Oxford Ukraine Peace Rally 2023: Prof Lionel Tarassenko speech
Prof Tarasenko addressing the crowd at the Ukraine Peace Rally
On Friday 23 February 2023, the Oxford University Ukrainian Society organised a peace rally marking the first anniversary of Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Reuben College President Prof Lionel Tarassenko and Reuben student Viktoriia Podvorchanska delivered speeches on the University’s response to the Russo-Ukrainian war.
Read Prof Tarassenko's speech below, and view a recording of Viktoriia's speech here.
"I am here to represent the University, both as a Head of House representing its 39 colleges, and a Pro-Vice-Chancellor and a Professor of Engineering representing the University’s academic Divisions and their Departments.
The events of a year ago will remain in our memories for a very long time; the images of Russian tanks invading Ukraine and of civilian buildings destroyed by Russian artillery were shocking then and are still shocking today.
This was especially true for places like Kharkiv, the birthplace of my grandfather, where the frequent shelling in the first few months destroyed most of the buildings of that city’s Universities.
As the war intensified and the number of refugees from Ukraine soon grew into millions, it became clear that this University and its colleges should do something to help those refugees.
Oxford colleges have a proud tradition of welcoming refugees, starting with academics fleeing from Nazi Germany in the 1930s. It is well known that in 1931 Albert Einstein was awarded an honorary degree by the University and a Research Fellowship by Christ Church, but it is perhaps less well known that two years later an economist born in Kyiv, Jakob Marschak, arrived in Oxford, probably the University’s first refugee from Ukraine. He then went on to be the Director of the Oxford Institute of Statistics from 1935 to 1939.
It was important that any 2022 scheme set up by the University should not create a brain drain from Ukraine. For this reason, it made sense to offer one-year graduate scholarships to Ukraine refugees, enabling them to come to Oxford to study on a taught Master’s courses before returning to Ukraine with newly-acquired skills to help in the reconstruction of their country.
The graduate scholarship scheme for Ukraine refugees was developed in record time, with graduate admissions re-opened in May, the scheme advertised in June and the selection of the 26 scholars from nearly 900 applicants taking place in July. This was only possible because the central University administration, the academic departments and the colleges worked closely together at every stage.
26 colleges are now providing accommodation, meals and a stipend for their scholar; 24 Departments from the University’s four academic Divisions and the Department of Continuing Education are waiving the tuition fees for their scholar, from Computer Science to Theology and from Social Anthropology to Genomic Medicine. Two Departments have welcomed two scholars: the Business School and the Faculty of Law.
Amazingly all 26 refugee scholars arrived in Oxford on time to start their courses at the beginning of October, after some help from the Home Office with a couple of difficult visa cases. Since then, the scholars have integrated well within their departments and colleges, supported by the Programme Coordinator for Ukraine within the University’s ‘Refugee Academic Futures’ initiative. The scholars are making a real contribution to University life, whilst also doing all they can to help back home in Ukraine, knowing that their families are living under the constant threat of air raids as the Russian aggressor has no qualms in targeting the civilian population.
The University’s generosity towards refugees from Ukraine is not confined to scholarships for graduate students. Building on the tradition started nearly 100 years ago, many colleges have elected academics from Ukraine to Research Fellowships. Some of these are part-funded by the Council for At-Risk Academics (CARA), the British Academy or in full by the College itself. And so there are more than 20 researchers-at-risk from Ukraine in Oxford today, from early-career post-doctoral researchers to established Professors, most on two-year Fellowships, some with their children. Members of the University, academics and staff, like many people in this city, have opened their homes to Ukraine refugees under the ‘Homes for Ukraine’ scheme introduced by the UK Government.
The University’s support for Ukraine is wide-ranging and will continue to be strong for as long as it is needed. Working with some of the current scholars, the Business School and Oxford University Innovation, we are starting to develop an initiative to support Ukrainian start-ups. Next academic year, most of the researchers-at-risk will enter the second year of their Fellowship and we will welcome another 18 graduate scholars, in part funded by XTX Markets, an algorithmic trading company.
As I finish, I invite you to applaud the 50 Ukrainian scholars and researchers-at-risk, many of whom are here dotted around the Square: they are wonderful ambassadors for their country and represent the whole of the Ukraine population in their courageous fight for freedom and democracy. I end with the traditional, Slava Ukraini, Glory to Ukraine, not as a nationalistic cry but as a celebration of the values for which the Ukrainian people are so bravely fighting for, on behalf of all of us. Slava Ukraini!"
- Prof Lionel Tarassenko
