Variety of support services for Ukrainian refugees at the University of Bayreuth

With the start of its relief efforts for the Ukraine, the University was suddenly faced with a multitude of demands, which themselves changed in their nature again and again. However, because our support was borne jointly by a multitude of shoulders, such challenges were overcome each time.

At the beginning, there was the urgent challenge of finding a common basis for communication. To this end, the University of Bayreuth offered language courses for academics and students as a solid starting point. For the students, language preparation for their studies plays a central role. For this reason, language courses have been provided preparing refugees for their studies, and at the same time networking them at the University of Bayreuth. Meanwhile, the services of the Welcome Centre have been lending support with everyday queries, making it so much easier to find their feet in Bayreuth.

Another large part of our commitment extends to the support of Ukrainian academics who have found a point of contact at the University of Bayreuth. The University has set up a specific and unique grants programme called "Bayreuth Bridge for Science". This programme is financed by the Rainer Markgraf Foundation and the Upper Franconia Foundation. But the necessary financial basis is not everything – there is just as much need for day-to-day support and points of contact. This is where the University of Bayreuth family and Bayreuth academics on site deserve a huge amount of credit for acting as hosts and looking after refugee academics at their research centres, helping them to settle in as easily as possible. But the support goes even further. The University of Bayreuth 's Research Funding and Welcome Centre provide refugee scientists with a wide range of advice and support in their search for grants.

The University of Bayreuth is also trying to take responsibility and provide support by arranging external language courses outside the university environment. For example, five language courses have been set up thanks to donations from Rotary.

Special times require special measures, and the University of Bayreuth family is doing its utmost to facilitate the arrival of people who have, from one moment to the next, had to leave behind everything and run for their lives.