Students and scholars displaced by conflict or war in their home countries are getting some extra financial support from Western University.
Western announced $600,000 in new funding on Wednesday for current and new international undergraduate and graduate students in need of assistance because of disasters or conflicts such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
“Our goal is to create new pathways to Western for those looking to pursue education and scholarship in the safety of our campus community, and to enhance support for current international students from countries in crisis,” said Western President Alan Shepard.
Undergraduate or graduate students displaced by global crises will also be eligible for new six-to-12 month research opportunities through the university. As well, in partnership with the international Scholars At Risk network, three new displaced scholars will be given support to come to Western.
In addition to the newly announced financial supports, Western’s Ivey Business School will be giving 10 Ukrainian students free tuition, housing, and learning materials, including a monthly stipend, to attend the school on an exchange basis. The Ivey MBA Ukraine Students Academic Shelter Program is open to students enrolled in a masters-level program in business, finance, marketing, technology or economics at Lviv Business School and the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. If all 10 spots are filled, Ivey’s total investment would be more than $1 million, according to the university.
Western is also launching a fundraising campaign to create a Student Crisis Relief Fund. The fund would provide ongoing support for current students whose education has been disrupted due to natural disasters or geopolitical events.
“The Western community has a compassionate history of offering this kind of support, as demonstrated by our response to humanitarian crises in Syria and Afghanistan, and our scholarships for Iranian students following the downing of Flight 752 in 2020,” said Shepard. “Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, teams in Western International, the Registrar’s Office, and across the university have mobilized to support those most affected by the crisis.”
Health and wellness supports are in place for affected students and include mental health and counseling appointments.
