Purdue extending Ukrainian Scholars Initiative
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Purdue University on Wednesday announced an extension of its Ukrainian Scholars Initiative through May 2024. The university received a $270,000 grant from the Indianapolis-based Heritage Group to extend the program, which provides Ukrainian students a chance to continue their education in West Lafayette during the war between Ukraine and Russia.
The announcement comes just two days ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Last March, then-Purdue President Mitch Daniels established the initiative with the goal of assisting faculty members and scholars “whose academic pursuits have been derailed by the conflict.”
In addition to renewing the program, Purdue plans to expand it to include a new class of Ukrainian scholars.
“We hope the Ukrainian scholars in our community can return to safety and freedom in Ukraine one day soon,” Purdue President Mung Chiang said in a news release. “In the meantime, through Heritage Group’s resounding support and our firm commitment, we will renew and expand this initiative on a campus for the free minds.”
Purdue received more than 100 applications and was able to accept 20 individuals. Nine scholars ultimately enrolled in the program, all of them on campus by November 2022 with the expectation they would be in Indiana for at least 12 months.
“After the arrival of all of our nine scholars, The Heritage Group was eager to learn more about each individual and to know how they could help,” said Mike Brzezinski, Purdue vice president for global partnerships and programs. “We’re so very pleased and grateful that they are contributing the majority of funding needed to sponsor each scholar for one year. Individuals from Heritage also are eager to meet our Ukrainian faculty and students, a sign that they are truly interested in their well-being.”
Purdue said the scholars are doing their own research or supporting research by Purdue faculty members. Several are also enrolled in doctoral programs.
The scholars are working in a variety of study areas, such as chemistry, library sciences, psychology and political science.