Universities University finishes studying in Ukraine because there is no money – the establishment of the program was “lucky”, the downsizing of which began with one retirement

Bridge during the week, many seem to have become experts in Ukraine. There has been demand. But there have been few who are deeply acquainted with the country and its history.

There have been opportunities for training, also in Finland. In 2008, the University of Helsinki established a special study unit in Ukraine. Half of the minor-sized package is focused on Ukrainian culture and politics, half on Ukrainian language studies.

The courses have been undeniably interesting: Contemporary Ukrainian Culture, Ukrainian Woman and Politics, Chernobyl – Political, Social and Cultural Context …

A year was planned for the establishment of the entity, but the timing of the start in autumn 2008 was excellent. That same spring, doors to the west were opened for Ukraine. The then president of the United States George W. Bush had given its support to the NATO membership of Ukraine and Georgia.

“But the establishment was not related to the world political situation,” emphasizes the director of the study unit Jouni Järvinen From the Alexander Institute of the University of Helsinki. Demand had come from both government and business.

In the process this week, the Ukraine entity has risen again. The Alexander Institute decided late last year that it would be closed down. The decision, of course, seems foolish in this global situation.

But the downtime started earlier. In the autumn of 2020, half of the language studies left the whole. A Ukrainian-speaking Russian-speaking teacher who worked at the university retired and no new one was hired.

Again, the reason for the end is not world politics, but money. Or that it doesn’t exist. Juha Sipilän the government’s training cuts took the faculty of humanities eight million euros out of its more than 30 million euros in annual budget.

Where possible, studies in Ukraine will be integrated into national degree programs in Eastern Central Europe, the Baltics and the Balkans, and Russia and Eastern Europe. Director of the Alexander Institute Markku Kangaspuron according to this, it secures the teaching for which teachers are available.

“It wasn’t a viable program without funding. This is so harsh, ”he says

Humanistic Dean of the Faculty, Professor of Nonfiction Pirjo Hiidenmaa is upset when he gets constant queries about what ever is being cut.

“There will be a picture that we are turning off the lights. No one ever asks what’s new here. ”

The closure of Ukraine is not even a matter for the faculty, but for the internal distribution of resources within the Alexander Institute.

According to Hiiumaa, it was once “fortunate” for the university to have a Ukrainian-speaking teacher available. Besides, the interest in the study unit Ukraine has not been very high. In the basic and advanced language courses, the number of credits could be three per year, in the courses dealing with society and culture, of course, tenfold.

The whole has been based on the lesson teachers. According to Hiiumaa, they have been used too much in the faculty, when money could be used to hire people.

“We have over-optimistic fields of study that have one professor but offer studies from bachelor to doctor. It has not been an advantage for the university to have 30 per cent of the teaching taught as part-time. ”

Järvinen and Kangaspuro say that only outside funding could save Ukraine as a whole.

“You don’t have to be in the rigors of university,” Kangaspuro says.

Järvinen says that students’ interest in the whole has arisen especially when Ukraine has been in the headlines. Still, there have been only a few graduates in a year.

However, it would not necessarily be terribly bad if even a few people a year learned at least 15 credits of how Ukraine and Finland differ in everything, not least in history.