The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Stepan Gzhytskyi University (SGU) in Ukraine to provide critical support to the education and research institution during the war with Russia.
As part of the MOU, the RVC and SGU will aim to foster cooperation and a long-term partnership between the institutions by first developing a framework to support the continuation of SGU’s education and research capacity during wartime. The partnership will then consider developments post-war that would mutually benefit staff and students, such as exchange opportunities and research collaborations.
An initiative by Universities UK and Charles Cormack Consulting, this partnership is part of a wider scheme, endorsed by the UK Government and the Office of the President of Ukraine, to provide significant and ongoing support and partnership between UK and Ukrainian universities and bolster the UK Government’s support for Ukraine.
More than 70 UK universities are taking part in the scheme; the RVC’s partnership with SGU is the only “twinning” which focuses on veterinary medicine.
Professor Stuart Reid, CBE, president and principal of the RVC said: “The RVC is proud to partner with Stepan Gzhytskyi University and is humbled by the opportunity to support Ukraine during this incredibly difficult time.
“Veterinary and biological sciences are shared strategic areas for the RVC and SGU and we are committed to providing immediate support with a longer-term view of developing a strong and lasting collaboration between our two institutions and our two countries.”
Professor Volodymyr Stybel, rektor at Stepan Gzhytskyi National University of Veterinary Medicine and Biotechnologies of Lviv, said: “For our University, this is a significant step forward in the field of internationalisation. It is a great honour for us to have such a partner as the Royal Veterinary College.
“We are sincerely grateful to all the British people for their huge support in such a difficult time for us. We hope for our joint victory over terrorism and fruitful cooperation!”
