HERE Ukraine! - Helping to Rebuild Ukraine by Educational means: Social, Psychological and Physical Aspects

Laurea UAS, Metropolia UAS and Haaga-Helia UAS (3AMK) are developing free studies for Ukrainians in Finland that strengthen the competencies needed in social, psychological, and physical rebuilding and future belief.

Implementation date9/1/2022 - 8/31/2024
FunderOKM Erityisavustus
Research programmeSustainable and versatile social and health care
Project typeKansallinen TKI
ThemesPedagogy and cocreation
Project managerVirve Oksanen

Objectives

The goal of the Here Ukraine! project was not only to provide concrete skills to Ukrainians receiving temporary protection in Finland for the physical, psychological, and social reconstruction of Ukraine, but also to enhance the English-taught course offerings of higher education institutions. The aim was to provide courses that were as accessible as possible to participants, which in the project meant the development of online courses independent of time and place.

Target Group

The Here Ukraine! project targeted individuals receiving temporary protection in Finland. In 2022, 99% of those under temporary protection—about 45,000 people—were Ukrainians. The project needed to reach potential participants interested in higher education from within this target group. In 2022, approximately 17,000 people between the ages of 35 and 64 arrived, which was the age range of our target group. Over 60% of those under temporary protection were women, and 23% of arrivals were children aged 0–13. Many newcomers arrived with their families, and in the new environment, their focus was on managing daily life, including Finnish language studies, which helped structure their days. We quickly understood that the most important priority in their new life was securing economic stability and family livelihood. As the situation continued, the motivation for employment grew stronger, as did the interest in education, and many also began considering whether they would return to Ukraine eventually if the situation allowed. Based on the needs of the target group, course schedules and content were adjusted to better meet demand. Employment connections were included, and the timing of lectures was optimized for early evenings.

In the Here Ukraine! project, English-language courses in various fields were developed, focusing on online and self-study options. The project focused on fields whose expertise is crucial for the reconstruction of Ukraine. The courses incorporated cross-cutting themes such as developments in digitalization, the perspective of the green transition, and the opportunities for entrepreneurship in employment.

Lessons Learned

The Here Ukraine! project was launched on a fast timeline after the crisis in Ukraine escalated in 2022. At the start, the project team, lecturers, planners, and experts had to work partly on assumptions, with limited information and a continuous learning process. During the project, we recognized the need for clear instructions in higher education for course registration, participation, and independent study support. We also learned the importance of personal guidance, motivation, and community during studies. It is essential to design courses sensitively and with trauma awareness, supporting participants’ limited capacity. A fully automated approach may not be the best method from an individual’s perspective, even if it allows high enrollment from the institution’s standpoint. A key lesson involved systematizing project planning: incorporating the target group and service design at the beginning stages of the project helps align the goals of both higher education institutions and participants.

In Numbers

The Here Ukraine! project reached a total of 585 Ukrainians under temporary protection in Finland. Through communications and events, several thousand Ukrainians were indirectly reached. In total, the project developed and implemented 14 courses, with three of these further developed into MOOC formats offered through the 3AMK network. The process involved scripting and producing six educational support videos and a seven-episode podcast series. During the project, two publications were released on the project’s themes, and one news article was published in Yle’s Ukrainian-language online news.

14 Online Courses Created During the Project

After the project ended, some of the developed courses became part of the 3AMK universities' offerings. Explore the 3AMK course offerings.

Bachelor-level Courses

Physiotherapy courses:

Rehabilitation and encountering the client
Promotion of client’s health and functioning
Psychosocial and physical wellbeing

Social services courses:

Social work with children and young people
Family work

Real estate and construction courses:

Elements of construction lifecycle
Utilization of building information modelling
Foundations of energy-efficient and sustainable design
Introduction of construction project management
Fundamentals of building renovation

Nursing courses:

Mental health and crisis nursing
Mental health nursing and crisis intervention

Master´s level Courses

Tourism and hospitality business courses:

Master of hospitality management hybrid-consumer of tomorrow
Design service systems and value networks

Publications

Project Publications

Here Ukraine! – Hanketyö kehittämisen mahdollistajana. Leskelä, J. & Oksanen, V. 2023.
Yhteistyötä uusilla silmillä eli kuinka syntyi hankekoulutuksen perustamisen polku. Oksanen, V. & Martikainen, S. 2023.
The HERE Ukraine! project – higher education studies for Ukrainians. News. 2022.

Podcast Series

The Here Ukraine! project podcast series delves into the education-related insights and observations of Ukrainians receiving temporary protection in Finland. The episodes not only focus on the theme of reconstruction but also explore students' readiness for studies in Finland, the potential technological advancements in the construction industry, the importance of trauma-informed practices and mentalization, as well as the collaboration between three universities of applied sciences and the strategic strengthening of project planning. The Here Ukraine! podcast episodes are in Finnish and available on SoundCloud.