The Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin, in close cooperation with partner institutes from Ukraine, Europe, and the United States, has launched an initiative to support Ukrainian scholars in their effort to found a Ukraine Institute for Advanced Study (UIAS) in Kyiv.
VUIAS will mobilize support for scholarships under conditions of war and contribute to rebuilding Ukrainian academia once the war is over. By connecting Ukrainian scholars in and outside Ukraine, VUIAS will more strongly integrate Ukrainian scholars into the international academic landscape and broaden and deepen knowledge on Ukraine within global academia. It will also help combat the brain drain caused by war and displacement.
The founding phase of the institute will be overseen by offices in Kyiv and Berlin. As long as the Russian attack on Ukraine continues, academic events are to take place in virtual and hybrid form. The official start is planned for September 2023.
For the academic year 2023/2024, fourteen fellowships will be awarded to Ukrainian scholars from various disciplines: see The first call for applications is open for six VUIAS Fellowships in Ukraine for the academic year 2023/24.
The Ukrainian social scientist Viktoriya Sereda will lead and coordinate the project’s academic activities. The ultimate goal is to establish a real Ukraine Institute for Advanced Study in Kyiv as soon as Russia’s war of aggression comes to an end.
The project will be supported by the Volkswagen Foundation with funding of around 960,000 euros for the first three years.