ACADEMIC SUPPORT FOR UKRAINIAN STUDENTS AND SCHOLARS BY POLISH UNIVERSITIES IN 2022–2025: STATISTICS AND ANALYSIS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29038/2524-2679-2025-02-318-335Keywords:
Poland, Ukraine, academic support, Ukrainian students, scholars, higher education, universities, humanitarian security, educational integration, academic mobility, research cooperation, adaptation programsAbstract
This article analyzes the large-scale academic support provided by Polish uni- versities to Ukrainian students and scholars during 2022–2025, in the context of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war. Based on extensive source material – including official statistics, governmental reports, university initiatives, and bi- lateral academic programs – the study traces the rapid growth in the number of Ukrainian students in Polish higher education institutions, who by 2024 ac- counted for up to 47 % of all international students in the country. The author outlines the main forms of support: tuition waivers, scholarships, accommoda- tion, language courses, psychological assistance, and participation in programs such as NAWA, NCN, Erasmus+, and ENHANCE. Special attention is given to integration mechanisms, adaptation strategies, and the role of Polish academia in preserving Ukraine’s intellectual potential. The article also addresses understud- ied dimensions such as regional, gender, and disciplinary disparities, the signifi- cance of informal academic networks, and the influence of digital infrastructure on scholar mobility. The analysis reveals that Polish universities have shifted from crisis-mode assistance to a long-term strategy of academic solidarity that may lay the foundation for a new model of inter-state cooperation in higher edu- cation. The article concludes that Poland’s educational support should be viewed not only as a humanitarian response but as part of a broader architecture of secu- rity and resilience in Eastern Europe. The author emphasizes the need for further research into the effectiveness of adaptation, reintegration of scholars, and the long-term rebuilding of Ukraine’s academic environment.
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