Stars among constellations: how Vitae and the British Academy are supporting Ukrainian researchers at risk
Posted 10/09/2024 by Louise Wheeler
‘We now feel in constellations, rather than single stars.’ This is a quote from Iryna Starovoyt, Associate Professor, Ukrainian Catholic University and a Research Fellow at University of Oxford, supported through the British Academy ‘Researchers at Risk’ programme. Iryna has recently shared her thoughts on Vitae’s Career and Professional Development Programme, funded through the British Academy, to support researchers at risk.
Vitae’s programme has been designed for 180 Researchers at Risk Fellows at over 70 UK-based institutions to provide support to navigate the challenges of integrating into UK academic life and plan for their future careers. Iryna co-chairs our Researchers at Risk Learning and Development committee, formed of fifteen fellows who are working with us to co-develop the programme to ensure relevance, coherence, and tailoring to fellows' needs.
Iryna reflected that space and time are vital after experiencing displacement. In their first year in the UK, many fellows have experienced being in survival and ‘energy saving’ mode, needing time to settle into their host institutions and to adapt to new environments. The timing of Vitae’s career and professional development programme at the end of the second year of the BA fellowship has worked well for participants, to ensure enough energy has been cultivated to engage with the programme.
Iryna’s use of the constellation as a metaphor for the cross- discipline and support networks fostered through the programme reflects the sense of security Iryna suggests fellows have gained by engaging in the workshops and career support conversations. This creation of community is incredibly important, has helped to cultivate a feeling of safety, and the chance to build important connections within and beyond disciplines.
Describing Vitae’s ambitious programme to support fellows to reflect on their career development journeys, Iryna noted that for many the focus is on professional reinvention, not just integration and career planning. Reinvention and redirection have been a preoccupation, rethinking directions and reconsidering future career plans. Iryna reflects that support tools, resources and guidance shared in sessions, have been valuable for fellows to support this thinking and exploration, as well as hearing from those working in careers beyond academia, and who have shared their experiences of career transitions.
Fellows have been keen to share their learnings and experiences of the Vitae programme with colleagues in Ukraine, Iryna reflected. Many are managing multiple priorities to their home and host institutions, family and friends, students and colleagues, often asking themselves whether they are doing enough to support their home country.
The Vitae programme continues into the autumn, with a further series of workshops. Over the summer we have reviewed all feedback arising from activities so far, before finalising themes for this last series with the fellows through the L&D committee. January to March 2025 will be devoted to final programme evaluation to review the impact of the provision and collect further feedback from fellows.
We were delighted to have some fellows joining us for a panel discussion to share their experiences and good practice in supporting researchers at risk, as part of the online element of the Vitae International Researcher Development conference on Wednesday 4 September. Find out more.
Learn more about the Researchers at Risk programme.
