The European Educational Research Association (EERA) unequivocally condemns the Russian invasion of Ukraine and urges an immediate end to all violence in that country. This position was unanimously endorsed by the EERA Council, the Association’s governing body, representing the national member associations. We continue to offer our solidarity and support to our colleagues in Ukraine and will prioritise this in the days, weeks and months ahead.
As an Association, EERA is committed to the support of educational research for the benefit of society. We prioritise engagement, dialogue and debate in an organisation representing 42 member associations from 37 countries and regions drawn from all corners of Europe. It is extraordinarily difficult for these core activities of our mission to be undertaken in a situation marred by violence and conflict. As an educational research organisation we are particularly conscious of the damage being done at all stages of the educational continuum and of the long-term impacts of these traumatic experiences on learners of all ages and on educational staff, as well as on educational researchers in and outside academia. We acknowledge the courage and commitment of our colleagues in the Ukrainian Educational Research Association (UERA) who have continued to engage in the vital tasks associated with education and educational research both within Ukraine and among the growing Ukrainian diaspora.
Following consultations with our colleagues in UERA, EERA has committed to exploring practical ways of assisting Ukrainian educational researchers. In the short term:
1) Remove of need for UERA to pay membership fees for the foreseeable future
2) Grant of free entry to all Ukrainian researchers who wish to attend ECER 2022 and subsequent ECERs either in person or online
3) Provide full bursaries to all Early Career Researchers from Ukraine who wish to attend the ERC 2022 and subsequent ERCs, either in person or online
4) Connect EERA National Associations to information clearing houses such as https://scienceforukraine.eu/ to post any information they can gather about supports for Ukrainian researchers in their respective countries.
5) Establish dedicated funding opportunities for Ukrainian researchers who are anxious to continue their work and to undertake new studies in all areas of educational research. This may also include studies on ameliorating the impact of the violence that has been imposed on their society. At the urging of UERA this funding will be focused initially on supporting researchers who have remained in Ukraine and will take the form of direct grant aid and support in kind provided by our National Associations, Networks and partners such as GENE.
Our hearts are with the people suffering in Ukraine or who had to leave the country, with people who are affected by this war directly and indirectly in their work and personal lives. We also acknowledge the difficult situation of those who are concerned but do not have the freedom to speak against the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
It is our earnest hope that the violence and suffering being experienced in Ukraine will cease immediately. We commit ourselves to contributing to this outcome as an Association.