NYU President Andy Hamilton welcomes Ukrainian students to NYU Prague.

The start of the school year marked the arrival of a new cohort within the NYU community—a group of nearly 15 displaced Ukrainian students who will spend the 2022–23 academic year at NYU Prague.

The students became part of the NYU Prague community and will study alongside full-time NYU degree students. This program was developed as part of University efforts to provide educational opportunities and other assistance to students and scholars affected by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

NYU identified students for the program in partnership with the Ukrainian Global University (UGU), a consortium of Ukrainian universities dedicated to creating opportunities for Ukrainian students and scholars to continue their education. To further support students, NYU Prague developed special resources and programming for the cohort, including counseling services, health insurance, and a stipend to help cover living expenses.

“NYU is arguably the most global university in the world, so when international crises occur, our community feels them at our core and wants to respond in very tangible ways,” explains Josh Taylor, associate vice chancellor for global programs and mobility services. “There is an all-hands-on-deck mentality right now with a deep commitment to try and help students and scholars who are at risk. Education is an important foundation, especially for these undergraduates who have their whole lives ahead of them.”

NYU Prague Assistant Director for Student Life, Yveta Kenety, chats with Ukrainian students.

NYU Prague, with its geographic proximity to Ukraine and similarities in language and culture, offers a comparatively easy transitional point for the visiting students, according to Thea Favaloro, associate director of NYU Prague. Further, she says welcoming this cohort in our community gives an opportunity for NYU students—many of them American—to gain a deeper and personal insight on how the Russian invasion has affected the Ukrainian people: “We can’t completely understand what these students have been going through, but we are very sincere in our desire to help them while they’re here with us.”

For Anastasiia Koverha, a Marketing student from V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, the opportunity has been empowering. “As I watched Russian missiles destroy my university, I thought I would never be back to my normal student life again,” she explains. “But as I started the enrollment process at NYU Prague, supported by NYU staff at every stage, I felt I was not alone. And being in Prague now, meeting so many incredible people, I finally feel I am not helpless. I know I will return to my country with new knowledge and experiences that will aid in our recovery.”

Likewise, Anna-Mariia Mandzii, an International Relations, Public Communications, and Regional Studies major from the Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, recognizes this year as the chance to deepen her knowledge of her chosen field. “The opportunity to study at NYU Prague is invaluable,” she says. “Being here allows me to look at the current situation in the world, especially the Russian war against Ukraine, from a different perspective.”

While the hope is for a swift and peaceful resolution to the conflict, NYU continues to stand with Ukraine and others affected by crises around the world. In recent years, NYU in New York City welcomed students from Puerto Rico who were affected by Hurricane Maria, as well as Tulane University students who were affected by Hurricane Katrina.

Dr. Tymofii Brik, rector of the Kyiv School of Economics and one of the founders of the UGU, notes, “Having the support of NYU, one of the best and most known universities in the world, is crucial. The leadership at NYU recognized the potential of the UGU and immediately decided to support it. Making strong decisions in times of uncertainty—and then delivering—is rare nowadays. This exchange program is excellent because it ensures that students will come back to Ukraine and contribute to making it a better place.”

Written by Auzelle Epeneter