The University of Toronto is preparing to welcome more than 200 students from Ukrainian universities whose studies have been disrupted by the ongoing war, U of T News reports.
Among the initiatives swiftly developed across U of T, the Department of Computer Science and the Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence created a program for 29 upper-year undergraduate and graduate students from Ukrainian universities via a summer research program.
Using mechanisms already in place for its undergraduate research summer program, the department was able to launch its program just a few days after Russia invaded Ukraine, Professor and Chair Marsha Chechik told U of T News.
“When we heard of the massive exodus of refugees, we began looking for ways to help and make a substantive difference. A lot of us have connections with scholars in Ukraine,” said Chechik, who was born in the former Soviet Union. “Our goal was to allow students an opportunity to study in a peaceful environment and with world-class faculty.
“With support from the department, the Vector Institute and University Advancement, the program will welcome 29 young scholars whose studies were disrupted by the war.”
Chechik said most of the arriving students are women due to the Ukrainian government barring most men of conscription age from leaving the country.
“This was obviously not planned and is not in our control, but we are nonetheless excited that these women will come and study with us,” said Chechik, whose own lab will be welcoming two of the arriving students. “Computer science is a very male-dominated discipline, so we will benefit from being able to welcome some outstanding female talent.”
Going forward, Chechik said she envisages the program offering opportunities to students in other conflict-stricken parts of the world.
“This process was focused on students from Ukraine, but I’m hoping that it can be extended past this year and to other places where there are scholars in need.”
Read more at U of T News
Photo by David Lee