The University of Central Lancashire is helping to fund an energy generator for its twin university in Ukraine to ensure students can continue their education amidst the ongoing crisis.
The University has provided funds towards a generator system for its twin, Uzhhorod National State University (UzhNU), which is based in the South West of the country. This donation has subsequently been matched by the Charitable Foundation for Reconstruction and Support of Mariupol State University to ensure Uzhhorod can function efficiently during its conflict with Russia.
Paul Rowe, Director of International Partnerships at the University of Central Lancashire, said: “As part of the Universities UK International (UUKi) twinning scheme, the University has been supporting our Ukrainian twin UzhNU for the last three years, providing computers and furniture for a study centre in Uzhhorod and providing language training, both online and in-person in Cyprus.
“We're proud to have been able to continue support for UzhNU with the purchase of a mega battery to facilitate continued university operations during the regular power outages colleagues are facing in Ukraine. As our donation was match-funded, we were also able to support the purchase of a generator to be used elsewhere in Ukraine.”
"We're proud to have been able to continue support for UzhNU with the purchase of a mega battery to facilitate continued university operations during the regular power outages colleagues are facing in Ukraine."
— Paul Rowe, Director of International Partnerships at the University of Central Lancashire
The University of Central Lancashire’s support will be to contribute to the batteries for the generator, which ensure 10 hours of electricity a day for UzhNU. The generator at the University runs on solar power but the batteries make certain it will have electricity security.
UzhNU Vice-Rector Lendel Myroslava commented: “During the summer we started to install this system, which was purchased through a grant from the World Bank. We realised that we also needed to buy a big battery to store the electricity so we can use it during blackouts.
“We wrote a message to the University of Central Lancashire and asked if, as our twinning partner, to use the funds that we have for cooperation to purchase this battery.”
The generator appeal is crucial as 70% of Ukraine’s power infrastructure has been destroyed, putting 45,000 students at risk of displacement without immediate intervention.
"This project is extremely valuable because we have insurance that we can function as a university in any condition."
— UzhNUVice-Rector Lendel Myroslava
This generator will play a vital role in sustaining university operations. Without it thousands of students would be forced to leave their accommodation due to the lack of power, causing a disruption to the country’s higher education system and potentially contributing to a new refugee crisis.
Lendel added: “This project is extremely valuable because we have insurance that we can function as a university in any condition. We are thankful to the University of Central Lancashire.”
The generator purchased will be diesel-powered, which will ensure reliability in harsher conditions, and have a 60 – 80 kW capacity, to suit the large-scale institutional usage.
By Lucy Hewitt
