Name: The Role of the University in War
Start: 2025-11-04T09:00:00+00:00
End: 2025-11-04T18:00:00+00:00
Location: University of Hull

Join us to consider universities in wartime from the First World War to the war in Ukraine. What role do universities play past and present?
About this Event

The Role of the University in War

This interdisciplinary (hybrid) conference considers the role of universities in war past and present. With a particular focus on the war in Ukraine, this conference considers how universities operate in war zones and the role universities play in non-conflict zones to support the academy and the communities they serve in war and displacement. Keynote speakers include: Professor Sir Hew Strachan, University of St Andrews, Dr Iryna Sikorska, Mariupol State University, and Simon Banks-Cooper, Entrepreneur, Charity Trustee and University of Hull alumnus. Hosted by the University of Hull (UoH) and Mariupol State University (MSU), the conference is part of a British Council-funded project exploring the role of the civic university. We are working in partnership with the University of New Haven, USA, Hull and East Yorkshire Ukrainian Community (UK), Hull 4 Heroes (a UK Veterans charity) and Hull Truck Theatre (a Theatre of Sanctuary).

Agenda

🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:30 AM
Welcome

Info: Message from Tetyana Marena, Interim Rector, Mariupol State University and Research spotlights from University of Hull academics: Dr Catherine Baker, and conference organisers, Dr Jenny Macleod and Dr Catherine Wynne

🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:20 AM
‘The Role of Women’s Leadership in Sustaining Ukrainian University During War’
Host: Keynote: Dr Iryna Sikorska (Mariupol State University)
🕑: 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
‘Resilience, Transition, and Hope — Supporting Veterans in a Time of War’
Host: Olena Yershova (ex Ministry of Veterans’ Affairs Ukraine
🕑: 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
‘Leisure of IDPs with Disabilities in Wartime: The Ukrainian Case’
Host: Stepan Jankowski (Mariupol State University)
🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
‘The Importance of University Exchanges in Wartime: Lessons from Ukraine’
Host: Dr Olena Lennon (University of New Haven)
🕑: 01:00 PM - 01:30 PM
‘A Perception in Transition: Education as the Catalyst for Renewal’
Host: Simon Banks-Cooper
🕑: 01:30 PM - 02:00 PM
‘Higher Education for Strategic Defence: A Public Policy Proposal for HE
Host: Dr Gary Fisher (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine)
🕑: 02:00 PM - 02:30 PM
‘Twinning Partnership as a Tool of Academic Solidarity and Cultural Dialogue'
Host: Maksym Stopin (Mariupol State University)
🕑: 02:30 PM - 03:00 PM
‘Ukrainian Women Entrepreneurs in Times of War'
Host: Dr Anna Chechel (Mariupol State University)
🕑: 03:15 PM - 03:45 PM
‘Feeding the Mind: Relief to European Universities 1918-25'
Host: Professor Tomás Irish (Swansea University)
🕑: 03:45 PM - 04:15 PM
‘Empire at War: Academic Mobility & Colonial Knowledge in the First World War’
Host: Dr Caitlin Harvey (University of Hull)
🕑: 04:15 PM - 04:25 PM
‘Hull, City of Sanctuary’
Host: Honorary Alderman John Robinson and Councillor Mike Ross
🕑: 05:00 PM - 06:00 PM
‘The practical use of academic history: military history & the war in Ukraine'
Host: Professor Sir Hew Strachan (University of St Andrews)