Ukrainian students seek refuge here to flee the war with the hope of continuing their education. They, especially, because the young men are retained for the needs of the war, will often have left their family behind, in a dangerous situation, leaving alone and often with very little means. The future of Ukraine’s intellectual, cultural and scientific development will undoubtedly rest in part on its ability to entrust the training of this next generation to other countries while Ukrainian universities and research centers are forced to suspend their activities. .
To recover from the atrocities of war, the Ukraine of tomorrow will need these engineers, doctors, scientists and thinkers. Moreover, the Ukrainian youth (very active during the events associated with the Euromaidan of 2013 and 2014) is for a lot in the journey of this country towards democracy.
But what will be the lot for us for these young people who have interrupted their studies in terrifying circumstances and wish to keep a hope of studying here, in Quebec? The answer is disheartening: Ukrainian female students, according to the steps taken by an intern whom I will soon be welcoming to my team, will have to pay around $25,000 for each year of study at the undergraduate level if the current conditions are not modified. If we take into account the average annual income of their country (approximately $7,500 per year, whereas we are around $50,000 in Quebec), this amount is equivalent, all things considered, to asking a Quebec woman to pay more than $150 $000 for each year of study.
It is clear that such fees will have the effect of making university studies inaccessible for this cohort of young people who choose to come here. Financial aid projects are circulating within universities and granting agencies, but for the time being, nothing concrete is emerging and everything seems to be based on individual initiatives rather than a concerted position of our universities. Let us remember that we welcome these young people to offer them help, not to help us.
A solution exists. It is simple and imposes itself in the name of solidarity with this people at war. In the absence of free admission, universities could at least offer them a significantly reduced rate.
This measure would make the prospect of supporting these students with philanthropy, other merit scholarships and student work, all with a debt that they can realistically manage if they return to their country, less illusory. Humanism and solidarity are key values of the university tradition: let’s not be afraid to bring them to life by taking concrete action.
I invite our universities, particularly in Montreal, to work together to examine this situation and possibly reach an agreement with the Government of Quebec to act without delay. Already, the University of Alberta has shown clear leadership by offering up to $1 million in scholarships to these young people; the University of Toronto has begun to announce special scholarships. Let’s not go down in history for having been the tow of such initiatives: it is high time to act and tackle this situation head-on, as Ukrainian female students flee the war and seek places to continue their education.
It is urgent to help. Let’s not stand idly by.