German-Ukrainian University Network
The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) strengthens academic cooperation betweenn Germany and Ukraine with the new funding programme German-Ukrainian University Network. The programme aims at consolidating and intensifying existing cooperations between German and Ukrainian Higher Education Institutions. The German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (previously Federal Ministry of Education und Research) supports the programme until 2029 with 24 million euros in total.
Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine hit the country's academic system heavily. According to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine, the destruction of universities, the forced migration of scientists and the insufficient funding of science are the main obstacles to maintaining scientific operations during the war and ensuring the country's innovative strength for the future.
In 2022, the DAAD responded to these challenges by making current funding programmes more flexible. Additionally, new programmes such as Future Ukraine and Ukraine digital were set up, which met with an extremely positive response both in Ukraine and in Germany. German universities have successfully contributed to supporting Ukrainian universities in these times of crisis, particularly through these funding programmes. This has resulted in new German-Ukrainian university partnerships. Their continuation is of enormous importance for the further integration of Ukraine into the European higher education area and the sustainable reconstruction of the higher education sector. German higher education institutions benefit from long-term cooperation by expanding their internationalisation offerings as well as through learning gains in the areas of resilience and flexibility.
The establishment of a German-Ukrainian university network will be funded from July 2025 to June 2029. It aims at promoting the consolidation of already established German-Ukrainian university cooperations, covering the support needs of the Ukrainian side and at the same time supporting the development of mutual activities.
The funding programme encompasses two modules with different programme outcomes. Projects are funded in one of the modules or in both together.
Module 1: Study and Teaching
German-Ukrainian university partnerships for further developing and integrating degree programmes and joint courses
- Programme objective 1: Universities should offer, and students should seek admission to, degree programmes (with possible conferral of double degrees) and/or jointly developed teaching modules.
- Programme objective 2: Bachelor’s and/or master’s students, doctoral candidates and instructors of the (partner) universities should acquire (cross-)disciplinary competence.
- Programme objective 3: Joint alumni networks for graduates of the participating degree programmes should be created.
Module 2: Internationalisation/ University Administration
Promoting the development and implementation of professional training measures and networking programmes for Ukrainian university staff in the areas of university administration and internationalisation
- Programme Objective 4: Ukrainian university staff should gain further competence in the areas of university administration and internationalisation.
German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
Section P23 - Cooperation Projects in Europe, South Caucasus, Central AsiaE-Mail: duhn at daad.de
Katja Thevs / programme administration
Phone: +49 228 882-403Inna Rechtmann / project administration
Phone: +49 228 882-109Monika Osman / project administration
Phone: +49 228 882-8645
