Integration of Ukrainian Women Entrepreneurs in Ukraine and the United Kingdom: Challenges and Support in the Context of Forced Displacement
Mariupol University, in collaboration with the Cambridge Judge Business School (UK) and with the support of the Cambridge University’s Research England Policy Support Fund and UKRI, is launching the international research project “Integration of Displaced Ukrainian Women Entrepreneurs: Challenges and Support in the Context of Forced Displacement in Ukraine and the United Kingdom”.
Project duration: 2024–2025.
The large-scale migration caused by the war in Ukraine has forced millions of Ukrainians, including women entrepreneurs, to adapt to new socio-economic conditions both within Ukraine and abroad. These circumstances require adjustments not only in business models but also in cultural, social, and psychological approaches to entrepreneurship. This project aims to address these challenges and create conditions for the sustainable development of women-led enterprises.
Project Goal:
To study the models of integration of women-led businesses into communities in the UK and Ukraine and to develop recommendations for supporting women entrepreneurs in these new environments.
Project Objectives:
- Conduct a large-scale survey among Ukrainian women entrepreneurs who have relocated their businesses in Ukraine and the UK to identify successful adaptation cases.
- Organize a series of round tables in Kyiv, Lviv, and Dnipro, as well as a panel discussion in Cambridge, to discuss current challenges faced by women entrepreneurs with representatives of local communities, authorities, and experts.
- Host a three-day training session for women entrepreneurs led by faculty from Mariupol State University and the University of Cambridge, focusing on knowledge exchange and the creation of a support network.
- Perform a gender analysis of state support mechanisms for businesses in various countries to formulate recommendations for improving Ukraine’s policies in this area.
- Develop a Gender Gap Index for displaced businesses to assess their impact on local economies and identify key gender disparities.
Expected Results:
- Strengthening the economic independence and social integration of women entrepreneurs in host communities.
- Identifying successful business models that can be adopted nationally and internationally.
- Developing policy recommendations to enhance state support for women entrepreneurs in Ukraine, incorporating gender-sensitive approaches and international best practices.
- Promoting Ukrainian culture through the activities of women-led businesses, fostering intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding between communities.
- Publishing a scientific article and presenting the project results at an international conference to advance academic discourse on entrepreneurship and gender equality.
The project brings together leading Ukrainian and British researchers, public figures, and business representatives to create an enabling environment for the development of women’s entrepreneurship under crisis conditions. Mariupol State University is proud to contribute to such a significant and impactful initiative for Ukraine.
Principal Investigators
Professor Andrei Kirilenko
Cambridge Judge Business School (UK)
[email protected]
Professor Anna Chechel
Mariupol State University (Ukraine)
[email protected]