The Rector of the University of Gdańsk appointed dr. hab. Aleksander Kuczabski, prof. UG from the Department of Regional Development at the WNS as the Rector's Representative for assistance to Ukraine. He will coordinate aid actions for refugees from Ukraine and the tasks of the units which are to prepare the admission of refugees to studies and scientific work at the University of Gdańsk. The Representative will be supported in his activities by a team of University staff familiar with the Ukrainian environment.

From the very first hours of 24.02.2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine, the academic community of the University of Gdańsk reacted with firm opposition and indignation, which the University Senate expressed by unanimously supporting the 'Declaration of solidarity with Ukraine'. In the light of the refugees' wave moving towards the Ukrainian-Polish border, the Rector, prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski ordered the administration units to prepare an aid action to facilitate the formal admission of refugees to enrol and Ukrainian scientists to work at the University with financial support from UG resources. Since Friday morning, thanks to the consent and support of the Faculty Dean dr hab. Tadeusz Dmochowski, prof. UG, students from WNS have started collecting gifts for Ukraine as part of the 'Students for Ukraine' action. The Foundation for the Development of the University of Gdańsk has also joined in by organising a collection of scholarship funds for future refugee students, to which various amounts of money are regularly transferred. To encourage other donors, Rector prof. Piotr Stepnowski donated PLN 5000 and prof. Ewa Łojkowska (MWB), who runs the prof. Wacław Szybalski Foundation, declared a donation of PLN 15 000. The Academic Psychological Support Centre headed by dr Agata Rudnik (WNS) and the Academic Centre for Polish Language and Culture for Foreigners headed by dr Irena Chawrilska (WF) were also involved in organising various forms of aid.

- 'Tasks related to providing - scholarship, accommodation, academic etc. assistance - must be carried out in a multi-track manner - from establishing contact, preparing documentation, accommodation, academic and student scholarships, to taking care of families, refugees' children and psychological support,' says Rector prof. Piotr Stepnowski. - 'To prepare reliably and carry out actions efficiently - I appointed my representative for assistance to Ukraine. Prof. Aleksander Kuczabski, a lecturer from the Institute of Social, Economic and Spatial Geography at the Faculty of Geography and Spatial Management, is Ukrainian, knows and understands the culture and language of our eastern neighbour. He will also be supported by prof. Marta Koval, also our lecturer, who is Ukrainian. We had a long talk yesterday and agreed on the scope of activities.'

The tasks to be carried out by the representative include monitoring the needs and initiating activities that assist scientists and students from Ukraine, coordination of support for Ukrainian scientists and students, including the monitoring of national scholarship programmes for Ukrainian citizens and financial support for universities that accept them, as well as researching the needs and possibilities of providing support to Ukrainian students and teachers - members of our academic community.

Another step aimed at improving the organisation of support for Ukrainians by the UG academic community is the launch of a special email address ukraina@ug.edu.pl.

- 'It's a channel where you can send your requests for help, academic initiatives and requests for supporting students and academics from Ukraine,' says Vice-Rector for International Cooperation dr hab. Anna Jurkowska - Zeidler, prof. UG. - 'We are also in constant contact with student organisations that are involved in various aid campaigns. We are glad that we are acting together and in solidarity to help Ukraine.'

We also keep you informed about all our activities on the News page