🇺🇦 Together We Learn & Grow

The full-scale Russian invasion has severely disrupted Ukraine’s education system. More than 2,800 educational institutions were damaged or destroyed, and other schools, colleges and higher education establishments were under equal threat. These circumstances forced more than 5 million Ukrainian schoolchildren and students, as well as their teachers, to significantly reshape their usual lives – learning was fully or partially transferred to online format, and some training programmes were suspended for a while.

However, it is in these circumstances that the ability of the state and educators to provide quality education for children and youth is critically important, as it is the future of the nation, of those who will be working to rebuild and modernise Ukraine. Therefore, education is one of the most important, strategic areas and development enablers, and this is undeniable.

In order to effectively bridge the learning gap, the European Commission has taken a comprehensive approach to supporting Ukrainian students, both those studying in Ukraine and those forced to seek asylum in EU member states, since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The Delegation of the European Union to Ukraine is launching a new communication campaign called Together We Learn & Grow to inform as many young Ukrainians, their parents, teachers and the general public as possible about:

benefits and opportunities provided to Ukrainian children and youth through the EU’s consistent support in general and since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine
advantages and prospects for the education sector that Ukraine will benefit from after joining the EU.

As of today, more than 700,000 Ukrainian children are studying in EU schools, and many are enrolled in higher education institutions there. To maintain their ties with Ukraine and ensure their eventual return home is a matter of public concern, deliberation and challenge, as they have adapted to the new environment and, most importantly, feel safe. But they are Ukrainians, each of them is important for Ukraine, and the country relies on them as builders and crafters of the country’s future. Therefore, it is extremely important to pave the way to fostering impartially attractive conditions for their return and growth in their homeland. One of these tools is sustainable and targeted investment in the education system, which will also be aligned with that of the EU, ensuring comfortable and equal conditions for both those returning and those studying in Ukraine.

The EU has long and consistently contributed to the implementation of Ukraine’s strategic priorities in education, supporting secondary and higher education, vocational training, and the development of new skills. This cooperation also focuses on expanding Ukraine’s integration and accession to the common European Education Area.

The campaign is geared towards raising awareness and creating an informed understanding among a diverse audience at large about:

the EU’s contribution to accessible and comprehensive education in Ukraine, including the possibility of integration into the European Education Area
the EU’s contribution to safe and continuous lifelong learning
new opportunities for Ukrainian youth and the academic community enabled by EU-funded programmes and projects.

Since the beginning of the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, along with the traditional areas of support, another one has been identified as a priority in the face of war – safe access to education for children in Ukraine.

The resources allocated for this purpose are channelled to the most important components of learning in primary, secondary, higher and vocational education and training:

Rehabilitation, renovation and reconstruction of schools
Creating safe and modern learning spaces
Raising awareness of mine threats
Psychosocial support for children, teachers and caregivers.

The all-Ukrainian Together We Learn & Grow communication campaign will include awareness raising, learning and public activities with a variety of interactive features both online and offline.

Together We Learn & Grow – this new communication campaign will run from September 2024 to January 2025.

To find out more about the communication campaign activities, please follow the news on our website, as well as on the EU Delegation to Ukraine’s pages on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter/Х.