UK Partner
Dr. Sonia Brandon, Associate Head (Academic), Faculty Accounting, Economics & Finance
Ukraine Partner
Prof. Viktoriia Korneshchuk, Head of Department of Psychology and Social Work
Co-Investigators
Dr Elena Lisauskaite, Senior Lecturer, Faculty Accounting, Economics & Finance
Amy Davidson, Senior Teaching Fellow, Faculty Accounting, Economics & Finance
Nataliya Nikon, associate professor of the Department of Psychology and Social Work of the Odessа Polytechnic National University
Maryna Bodelan, associate professor of the Department of Psychology and Social Work of the Odessа Polytechnic National University
Yulia Todortseva, associate professor of the Department of Psychology and Social Work of the Odessа Polytechnic National University
Project objectives
This project aims to initially understand the situation Ukrainian students in HE find themselves in since the war has begun and how it has impacted their academic progression, motivations for the future and wellbeing. By understanding this, we can establish ways to help and areas where students need additional support, both academically and in pastoral care. Possible improvement of pedagogcal practices in the future, with a greater understanding of the students. With this, it should hopefully help nurture talent and prevent human capital flight.
Project goals
The proposal is to take a similar approach to Lavrysh et al,. (2022) who studied the impact of war on teachers, however, one distinct difference is we propose to focus on the impact of students at University students in Ukraine on the impact of war. We propose to use surveys to gauge the views of university students. The main themes we would like to address areas:
• Mental Health
• Perception of progression
• Social interaction between students and/or staff
• Support from their universities’
We propose asking these questions, initially asking participants to rank their answers using a Likert scale followed by an open question asking for the reasoning of their rank:
1. How has the war affected your ability to study?(All)
2. Do you feel your focus on your education has changed since the war began? (Perception of progression)
3. What encourages you to keep studying? (Perceptions of progression)
4. How has the war affected your social interactions with staff and/or students? (Social interactions)
5. How do you feel your University has supported you during the war? (Support)
6. What assistance would you like from the international education community to enable your
studies? (All)
Questions 1-4 allow us to understand the individual whereas questions 5 & 6 give us the opportunity to understand the support available both from their university and the broader education community.
From these questions, we hope to gain an understanding of how students have been affected by war. Question 1 should give us some insights into the mental and physical ability to study during a war. Question 2 helps us understand how/if priorities have changed during the war and if their perception of progress has altered. There is evidence that social interactions improve learning (Baber, 2021), so it is important to establish how or if there has been an impact on learning hence question 4.
In addition to these questions, we would like to examine the difference between levels/disciplines for the impact on their prospects and an overall comparison of demographics. Incorporated within this section we plan to gather information on the previous attainment where possible from second years and up. This will help establish if the war impacted students differently depending on their academic abilities.
Role of each Partner
The participants of this project are the scientists and researchers, Ph.D, the Associate professors of the Psychology and Social Work Department of Odesa Polytechnic National University, who are working in such directions: organization, collection of primary information, empirical investigation, collection, processing and analysis of research data (sociologist Natalia Nikon); analysis and development of tutoring recommendations, their implementation in the educational space (pedagogue Yuliya Todortseva); analysis and development of recommendations for improving pedagogical skills (social pedagogue Maryna Bodelan); development of recommendations for comprehensive support of students during the war for institutions of higher education (all researchers).
The University of Portsmouth team is planning to help Odesa Polytechnic team in drafting the survey. Then they will assist in the analysis of the survey. Finally, we shall work as a team to produce a report of our findings and recommendations.
Then once the project is complete we will try and submitting in Educational Research Review for publication and conferences such as European Education Research Association conference or Advanced Higher Education conferences as these are more frequent.
Timing
Project Start Date: 31 January 2023
Project End Date: 31 August 2023
Expected results
1.The presentation of the results at scientific conferences.
2. The presentation of the results in academic publications.
3. The introduction of courses on professional development of teaching staff into the educational space.
