’We stand ready to help Ukrainians at Münster University’

The Russian invasion of the Ukraine has shaken people both in the city and at the University of Münster. Norbert Robers spoke with Rector Prof. Johannes Wessels about research collaborations and possible help for Ukrainians and Russians at the University. Does Münster University also have academic contacts with Ukrainian and Russian partners? Yes, at present there are four collaborations with Russian partners, of varying types and covering a large number of faculties. On the other hand, there are currently no research projects with Belarus. Both the German Research Foundation and the North Rhine-Westphalian Ministry of Science are advocating a suspension of funding projects with Russia. How will Münster University react? The German Academic Exchange Service and the German Rectors' Conference are currently drawing up various guidelines on which forms of collaboration will now be put on ice or not advertised. If any collaborations which Münster University has are affected, we will not be treading any special path. That means that we will not be embarking on any new collaborations, and we will be putting existing ones on ice. We are also stopping exchanges of students and academics to and from Russia. On the other hand, we should not forget that many Russian academics are demonstrating moral courage and a sense of political responsibility, positioning themselves against the Russian President. This is why we are not planning any further sanctions against visiting academics or students from Russia. In times of a failure of political diplomacy, especially, dialogue between scientific disciplines is extremely valuable as a counteracting force in society. How many students and staff are there at the University - and do you have any information on whether there are currently any members of the University in Ukraine or Russia?