MSU and University of Hull Study Experience of Mariupol Communities in the UK

To strengthen the role of higher education institutions as community hubs, the Mariupol State University (MSU) community, together with its strategic partner, the University of Hull, is implementing the project Studying Mariupol Communities in the United Kingdom.

From June 13 to 25, representatives of the Department of English Philology, Head of Department Ostap Bodyk and Senior Lecturer Maksym Styopin, visited their British colleagues. This academic mobility marked the second stage of work on the joint initiative.

The partners recorded a podcast series under the working title «Humanity and War», dedicated to cultural heritage, displacement and adaptation experiences, and the role of universities in supporting communities. From the University of Hull, Veronica Hurtado (Manager of the Global Strategy Office), Kathryn Winn (Deputy Dean of the Faculty of Arts, Cultures and Education), and researchers Jonathan Glazzard, Caroline Couchie, Nick Evans, Catherine Baker, and Gill Hughes participated in the events.

The podcast format allowed the team to go beyond academic boundaries. Each episode is a sincere, emotional conversation between Ukrainian and British scholars about identity, memory, resilience, and a shared vision for the future.

As part of the cultural discussions, the significance of Ukrainian music as a tool of resilience was explored. Ukrainian folktales, parables, and legends as generations’ memories, folk beliefs, superstitions, and protective symbols with their modern transformations, proverbs and sayings as a form of universal wisdom, the world of literature as a space where collective memory and intercultural dialogue come to life.

Mariupol State University and the University of Hull each have their own unique developmental paths. One episode was devoted to the history and mission of both institutions, their academic heritage, and their partnership. Another episode focused on universities' civic engagement. In yet another, researchers discussed the mental health and well-being of those involved in the educational process.

A separate recording centered on Ukrainian immigrants in the UK, particularly in Kingston upon Hull. Through a historical lens extending to the present, the episode examined the diaspora’s contribution to the social, cultural, and academic life of the country.

Work on the project began in October 2024 after the initiative received support from the Twinning Grants Programme, funded by the British Council and the Cormack Consultancy Group.

Among the next steps is the setting up of a virtual platform where the podcasts, analytical materials, and accompanying visual content will be published. The recordings will also be available on Spotify. The official project launch is planned for autumn in both Ukraine and the UK.