At present, the three business students are spending a semester at University of Applied Sciences Burgenland in Eisenstadt, experiencing a student life in safety. Their studies at the National University in Poltava in their home country are repeatedly disrupted by air raid alerts, interruptions and distance learning. Shelters, evacuations and uncertainty are part of their everyday experience. Before beginning their semester abroad in Eisenstadt, two of them had already gained international study experience: Maksym spent a semester in the Czech Republic, while Anastasiia studied for a semester in Toronto, Canada.

Anna and Anastasiia already have plans for the fall. They have applied for the Bachelor’s degree programme in International Sustainable Business at University of Applied Sciences Burgenland and hope to be able to spend another three years here studying under stable conditions.

Maksym speaks very cautiously about his future. As a man, his situation is additionally difficult, as from his 23rd birthday he will no longer be allowed to leave Ukraine. Nevertheless, he is planning to return in summer and will probably look for a job.

Anastasiia sees broad professional opportunities in her business studies. When choosing her degree programme, she deliberately selected a field that offers career prospects across many industries. What all three particularly appreciate about studying here is the interactive approach, with group work and a strong practical focus.

Their stays abroad are made possible by the close cooperation with the International Office of their home university in Ukraine. Anna Paveljeva, who works there, organises student mobility together with her colleagues and, over the past two years, has also visited University of Applied Sciences Burgenland herself as part of the International Weeks. She describes the cooperation as immense support for students and lecturers, and emphasises that the programmes not only enable international experience and professional development, but also offer a brief moment of respite – far from air raid sirens, constant stress and the continual threat posed by missiles and drones.