Challenges of War at the Kyiv School of Economics

With the advent of full-scale war, the life of every Ukrainian has changed dramatically. Early surveys and panel data showed the psychological toll of the conflict: in 2022, a third of respondents reported having experienced nightmares related to the theme of bloodshed and shelling, compared with just 4 percent in 2021. According to the same survey, in 2022 around 80 percent of Ukrainians said that they knew volunteers or others directly involved in hostilities.

Education and science have suffered significantly from the Russian aggression. According to one study, in 2023, documented damages caused by the destruction of educational institutions amounted to $8.94 billion. The scientific infrastructure has also suffered losses: Preliminary estimates indicate that property from thirty-four institutions of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine have been destroyed or damaged by Russian attacks or seized for the needs of Ukraine’s armed forces. The preliminary total assessment of damages for the academy’s scientific institutions alone is $7.8 million.

According to one survey, by fall 2022, 18.5 percent of Ukrainian scientists had left the country. About 15 percent of scientists remaining in Ukraine have stopped conducting research, and the others have seen their research time significantly reduced. Many of those who have stayed cannot physically reach their institutions or have lost access to crucial data for their studies.

Young people, a group of particular interest to any educator or university administrator, have been especially affected by Russia’s aggression. A survey conducted by the Kyiv School of Economics in 2023 found that 40 percent of Ukrainian children showed symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder. This finding should also be put in the context of significant displacement. About ten million Ukrainians were forced to move from their homes, of whom four million went abroad. According to the head of the Ukrainian parliament’s Committee on Education, Science, and Innovation, Serhiy Babak, 10 to 15 percent of students—about 130,000–150,000—were outside the country in 2023. Students who have remained in Ukraine are studying under the pressure of air attacks. Today in Ukraine, access to a bomb shelter has become a significant factor in determining an individual’s access to education.

Despite these challenges, from the very first day of the invasion the Kyiv School of Economics has remained in the city, embracing its role as a university committed to supporting the local community and providing the nation with the human capital necessary to sustain and rebuild the country. Konstantin Sonin and Scott Gelbach, senior economists from the University of Chicago, visited the Kyiv School of Economics in person (along with many other international faculty) to teach under fire and during air raids. In an article published on the University of Chicago’s website, Gelbach observed, “The school has not only survived, but also expanded since the beginning of the war. The people who work there work 24 hours a day, seven days a week, sleep very little, and keep this institution going and moving forward with incredible energy.” He added, “It’s one of the most intellectually exciting, vibrant places I’ve been. People are very interested in studying the social sciences to understand the future of their country. The connection to what people are studying is instantaneous.”

When the invasion began, I was serving as a faculty member, focused on teaching and research. In those first challenging weeks, I chose to stay in Kyiv to support my community and colleagues, dedicating my efforts to global outreach and organizing international events that highlighted Ukraine’s intellectual sovereignty. My goal was to increase our university’s visibility, helping to secure its place as an advocate for Ukraine’s culture and truth. Eventually, I stepped into the role of rector, gaining a new set of responsibilities and new perspectives on education.

Throughout this period, I’ve come to value four fundamental principles: the importance of fostering talent, building capacity, maintaining relevance, and sustaining democracy. While these might seem like basic tenets to any educator, they bear repeating, especially now. In difficult times, simple truths often provide the clarity and grounding we need to guide our actions effectively.

Fostering Talent and Uniting for Common Goals

One essential insight I’ve gained is the importance of human capital—a fundamental need that becomes especially urgent in times of war. Talented, driven individuals will find ways to support themselves and their communities, but universities play a crucial role by providing them with safety, psychological support, and opportunities to thrive. This principle drove us to organize the Ukrainian Global University, to offer not simply a temporary refuge but also full degree programs that would equip Ukrainians abroad to return and contribute to the country’s reconstruction. Some have already returned, and while the numbers remain small, the potential impact is enormous.

To support students immediately, we drew on our experience with COVID-19 to launch online classes quickly. Within three months, we reopened our Kyiv campus, fortified with bomb shelters and underground classrooms. Students sought not only education but also purpose, connection, and resilience.

Our scholars shared the same drive. Many faculty members became volunteers to support humanitarian aid organizations and or military regiments (fundraising for vehicles or helmets, delivering medicine or other supplies, providing analytics, and so on) while continuing their research and writing. Although Scholars at Risk programs encouraged relocation, most of our faculty remained in Ukraine, committed to their communities. Their decisions to do so align with surveys showing a strong desire among displaced Ukrainians to return when possible.

In spring 2023, we took an even bigger step by helping form the Alliance of Ukrainian Universities, uniting six leading institutions, including the Kyiv School of Economics, around a shared mission: advancing and rethinking Ukrainian higher education to foster national unity and social development. The alliance enables our students to gain valuable experience through collaborative projects and new skill-building opportunities. Our hope is that the universities in the alliance will create a model of openness and collaboration that other institutions can adopt, integrating with the international academic community and supporting state and community growth through research and knowledge.

Building Organizational Capacity

Another major takeaway is the key role of organizational structure and capacity. International agencies often apply a standard view of public versus private institutions, assuming that public universities require support while private ones can sustain themselves independently. But in our case, private institutions like the Kyiv School of Economics and the Ukrainian Catholic University provide substantial public value. Our international structure, capacity, and experience have allowed us to absorb and distribute aid efficiently, unlike public universities constrained by bureaucracy and sometimes lacking the expertise to navigate this new environment.

In response, the Alliance of Ukrainian Universities created a collaborative support system, combining the strengths of two private universities and six public universities as full or associate members. Through this alliance, we can support institutions regardless of their classification. The lesson is clear: Ukraine’s unique circumstances demand credible, capable partners familiar with the local context and prepared to deploy aid effectively, regardless of whether they are public or private institutions.

Relevance over Specialization

In wartime, relevance often takes precedence over institutional specialization. Initially, the Kyiv School of Economics was a small, economics-centered institution, but as the war has progressed, we have launched programs in psychology, law, urban studies, and cybersecurity, and we even established a School of Engineering with experimental MA programs in drone technology and microelectronics. Why did an “economics” university diversify in this way? Our research on war-related damage showed critical needs for housing reconstruction, trauma support, and legal expertise to navigate integration into Europe and address war crimes, motivating us to launch relevant programs.

This approach aligns with broader societal needs, helping us navigate the uncertainties of war. Local stakeholders and international donors alike have expressed interest in sectors such as security, logistics, agriculture, and technology, which has led us to develop these new programs. As a result, our institution has attracted some of the country’s top students, achieving high standardized test scores in 2024 alongside Ukrainian Catholic University and Kyiv Mohyla Academy.

A New Kind of University

Ultimately, a university is more than a sanctuary for talent; it is an agent of societal change. In wartime, societies often prioritize national security and centralized governance, raising important questions: How should governance be structured? How can economic needs be balanced with military recruitment? What is the role of freedom of speech amid misinformation? These complex questions find their ideal forum within universities, where data and open debate help temper polarization and ground discussion.

Unlike universities in authoritarian regions, our universities envision a future for Ukraine rooted in democratic values. Our mission is to create a truly global university that fosters growth for the next generation, an idealistic goal that sustains our commitment in challenging times.

The war has tested us in unimaginable ways, yet it has also revealed the profound resilience and adaptability of our institutions and people. The Kyiv School of Economics, once a specialized institution, has evolved to meet the pressing needs of a nation under siege, demonstrating that relevance and responsiveness are crucial in times of crisis. Our experience shows that universities are not just centers of learning; they are also vital agents of change, capable of leading society through its most challenging moments. As we continue to navigate the uncertainties of war, we remain committed to our mission—nurturing talent, fostering innovation, and upholding the democratic values that will shape the future of Ukraine. In these dark times, our vision of a new, global university is not just a dream but a beacon of hope for us and for the generations to come.

Tymofii Brik is rector of the Kyiv School of Economics.