Due to the war started by Russia in Ukraine, the educational process in this country has almost stopped. In response to the events in Ukraine, the Faculty of Law at Vilnius University invited Ukrainian researchers and lecturers to study and teach together, and students of law at Ukrainian universities to continue their studies at Vilnius University free of charge. On March 30, the first get together with students from Ukraine took place at VU Faculty of Law. A Ukrainian Law Center has also been opened, where teachers from Ukraine will work remotely.
“Upon arrival, students receive free accommodation and a VU Grand Duchy of Lithuania scholarship, they can continue their studies as full-time students. For the students in Ukraine, it is possible to join studies remotely. Almost a hundred students in the field of law have already taken advantage of this opportunity, mostly from Kyiv, Odessa and Kharkiv, more than thirty have already arrived in Lithuania, others are still going or starting to study remotely. More than twenty Ukrainian teachers have been employed for working remotely,” says Dean of VU TF prof. Tomas Davulis.
The meeting was attended by the Minister of Social Security and Labor Monika Navickienė, the Head of the European Commission Delegation to Lithuania Marius Vaščega, the Deputy Minister of Justice and the lecturer of the Faculty of Law of Vilnius University dr. Gabija Grigaitė – Daugirdė and Serhii Vasylenko, Adviser to the Ambassador of Ukraine to Lithuania. Teachers and students in Ukraine connected remotely.
“This war will be remembered by generations and those who will want to rebuild their home. We are very happy that Lithuania welcomes us here as relatives and helps us in every way, even though it is a small country,” said Serhii Vasylenko, Adviser to the Ambassador of Ukraine to Lithuania.
Marius Vaščega, Head of the European Commission Delegation to Lithuania, emphasized that this is not only Ukraine’s war, but also the war between Russia and the democratic world: “Law will play a major role in this war and after its end, and the Ukrainian Law Center at Vilnius University will undoubtedly contribute to it ”.
The Minister of Social Security and Labor Monika Navickienė spoke about the arrival of Ukrainians in Lithuania and the fact that all Ukrainian people will be welcome here until they have the opportunity to return to their homeland and rebuild it. “Our biggest goal now is to integrate refugees into society, to make them feel at home. About 40 percent of them have higher education, we are glad that they manage to find jobs in both IT, nursing, and other fields. It is great that VU also gives them the opportunity to continue their studies and work,” said the Minister.
“After the war, you will have a very important mission – to ensure a modernized legal system of Ukraine, to integrate it into the EU, and to do so together with your teachers and like-minded people. I don’t doubt that this will happen,” said Gabija Grigaitė-Daugirdė, Deputy Minister of Justice and VU TF lecturer. She was pleased with the motivation of the young people and their determination to continue their studies.
Recording of the welcome speeches is available here.