“We smiled for the first time since the war started”: USW donates laptops and hoodies to Ukrainian partner university

The University of South Wales has donated laptops and hoodies to its partner university in Ukraine – the Kharkiv State Academy of Physical Culture – which colleagues say made them smile “for the first time since the war started”.

Since twinning with the Academy in 2022, USW sent a shipment of IT equipment and branded hoodies to Kharkiv, which has been particularly badly hit by the unrest in Ukraine in recent weeks, with the aim of boosting morale among its staff and students.

Yuliya Kovalenko, from the department of Cinema and Television at Kharkiv State Academy, said: “On behalf of the Rector [equivalent of a Vice-Chancellor in the UK] and all of the academics, I want to thank USW for the donations you have sent us.

"It was a pleasure for all of us to receive the hoodies, and to be honest, for the first time since the war started, we gathered and smiled, laughing together, thanks to your gifts.”

Mike Chick, USW’s Refugee Champion, added: “We are pleased to be doing what we can to offer support and solidarity to our partner university in Ukraine, the Kharkiv State Academy of Physical Culture.

"The infrastructure and facilities there have suffered greatly during the Russian invasion, and we hope that by sending this first shipment of IT kit, staff and students can continue to work and study.  

“Hopefully, academics from Kharkiv will be able to visit USW this spring in order that staff from both institutions can share good practice and start planning projects to help rebuild its educational infrastructure.”