The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar Declares Solidarity with Ukraine
The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar is an international university — peace and respect for international law are prerequisites for unrestricted, creative research and teaching together with partner universities and cooperation partners around the world. The university’s Presidium stated: »We stand together in absolute solidarity with our Ukrainian neighbours in Europe and with our colleagues in academia there. We strongly condemn the Russian attack on Ukraine and appeal to Russia to stop the war immediately.«
Prof. Dr. Jutta Emes, Vice President of International Affairs and current acting President, said: »I am appalled by Russia’s attack on Ukraine, a sovereign, democratic state in the middle of Europe. It is an awful situation, especially for our Ukrainian students and alumni. Our thoughts are with those on the ground and all those who are being forced to fear for the lives of their families and friends.«
Background Information:
Currently, there are no Bauhaus-Universität Weimar students in Ukraine, except those potentially on private trips of which the university has no knowledge. There are currently ten Ukrainian degree-seeking students at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, i.e. students who are not part of exchange programmes, but who have enrolled directly at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar with the goal of completing their degree here in Weimar. A total of 53 Russian degree-seeking students, as well as two students from the Russian Federation who came to Weimar on Erasmus scholarships, are currently enrolled at the Bauhaus-Universität Weimar. They will complete their exchange semester in the upcoming week and will then likely travel back.
In reaction to the declaration of war yesterday, the International Office immediately wrote individually to all those affected and offered its services as a contact point for support and communication. In addition, Studierendenwerk Thüringen was asked to expand its resources for psychosocial counselling.
The DAAD urgently advises against sending students or staff to Russia at the moment. The university, following suit, is suspending business travel and student exchanges to and from Russia. A Bauhaus-Universität Weimar student who recently travelled to Moscow for an exchange is being asked to return to Weimar.
The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar does not have any direct university partnerships or cooperations with Ukrainian universities.
The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar has two long-standing partnerships with Russia in Moscow: one with the Moscow State University of Architecture (MGSU, www.mgsu.ru), which is actually our longest running university partnership with friendly relations going back to the 1960s. And the Institute of Architecture (MARKHI, www.marhi-international.ru), who have long been a partner for regular student exchanges.
The head of the International Office, Dr. Christian Kästner, said: »Due to the current situation, any coop-eration with Russia is on hold; subsequent steps toward further cooperation are still open. The Bauhaus-Universität Weimar will closely follow recommendations from the HRK and the DAAD, which are a gen-eral consensus in the German post-secondary education system.«