The Faculty of Political Science of the University of Bucharest launched the platform uni4Ukraine

Wednesday, 2nd of March 2022, the Faculty of Political Science of the University of Bucharest launched the platform uni4Ukraine, available at http://uni4ukraine.unibuc.ro.

The project aims to identify, monitor and present in one place and in a user-friendly manner, the existing initiatives that support those who flee Ukraine via Romania, irrespective of citizenship.

The platform adds to a series of other actions initiated by teaching staff, students, as well as the administrative staff of the University of Bucharest.

Its pages are continuously updated and currently all information is available in English, Romanian and German.

Versions in Ukrainian, Russian, French, Spanish and Portuguese will also be available.

In addition, the team will launch soon a section about how students from Ukrainian universities, irrespective of citizenship, can continue studies in Romania, as well as a section on basic protection against disinformation.

The platform includes

• relevant information, resources and contact details for those who flee the war in Ukraine, irrespective of citizenship;
• the list and contact details of all initiatives under the aegis of the University of Bucharest (information, accommodation, donations and fundraising campaigns, volunteer recruitment, translations of official documents);
• Especially for those who wish to offer help as volunteers, including via blood donation: information and contact details of public authorities and reputable organizations able to manage resources efficiently and identify those who could take advantage of / abuse the refugees;
• Information and contact details that facilitate the early identification and reporting of potential abuse on refugees, especially in order to prevent human trafficking;
• Condemnations of war and appeals for peace and international solidarity from academia, including the University of Bucharest and the CIVIS alliance;
• A list of reputable international initiatives supporting members of academia in difficulty or at risk.

For information and resources originating outside the University of Bucharest, the project team selected official governmental sources, as well as major initiatives that proved publicly their usefulness for fast and efficient humanitarian relief.

The author(s) of each external resource, as well as the language(s) in which each of them is available are indicated so that beneficiaries can take informed decisions and be protected against potential abuse.

If you wish to suggest resources or initiatives that could be listed on the platform, including appeals for peace and solidarity on behalf of other academic institutions, or if you wish to volunteer for initiatives of the University of Bucharest, we kindly ask you to contact us at uni4Ukraine@fspub.unibuc.ro.

This project is an initiative of students and teaching staff of the professional Master program International Public Affairs (MIPA) of the Faculty of Political Science, University of Bucharest, Romania, and it is coordinated administratively by Associate Professor Luciana Alexandra Ghica (luciana.ghica@unibuc.ro) within the faculty’s Centre for International Cooperation and Development Studies (IDC), part of the Department of Comparative Governance and European Studies.

The uni4Ukraine platform adds to an increasing number of other actions initiated by teaching staff, students and administrative staff of the University of Bucharest, such as the organization of donation and fundraising campaigns (including under the aegis of the Foundation „Virtute et Sapientia” of the University of Bucharest) and the translation of official documents of the Romanian government, as well as identifying and managing accommodation for more than 300 at any given time.

Today, the 3rd of March 2022, 13:00, 173 persons, foreign students and Ukrainian citizens, were hosted in the dormitories of the University of Bucharest and the Guest House „Academica”. In addition, over 60 persons were hosted in the dormitory of the Baptist Theological Institute, by the Ruth Centre, and at CEREFREA Villa Noël. About 40 persons are expected to arrive later today.

It is important to mention that most foreign students that came from Ukraine are currently only transiting Romania and they are heading towards their countries of origin. Therefore, once a place becomes available, the University of Bucharest can host additional persons in need.

Furthermore, the University of Bucharest welcomes and is grateful for the support of private companies for initiatives under its aegis. At the moment, for those fleeing war, financial and in-kind donations (especially food) of about 60.000 RON were collected.

Not least, our academic community mobilized to welcome and support Ukrainian and foreign students and professors who found refuge in Romania. For instance, at the initiative of Centrul de Excelență în Studiul Imaginii (CESI) within the Faculty of Letters of the University of Bucharest, refugees have access to mentorship, research resources, Romanian language courses, as well as counselling for alternative accommodation and advice on everyday life in Romania. Also, students of the program Pedagogia învățământului primar și preșcolar (PIPP) of the Faculty of Psychology and Education Sciences prepared 50 packages containing food, sweets, personal hygiene products and other useful items for the children of the families hosted at the University of Bucharest.