WEST LAFAYETTE — Monday was the first day of classes for students at Purdue University.
As many adjust to new schedules, some have PhDs. Students are adjusting to new countries and cultures.
Purdue University has brought 20 faculty members and researchers from Ukraine to the university. It is part of the Ukrainian Academics Initiative.
The decision to create the program was made by the President of Purdue University. The program provides a safe place for Ukrainian scholars to continue their research while the war is ongoing in their home country.
“Valeria,” I said. She studies economics with a focus on currency and risk management.
“The only thing I did to prepare for the war was copy the PhD folder to a flash drive so I could make a second copy,” said Valeria.
Valeria is reluctant to reveal her last name because her mother is still in Ukraine. She wanted to be her Ph.D. She has been a student since childhood and has worked her whole life towards her goals.
She was able to save most of the work she had already done, but much of it now has to be redone because of the major changes in Ukraine’s currency and economy due to the war.
She hopes to use what she is learning now to rebuild her country’s economic system once this road is over.
Valeria said, “My proposal and some advice will be given by our National Bank, or perhaps not by our National Bank, but by some authorities, businesses and consumers to understand what should be done in the financial system. I hope it will be used for
Purdue recognized that some scholars, like Valeria, were unable to continue their studies due to the war, which has now been going on for six months.
Participants don’t get a Purdue degree, but a safe place to study and return to college in their home country when the war is over.
Peter Hollenbeck, Vice President for Academic Affairs at Purdue University, said: Safe to go back. ”
Valeria says her college is still physically standing, but it’s not. She says she is now ruled by a Russian regime that has changed the quality of education.
She tries to check on her family on a regular basis, but she only hears from her mother about once a week. She says she can only talk to her family if her mother has her Wi-Fi not disabled, which is difficult in Ukraine right now.
“You understand that you may be in those shoes or you may be in the shoes of a mother, family member or friend,” Valeria said. Something. “
The Purdue-sponsored program for Ukrainian students will last for a year. Valeria states that she will do everything in her power to complete her degree and return to her home country.
“One of the things I strongly believe in is that one day we can come back and improve the country as we please in the economy, education, and other areas.
Purdue said most of the Ukrainian scholars she accepts are women. Ukrainian men aged 18 to her 60 cannot leave the country in case they are asked to fight.
The program is currently scheduled to run for a year, but university officials say they will reassess the current state of the war and start next year.
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