Hochschule Mittweida supports those affected by the war

The university management and student representatives as well as all members of the university are concerned about the people in Ukraine and those who have set out and left their homes out of fear for their lives. Faculties, central institutions and management have been active since the weekend coordinating further action.

Currently, 36 Ukrainian students are enrolled at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences in the winter semester, about 20 of them are at Mittweida university right now. They are studying in double degree programmes with long-standing Ukrainian partner universities in Odessa (in the south on the Black Sea) and Dnipro (in the central-eastern part of the country) or are enrolled in individual study programmes.

"It is not only the students, but also a large number of alumni and academic partners in Ukraine who need our solidarity", Professor Ludwig Hilmer said. He's Mittweida UAS' current rector.

"The solidarity shall become tangible, just as the suffering that touches us through the numerous e-mails from our Ukrainian students, alumni and friends that reach us every day.

"The hardship affects the Ukrainian family members holding out from the air raids in bunkers and underground shafts, the hardship affects those fleeing, and it also affects the Ukrainians living here in Mittweida, safe on the outside but powerless."

In individual cases, students from Russia and Belarus are also affected by the current situation and are included in the measures taken by the university. In the past few days, the following initial aid measures have been initiated:

Ukrainian students can reach English-speaking contact persons via the support hotline of the student council - also via WhatsApp and Telegram: +49 162 9 77 39 14.

The HSMW creates the opportunity for students who have refugeed from Ukraine to continue their studies at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences. This applies not only to students from the HSMW partner universities in Dnipro and Odessa, but also to students from all Ukrainian universities and of all nationalities. Students from all Ukrainian universities can be

• enrolled in German courses at the Studienkolleg of Mittweida University of Applied Sciences for free via the Intregra programme. After completing this course, they can enrol in all German-language degree programmes at the HSMW.
• take single English-language modules in the summer semester and in the winter semester offered at the HSMW.
• enrolled in the English-language degree programmes in Applied Mathematics (Bachelor and Master) and Industrial Management (Master).

The International Office of Hochschule Mittweida as well as the student service accompany and support students affected by the war with organisational and administrative questions; this includes for example, the departure of students from Ukraine who are already enrolled, the extension of the stay of Ukrainian students in Germany, the application for scholarships and other support services, the suspension of examination deadlines and the granting of holiday semesters.

Students who have not yet been enrolled at the HSMW but now want to continue their studies in Mittweida can find the right offer at the International Office. It is also possible to enrol as a guest student, whereby students from Ukrainian universities do not have to pay any fees.

In faculties and central institutions, all colleagues are required to regulate all questions of study, examination and research operations in a way that is appropriate to the situation and in the interests of the students. Proactive communication with the students should take place in a proven manner.

The HSMW also supports refugee academics in continuing their academic work at Mittweida University of Applied Sciences. This also applies to running PhD projects. Several academics from Dnipro are accommodated in Mittweida. Dr Julia Köhler is the contact person for direct support for academics.

Ukrainians or people coming from Ukraine are exposed to great psychological stress because of the worry and grief for their loved ones. A student wrote to us: "There is a terrible fear of losing them (relatives). Tears and panic are what we have been living with for the last few days." Arriving refugees from Ukraine, usually women and children, are traumatised. We organise English- and Ukrainian-speaking accompaniment for them through the Studentenwerk, churches and other organisations.

The Social Contact Point of Mittweida University acts as the central point of contact for psychosocial support and counselling. After contacting them by telephone oder e-mail, the people concerned will be referred to suitable contact persons, pastors and psychosocial counsellors.

This support is explicitly available to all those directly and indirectly affected by the war in Ukraine, regardless of their university affiliation.

The Student Council has set up a "Ukraine Donation Account" through which you can easily and specifically provide assistance that will be passed on immediately. On the one hand, the donations are intended to help the Ukrainian students living with us, who are dependent on financial support from their home country. On the other hand, the donations are supposed to help the Ukrainians on the run who we are expecting here.

Both the immediate emergency aid in case of missing monthly payments from the home country and the medium-term general Ukraine aid of the university serve exclusively humanitarian purposes.

Account holder: Studentenschaft HS Mittweida
IBAN: DE06 8709 6124 0199 0064 10
Purpose: Ukraine-Hilfe
Volksbank Mittweida eG

In addition to a bank transfer, donations can also be made via Paypal. Donation confirmations are possible. Please send enquiries (with address) to stura@hs-mittweida.de.

Students and alumni who would like to make use of such financial help should contact the Student Council directly - by e-mail to stura@hs-mittweida.de or via the Suppoert Hotline.

The financial help via donations is flanked by short-term loans and, if necessary, temorary rent exemption for Ukrainian students as well as the provision of rooms in domitories for refugee students and meal vouchers by the Studentenwerk Freiberg. The HSMW also supports its refugee alumni by providing accommodation and financial assistance.

In addition to Ukrainian students, students from Russia and Belarus can also receive these support services if they are unable to receive payments from their home countries due to the SWIFT decisions.

Employees who would like to help personally, for example as a dialogue partner, should contact Dr. Julia Köhler. The student council collects and coordinates offers of support from students.

Update:

Since the registration of the growing number of refugees is progressing very slowly, the start-up of governmental support is also delayed. Helpers who take care of war refugees in Mittweida, for example by hosting families or regularly caring for them, are gradually reaching their financial limits. People who would like to help with donations of money and food are asked to contact Dr. Julia Köhler.

We are also looking for translators and people who can accompany the new arrivals as a personal contact person. You should be prepared to support the refugees, for example, by helping them to settle in after their arrival, by being available to answer questions, by providing spiritual and moral support, and by organizing donations in kind.

Together with the city of Mittweida, HSMW collects donations in kind for people affected by the war via Netzwerk Mittweida e. V. In addition to (medical) equipment that is not likely to be available in every household, such as operating tables, beds, laboratory equipment, emergency power generators, etc., consumables such as emergency blankets and first-aid kits (including expired ones) are most needed. Items for daily hygiene needs such as sanitary towels, tampons, toothbrushes, etc. also help people who are fleeing their country. Further information on accepting donations in kind can be found on the website of Netzwerk Mittweida e.V. (in German).