Larysa Kovbasyuk fled Ukraine and now researches and teaches in Münster
The Welcome Centre of the University of Münster’s International Office not only supports international researchers, but also postdoc refugees who are threatened and living in exile. This primarily involves offering advice and support with scholarships, residence permits, accommodation, integration and career opportunities. The researchers are supervised by a mentor from their respective faculty. Dr Larysa Kovbasyuk from Ukraine is currently a guest of the German Studies Department. Johannes Wulf met her for an interview with her mentor Antje Dammel.You’ve been in Münster for around two years. What was your initial impression of the city and the University’
Larysa Kovbasyuk: The atmosphere in the city is very calming. After my experiences in Ukraine, I needed inner and outer peace. At the beginning, it was very important for me to socialise with other professors to get the feeling that I wasn’t alone. The International Office was my first point of contact, and they helped me a lot to make important contacts. Initially, I thought that I’d only be spending one summer in Münster and then go back to Ukraine. That didn’t work out.
Thinking back on your time in Ukraine, what was the situation like at your university in Kherson after the war broke out in February 2022’
Kovbasyuk: Kherson was besieged a few days after the war began. There was initially no way out of the city, no Red Cross corridors. Kherson University continued to operate online for a few more weeks. In mid-April, the Russians occupied the university buildings, including student halls of residence. We could no longer access our personal belongings and laptops. A lot of things were stolen and taken to Crimea. In the meantime, around three quarters of the university has been destroyed by constant shelling. It was too dangerous for many academics to stay in Kherson at the time. The Russians had lists of names that included committed residents of Kherson and some members of the university. In mid-April, many of my colleagues decided to flee Kherson. On their own initiative, like me.
Ms Dammel, how were you able to support Ms Kovbasyuk after her arrival in Münster’
Antje Dammel: We quickly got together with Albina Haas from the Erasmus office in our department and applied for funding from the Philipp Schwartz Initiative for refugee academics via the International Office. We received funding until March 2025 and are already working on applying to another funding programme so that Larysa Kovbasyuk can extend her stay in Münster. My role is also to explain how our academic system works, as it is different from Ukraine in some respects. Which has helped - now we’re researching similar topics, such as onomastics, i.e. name research. Today, my role is often that of a sparring partner for academic work, for example, when publishing new research findings.
Ms Kovbasyuk, your current research project is entitled "Contrastive study of the concept of WAR". What exactly is it about’
Kovbasyuk: Linguistics very often deals with current language trends. War is capitalised in my project title, because I treat it as a linguistic concept. I am investigating which linguistic devices - a word, an idiom, a figure of speech - represent the concept of WAR. I compare media discussions in Germany and Ukraine. In the case of Ukraine, language is also a means of struggle and resistance. In my view, for example, it is very important not to talk about the ’Ukraine war’, because this term obscures who the aggressor is. It is a Russian war of aggression against Ukraine.
Ms Dammel, what have you gained from your collaboration with Ms Kovbasyuk’
Dammel: She gives me a change of perspective. I admire the fact that she’s working on a topic that is so close to her, the way she deals with it. And yet she remains scientific and analytical. I’ve never been in such a situation before, and I see how she deals with it as a seasoned researcher from a university that no longer exists.
Kovbasyuk: I have experienced all’of this, and now I am working on it. There is no separation between the private and the academic. The first results are now being incorporated into seminars at the German Studies Department.
Do you think you’ll be living and working in Ukraine again in the foreseeable future’
Kovbasyuk: I would very much like to do that. But there is currently no end to the war in sight.
What prospects do you see for your university in Kherson’
Kovbasyuk: Teaching is currently taking place online. Everyone is hoping that the university will become a full-fledged university again after the war. There are international partners who have agreed to help with the reconstruction. However, this is still out of the question. The city is still being shelled every day.
What would you recommend to other refugee researchers’
Kovbasyuk (laughs): My grandmother used to say: Knock and someone will open the door.
Dammel: Supporting infrastructures are currently being set up. There is now an NRW-wide information day for mentors and refugee researchers, where perspectives and needs are discussed as to how things could continue. I don’t earn any research merits for my role as a mentor. But you do learn a lot on other levels, and I would do it again. The structures grow with the challenges.
Ms Kovbasyuk, do you now feel at home in Münster?
Kovbasyuk: Yes. I can continue here what I have been doing all my life. And I am very glad that I wrote to the International Office back then. I knocked, and they opened the door.
The Welcome Centre of the International Office:
The Welcome Centre is an advice centre of the International Office, devoted to assisting international researchers and their host departments. It is also the first point of contact when it comes to supporting threatened and refugee researchers. From applying for scholarships and residence permits to expanding international networks and helping researchers cope with experiences of flight - the Welcome Centre supports researchers both before and during their stay, as well as their mentors with a wide range of information and advice at all levels. The aim is for both sides to benefit as much as possible from the professors’ and postdocs’ stay in Münster.
This article is from the University newspaper wissen
