Joint declaration by the federal state and universities in Hesse
Hesse's Minister of Science Angela Dorn and the presidents of the federal state's 14 universities have adopted the following joint statement on the invasion of Ukraine.
The Hessian Ministry of Higher Education, Research and the Arts and the Hessian universities jointly condemn Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, which is in violation of international law. Our deepest concern, sympathy and solidarity go to the people in and from Ukraine, especially to the students, academics and artists who are experiencing death, injury, displacement and the destruction of their homes, infrastructure and livelihoods.
The invasion of Ukraine is an attack on democracy and the liberal values to which modern Europe is dedicated and committed. In accordance with the Lübeck Declaration of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of 10/11 March 2022, the statement of the Alliance of Science Organisations in Germany of 25 February 2022 and the statement of the German Rectors' Conference of 24 February 2022, the State of Hesse and its higher education institutions acknowledge their joint responsibility for students and academics from Ukraine who are in distress or danger and are fleeing war. This also applies to students from third countries who were in Ukraine to study.
The state government encourages the universities to maintain cooperations with Ukrainian universities as far as possible and to stay in contact with students and academics. It would like to thank the Hessian universities for their prompt action and for the numerous initiatives to support Ukrainian students, academics and artists.
The state government and the higher education institutions in Hesse agree to suspend institutional cooperations with Russian and Belarusian higher education institutions and state institutions until further notice, in line with the Europe-wide sanctions regime and the recommendations of the Conference of Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs and the Alliance of Science Organisations in Germany, and to suspend and critically review financial support for state projects with the Russian Federation as far as possible. At the same time, this means that no new cooperation projects are to be initiated and no joint scientific, research policy or artistic events are to be held.
This step is all the more painful as the cooperation between Russian and Hessian universities across all disciplines has been particularly rewarding over the years, as Hesse's relations with Eastern Europe are traditionally particularly close. However, a military attack on liberal values cannot go unanswered and demands a response at all levels. We must therefore show the Russian President that his aggression has consequences.
At the same time, the state government and the universities are committed to ensuring that individual collaborations with Russian and Belarusian academics continue as far as possible and justifiable in the spirit of academic freedom. Our solidarity extends in particular to those in the Russian science and art community who, because they believe in democracy, freedom and the rule of law, represent a critical voice and an important link to Russian civil society and are often themselves victims of repression.
The state government and higher education institutions therefore welcome the fact that Russian students, academics and artists who are enrolled or employed at higher education institutions in Hesse can continue to receive individual funding. Likewise, they can still be accepted within the framework of projects and degree programmes of the universities. We want to foster engagement with the academic and cultural richness of Russia, Ukraine and Eastern Europe and reject any form of discrimination. We counter the message of violence with the culture of peaceful debate.
The state government and the universities will maintain existing offers of support and advice for students, academics and artists from Ukraine, Belarus and the Russian Federation. The HessenFonds scholarship programme has already been extended for persecuted academics and hence also to Ukraine, and individual universities have also already responded with emergency funds and scholarship programmes. In close coordination with each other and with the responsible federal and state bodies, they will also consider further measures in view of the challenges faced by higher education institutions in receiving and supporting students and academics from Ukraine who have been affected by the war and sought refuge.
In this context, we expressly welcome the establishment of the central contact point for Ukrainians refugees by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research as well as the science ministries of the federal states and the Alliance of Science Organisations in Germany. The platform, which is administered by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), can be used to bundle and make accessible information on concrete support measures by the federal government, the federal states, higher education institutions, academic organisations, student organisations and foundations.
The activation of the EU's Temporary Protection Directive has restricted BAföG funding to exceptional cases only in accordance with Section 24 of the Residence Act. We therefore also strongly support the DAAD's promotion of a major support programme for German universities financed by the federal government, on the basis of which the admission, supervision and further qualification of Ukrainian students and academics is to be guaranteed and academic operations at universities in Ukraine are to be supported.
The state government and the universities would like to express their sincere thanks to the many volunteers and private donors who have shown their solidarity with Ukraine and their support for the freedom of science and research.
Statement of the Unite! Alliance
“Our University Network for Innovation, Technology and Engineering (Unite!) – observes the current situation in Ukraine with utmost concern. Our University Alliance shares the European values of respect for human dignity and rights, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law. We express our deepest solidarity to the people and the intention to actively support the students and the colleagues in Ukraine.”
Source Website of UNITE!
Information and Support
Offers of assistance
Förderverein für in Not geratene Studierende der Technischen Universität Darmstadt e.V.
TU Darmstadt appeals for donations for our students who get into difficulties due to the war in Ukraine. The “Förderverein für in Not geratene Studierende der Technischen Universität Darmstadt e.V.” (an aid association for students in need at TU Darmstadt) has been managing a relief fund since its founding in 1992.
c/o AStA TU Darmstadt
Hochschulstraße 1
64289 Darmstadt
Donations account
Förderverein an der TU Darmstadt e.V.
Sparkasse Darmstadt
IBAN: DE44508501500000618020
BLZ (bank sort code): 508 501 50
Account number: 618 020
For donations up to 300 EUR, your remittance form will be recognised by the tax office as a donation receipt since 1.1.2021. For donations over 300 EUR, the “Förderverein” will gladly issue a donation receipt. Please indicate your name and address on the remittance form.
Action committee “Solidarity with Ukraine”
Due to the dramatic situation in Ukraine, many associations, circles of friends and institutions have joined the newly setup action committee “Solidarität mit der Ukraine – Solidarity with Ukraine” under the auspices of Darmstadt’s Lord Mayor, Jochen Partsch, and under the overall control of the “PDUM Partnerschaft Deutschland-Ukraine/Moldova e.V.” association.
The initiative appeals for monetary donations for urgently needed medicine and other relief aid that will be taken to Darmstadt’s twin town Uzhgorod, Ukraine by volunteers as quickly as possible:
IBAN: DE46 5089 0000 0000 952206, BIC: GENODEF1VBD
of “PDUM Partnerschaft Deutschland-Ukraine/Moldova e.V.” at the Volksbank Darmstadt-Südhessen eG, reference “Hilfe für Uzhgorod” (aid for Uzhgorod). For donations up to 200 euros, presentation of the account statement to the tax office will be sufficient for tax allowance. For donations exceeding 200 euros, please provide your full name and address with the transfer of funds.
Donations in kind are also appreciated. The initiative kindly asks you to send a brief email detailing scope and condition of donated goods to this email address: originalfreundeskreis@web.de. Should the items offered for donation be of use and shippable, you will be informed immediately where you can hand over these items.
External Offers of Support
National Academic Contact Point Ukraine (DAAD)
Unite! for Ukraine
Una Europa
Hessen hilft Ukraine: Infos der hessischen Landesregierung (in German and Ukrainian)
German Academix Exchange Service (DAAD)
Studierendenwerk Darmstadt
Stadt Darmstadt Flüchtlingskoordination(in German)