Supporting universities in need

In response to the Russian war of aggression and the associated restrictions on universities, particularly in eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian Ministry of Education decided to introduce centralized digital university admission tests as early as 2022. Friedrich Schiller University Jena is once again supporting Ukrainian universities in conducting these so-called National Multi-Subject Tests (NMT) for new students.

In the period from 2 to 19 June, a total of 392 tests will be taken in the computer pools of the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration and the Institute of Psychology. That is 100 more than last year. "Thankfully, many lecturers were more than willing to postpone their courses to help young people who have fled the war," says Dr Christopher Domhardt, Head of the President's Office. In addition, four technicians will be working extra hours on a voluntary basis to ensure that everything runs smoothly.

Willingness to help is noticeably declining

Already last year, potential Ukrainian students were offered the opportunity to take the tests, which are now mandatory for admission to higher education at a Ukrainian university, in Jena. This year, however, the willingness of German institutions of higher education to help is noticeably declining. Only eight German institutions are still offering the admission tests, which involve considerable organizational effort, and in eastern Germany only Jena and Magdeburg are still doing so. "In view of the ongoing war," says Christopher Domhardt, "solidarity with Ukraine and help for refugees remains the order of the day."