An international research fellowship scheme run by the University of Warwick has filled its final positions, with six of the new researchers joining from universities in Ukraine.

The Fernandes Fellowship programme is supported by alumnus, Rui Fernandes, and is designed to develop lasting research collaborations between Warwick and Europe. The scheme has now recruited 25 fellows in total since the programme commenced in 2018. Now, six fellows from Ukraine have joined the University and are collaborating in research areas across Law, Warwick Business School, Physics, WMG, Engineering, WMS, History and Sociology.

Professor Seán Hand, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Europe), said: “The need for bold and ambitious multidisciplinary research, and for international dialogue and partnerships seeking to support peaceful and healthy societies, are among the most significant leadership challenges of our time.

“Warwick is proud that the Fernandes Fellowships programme plays a clear and decisive role in addressing these challenges; and it has done so much already to mobilise research and collaboration across the EUTOPIA European University alliance which Warwick helped to found. We work closely with the Council for At-Risk Academics, who are experts at supporting vulnerable researchers. It is thanks to donors like Rui Fernandes that we can continue international collaboration in this way and enable students and academics from areas of conflict to access hardship funds, scholarships and fellowships.”

One the of fellows to join the scheme from Ukraine is Dr Maryna Utkina, Senior Lecturer in the Institute of Law at Sumy State University. Her research interests focus on the issues of financial regulation and law enforcement around proceeds of organised crime including terrorism, money laundering and corruption.

She said: “It was a great honour for me to learn that I received a scholarship at one of the highest ranked universities in England. Knowing how the UK supports Ukraine, it was very exciting to find out that I have been awarded the Fernandes Fellowship at Warwick. This is a huge opportunity for me as a researcher and scientist. It’s also very significant support in such a difficult time for my country.”

The Fernandes Fellows from Ukraine will be at Warwick until the end of the year, with the option of Warwick continuing their funding for Ukrainian Fellows into 2023 if fellows wish to remain. The University of Warwick is a designated University of Sanctuary, which means it is committed to providing a welcoming and enabling environment to people fleeing violence, persecution and seeking sanctuary.

"The need for bold and ambitious multidisciplinary research, and for international dialogue and partnerships seeking to support peaceful and healthy societies, are among the most significant leadership challenges of our time." Professor Seán Hand, Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Europe)

Donor, Rui Fernandes, said: “I'm delighted that the Fernandes Programme is supporting researchers from Europe to come to Warwick and be welcomed into an inclusive environment of learning, teaching and research. This is a crucial time to create educational and research opportunities that foster collaboration, open dialogue and partnership between countries.

“As an alumnus, I'm also proud Warwick is a University of Sanctuary committed to helping people who are fleeing persecution and war. It's incredibly important to me that the Fernandes programme has been able to support academics from Ukraine to come to Warwick.”

Since its inception, the Fernandes Programme has enabled a number of significant achievements including, notably, Warwick academic Dr Leandro Pecchia and Fernandes Fellow Dr Giuseppe Fico collaborating to secure €20million in funding to help ensure healthier independent lives for Europe’s ageing populations.

Professor Peter Scott, Director of the Institute of Advanced Study and Professor of Chemistry, said: “The Fernandes Fellowships programme is one of Warwick’s most successful fellowship schemes. The programme continues to attract some of the best and brightest academics and thinkers from Europe to Warwick to help forge long-lasting research collaborations across multiple institutions. It has been wonderful to see the fellowships helping to further the research and careers of the academics, helping them to thrive in an increasingly challenging landscape. I was delighted that we were able to offer six Fernandes Fellowships to help bring Ukrainian Scholars and their families to Warwick.”

 

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