Roman Balandiuk is working as an international officer at the Division of External Relations (MMS). He is responsible for the Uni-Wide incoming and outbound student mobility in different regions in the world. In this interview we’ve asked Roman to reply to some questions about his perception of the work of the LUA group and its future.
How was it like for you when the full-scale war had started?
- When the full-scale war began, I had already worked at the Division of External Relations for almost a month. This was only the beginning of my adaptation to a new workplace, to a new working culture. The first impressions were just shock and my disbelief that this was actually happening. My family and relatives live in Ukraine. It was quite difficult emotionally to accept that the full-scale war had started.
Why have you decided to join LUA group?
- I decided to join the network because I see a great potential in this group and my own role as a participant in it. Yes, LUA does not have the ability to make decisions on the university level, but it has the potential to shape the agenda regarding ways and opportunities to cooperate with Ukraine and help our university partners during a full-scale war.
What motivated you to take on the management of LUA?
- As I am working at the Division of External Relations, many issues or requests related to Ukraine go through us. Therefore, when it was offered to be the next coordinator of the LUA group, I willingly agreed.
What would you like to achieve as coordinator of LUA?
- I set realistic goals for myself as a group coordinator. Yes, we as Lund University cannot help all Ukrainian education and science. But if cooperation with our current Ukrainian partners continues and only deepens, it will be wonderful.
Where do you see LUA in the future?
- I believe that according to its potential, the LUA group can grow into something bigger. It would be cool if a center of academic and scientific relations between Sweden and Ukraine could be created on the basis of this group in the future.
Why is this important to support Ukrainian academia?
- I believe in science; I believe in academia. Therefore, supporting the Ukrainian academy is a priority for me. The Ukrainian academy is doing a lot of fascinating things under such difficult conditions as the full-scale war, and they have unique experience and knowledge that can be useful for all of us. We can learn a lot from them.
Prepared by Denys Kovalenko
