The University of Leicester has strengthened its links with two Ukrainian universities after receiving funding to collaborate on research projects related to supply chains, aerospace, bioengineering and artificial intelligence.

 In December, Leicester signed a twinning agreement with Mykhailo Ostrogradskyi Kremenchug National University (KrNU), and in April - with Poltava State Agrarian University (PDAU).

 The research projects are the next step in a partnership that has seen Leicester host Ukrainian students and researchers, provide clothing and equipment, training, English language courses for staff and students, and collaborate on law classes.

 The project between Leicester and KrNU will develop a five-year research plan in aerospace, bioengineering and artificial intelligence.

 This will help KrNU maintain its wartime knowledge base and be well positioned to quickly reap peacetime dividends in the future with Leicester as a strategic partner. The project will increase the level of technological readiness in existing areas of joint expertise. The new generation of doctors of science, trained as part of cooperation, will help restore Ukraine as a stable, prosperous, stable, democratic country.

 Professor Mykhailo Zahirnyak, rector of KrNU: "I would like to express my deep gratitude for such a strong support that we feel from people in Great Britain. We would especially like to thank the administrative and academic staff at Leicester for their solidarity and willingness and willingness to support our students and staff.

  "We greatly appreciate the readiness of the University to help our teachers and students, including the expansion of existing mobility, the involvement of our University in joint scientific projects and other opportunities. This is the best and most effective support for us in this difficult time of war."

  Meanwhile, the PSAU collaboration will allow researchers from both institutions to study traceability in food supply chains to improve global and national competitiveness. It is hoped that the research will help improve the ability of Ukraine's war-torn food supply chain to recover and thrive.

  Professor Yuliya Samoilyk from PDAU noted: "The project is aimed at determining the main factors of food insecurity and vulnerability in different regions of the world, as well as at assessing the resilience of food systems to external shocks and failures. These questions are very important in the conditions of the war in Ukraine. Many countries of the world felt the problems associated with the blockade of Ukrainian ports."

Geoff Green, Registrar and Secretary of the University of Leicester, said: “We have been working with the universities of Kremenchuk and Poltava since last summer, and from the outset we wanted to build a partnership that would provide support both during immediate conflict and during conflict. for a longer period.

 “The funding we have received from UKRI to support project research in artificial intelligence and aerospace technologies with KrNU and in food supply chain management with PSAU will help build the foundations for long-term, meaningful collaborations that will have a positive impact on research. , education and reconstruction of post-conflict Ukraine.

 "The resilience and positivity of the colleagues with whom we work at KrNU and PDAU under such difficult circumstances is inspiring, and I am proud that we can work with them on some projects that can in some way give hope for the future."

  The research projects are funded with more than £220,000 from Research England through the UK Universities Partnership Grants for Research and Intellectual Activity (UUKi) scheme.

  Wednesday, March 29, marks one year since the establishment of the British-Ukrainian university twinning program UK-Cormack Consultancy Group.

 One hundred British institutions are now twinned with a Ukrainian institution. The main motivation behind twinning is to preserve the integrity of the Ukrainian higher education system, reduce the "brain drain" and support universities in Ukraine to emerge from the crisis with greater resources, skills and strong international experience.

 A reception in the House of Lords on Wednesday will bring together university vice-chancellors, parliamentarians, donors and beneficiaries of the scheme to mark the first anniversary of the Twinning scheme. Geoff Green will represent Leicester at the event.