The Federal Association is in favour of quick assistance and pleads for a perspective to stay for all refugees from Ukraine, regardless of their nationality.
Ulm, 08.03.2022
The Federal Association of International Students (BAS) welcomes the quick and unbureaucratic admission of people from Ukraine who have fled the war. “For us as a society, it is an obligation to help people who are fleeing these massive attacks that violate international law,” says BAS board member Fabian de Planque. At the universities, the representatives of foreign students are also currently doing everything they can to realise practical solidarity with the people in Ukraine and the Ukrainian students. Our special solidarity and support must now also go to our fellow students from Ukraine who are worried about family and friends and are showing solidarity.
The Ukrainian students must now receive support. This support must be both immaterial and material. The BAS therefore welcomes initiatives by the DAAD to set up scholarship programmes and to support universities in providing support. The BAS calls for the psychosocial counselling centres to be increased and equipped accordingly. The BAS considers it a matter of course that Ukrainian students and doctoral candidates are given the opportunity to continue their stay in Germany after graduation without any red tape. At this point, the BAS refers to the numerous offers of the student bodies and student associations, which offer counselling and support services and participate in aid campaigns.
The BAS also expressly welcomes the statement by Federal Minister of the Interior Faeser that people of all nations who are fleeing war will be accepted. However, according to the BAS, this should not only be done with regard to students from third countries in Ukraine – as stipulated in the EU directive – for safe transit. Rather, the BAS calls for the German regulation on EU Directive 2001/55/EC to open up the possibility for all students who have fled Ukraine to continue and complete their studies in Germany if they so wish. “The DAAD would also have to make improvements here,” says Sergej Haar from the BAS board. “The support announced for Ukrainian students who have fled should be extended to all students who had to flee Russian military aggression and war. All those who wish to do so should be allowed to continue their studies in Germany.”
The BAS demands that all students who have fled Ukraine be given a quick and unbureaucratic admission to universities. Students who have fled Ukraine and doctoral candidates who wish to continue their studies or doctorate should be enabled to do so.
“Above all, language courses and bridge courses should be offered and set up first. In these preparatory courses, a study orientation should already take place and subject-specific elements should be incorporated,” Nadia Galina from the BAS board explains. “The universities have to think about how to make it quick and easy for students to start their studies. Additional study places must also be created in degree programmes with restricted admission. The universities should make it possible for students of subjects with restricted admissions in Germany to continue their studies. For information purposes, a central information platform should be created that bundles information from all actors in the higher education sector and refers them further if necessary. In addition to financial support, it is also important to provide accommodation and secure residence.”