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Today (24 February) marks one year since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and the University wanted to reiterate its support for the people of Ukraine and the students and staff in our community affected by the ongoing conflict.  

Twinning with Oles Honchar Dnipro National university
We are proud to be officially ‘twinned’ with Ukrainian University Oles Honchar Dnipro National (DNU), with an agreement to support students and academics affected by the conflict in Ukraine and help ensure the university’s integrity. We are working with DNU on a series of workshops and training sessions for DNU academics and professional services staff to support them to continue to deliver education to a dispersed student population and to prepare students for life after education. The libraries teams have met to discuss how we might be able to support digitisation of archives and rare books as well as providing access to libraries and archives for staff and students. We are also continuing to source equipment for their scientific, medical and electronic needs – if you think you or someone in your School can help please get in touch with Gemma Proudley for a list of equipment needed.  

Supporting and support from the Sussex community
Members of the Sussex community (alumni, current and former staff, students and friends) responded warmly to the University’s Emergency Ukrainian Students Sussex Fund Appeal. Since the beginning of April last year, over 300 supporters have collectively given almost £32,000 to this appeal. With match funding from a legacy donation, this means that a total of around £64,000 has been raised to help provide hardship bursaries to Ukrainian students affected by the war.    

In addition, to support our student community we have increased our hardship funding and we continue to encourage Ukrainian students affected by the ongoing crisis to contact our support services via the Student Centre, or for staff, the Employee Assistance Programme is available. If you are affected by the events in Ukraine, please do reach out.   

The Ukrainian flag, which has flown from Sussex House from the beginning of the conflict (with the exception of when key Equality, Diversity and Inclusion awareness flags have been flying), will continue to fly in solidarity with the people of Ukraine.   

The Sussex Fund, supported through alumni and staff donations, is currently supporting Ukrainian students in financial hardship, as well as Syrian and Turkish students affected by the recent earthquake.  

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