous statements by academics who faced similar challenges. Prof. Oksana Boyko, Head of the Bachelor Programme at the National University of Kyiv, said she was trying to survive the attack and continue her academic work at the same time. She recalled losing contact with students who were drafted into the army and spoke of helping others not only to study but also to find work.
G.T.: Our University never stopped its operation. Of course, we announced the break for students on 28 February, but we went back to the virtual auditorium on 4 April. It is worth mentioning that we owe a lot to the Covid-training. We were fully equipped to run online courses. The high quality of education is the main motto for University and we stayed true to it.
Unfortunately, our University has its own very sad stories. We have lost many of our employees and students. There is a new page in the long history of our University and all these names will be properly honoured. These losses are evidenced by the University’s virtual memorial honouring the memory of those graduates, students, and teachers who gave their lives for the freedom and independence of Ukraine (https://www.univ.kiev.ua/en/virtual-memorial). Unfortunately, 26 people have already been listed there.
M.K.: One of the fundamental elements of this fight is communication.
G.T.: Communication often has a decisive influence on key events in the history of an individual country or even the entire humanity, often determining a certain vector of the development of the situation decades ahead. Moreover, we should not underestimate the role of communication during a hybrid war, when the turbo mode of the information flow is oversaturated with disinformation of a destructive nature, which can and should be resisted by means of communication. It is no secret that the world around us is changing rapidly. However, the basic values of society remain the same. This is what we teach our students. The University is rightfully proud of them.
Nevertheless, I agree that currently the implementation of these and other educational and scientific projects requires much more effort to find and attract additional sources since the invasion deprived us of the opportunity to use the usual ways and resources. We are motivated by a clear understanding that science must work for the development of the country. In this context, I would like to quote the words of Frédéric Joliot-Curie, a Nobel laureate and son-in-law of Marie Skłodowska-Curie: ‘Science is needed by the people. A country that does not develop it turns into a colony’.
M.K: International cooperation is also an important aspect. Many in the higher education community have called for academic solidarity. What does this solidarity look like from the perspective of recent months? What else can we do?
G.T.: We really appreciate all the initiatives from our foreign colleagues. Of course, our University had a lot of direct letters of support as well as general initiatives such Science4Ukraine. A lot of platforms were created for discussion and initiation of new ideas. The EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) 2022 is one such great platform. Looking back to the first days of war and international support, I can say that individual support should evolve into support for the higher education system as a whole.
M.K.: I think young people, especially students who want to continue their education outside Ukraine, should gain knowledge and experience. Their country will need them after this nightmare ends. What would you like to tell them today from the bombed city?
G.T.: My personal view is that each person has only one life. If they feel that they can gain more experience somewhere else, then I support them in their decision. This nightmare will not last forever. Ukraine, without a doubt, needs well-educated, bright-minded young people, with fresh ideas, with the energy to rebuild their country for a better, proper, and happy future!
M.K.: Thank you for your time.
The interview between Małgorzata Kloskowicz, PhD and Prof. Ganna Tolstanova was published in the November issue of the Gazeta Uniwersytecka UŚ (USil Magazine) no. 2 (302) 2022 under the title ‘Ukraine will need well-educated, open-minded young people’.
Prof. Ganna Tołstanowa | Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv materials