In the Context of the War in Ukraine, Sciences Po Takes Action

Since the beginning of the war waged by Russia against Ukraine in violation of international law, Sciences Po has taken action to provide aid and support to those impacted by the conflict.

In this appalling context, our first priority has been to assist Sciences Po students who are currently located in Ukraine to leave the country as quickly as possible. In addition, we have been in contact with Sciences Po students of Ukrainian nationality to express our solidarity and to offer the support of our institution, in conjunction with Paris City Hall and the French public services, to address any material or psychological difficulties that may arise.

At the same time, the International Affairs Department’s staff are working to assist the many Sciences Po students currently in Russia for their studies to help them leave the Russian territory in accordance with the instructions of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs. This process is still underway for several students.

As of next week and with the return of our students to campus, two major public lectures will be organized by the School of International Affairs (PSIA) and the School of Public Affairs (EAP) on the issues and implications of this war. These lectures will be held in the presence of specialists from our academic community and will allow a rational and scientific analysis of the facts to be shared through the prism of the human and social sciences. As an international research university, Sciences Po pledges to research, teach, and study the major issues of this region.

Sciences Po values humanism and is committed to fighting arbitrary violence. These have been the essential principles of our institution since it was founded 150 years ago. Our role is to take action as soon as possible to host researchers - in connection with the PAUSE Programme - and Ukrainian students in exile to offer them a place to continue their activities in safety. We are actively working to bring this about. The involvement of international universities is fundamental in these times of crisis and we must do everything in our power to contribute to it. With this in mind, Sciences Po’s President, Mathias Vicherat, has contacted the President of our Ukrainian partner university, the National University of Kiev - Moyhla Academy, to assure him of our institution’s full support and assistance. 

Since the beginning of the Russian invasion, Sciences Po’s students, employees, teachers, researchers and alumni have already taken action. Sciences Po will continue to support initiatives to assist the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian academic community, and the EU values of freedom and solidarity that we share. Let us continue to act together to promote peace, the defense of freedom of thought and expression, equality, and diversity. 

(Image of the façade at the Sciences Po campus in Dijon, which specializes in Central and Eastern Europe ©Sciences Po)

Find out more

• Read also: Our Graduates Are Covering the War in Ukraine
• For more information: Insights on the War in Ukraine: Sciences Po's Response