– We really appreciate the opportunity, and are really looking forward to starting our studies, says 20-year-old Tatiana Beskoroviana. She and Marina Razapova (19) from Kharkiv in Ukraine have had their first information meeting at what will be their university this autumn. At the University of Bergen, and several other Norwegian universities and colleges, refugees have been offered study places. Tatiana Beskoroviana (left) and Marina Razapova combine online studies in their home country with teaching in Bergen. Photo: Jan Børge Leirvik / news Beskovorian studies medicine in his home country, but will take courses in the EU and international organizations at UiB. She will follow the medical studies online. – Life does not stop. We just have to continue in such a way that we can build a good future, she says. Chemistry student Razapova will also follow the teaching from home online in addition to immersing herself in the same subject in Bergen. – It is very nice to be able to think about the studies. You don’t have to concentrate on the news, and you can think about something else, she says. – Should only be missing Rector at the University of Bergen, Margareth Hagen, says that in addition to the students from Ukraine, students with other refugee backgrounds have been admitted. She looks forward to the new students becoming part of the environment at the university. – The only thing missing was that we didn’t stand up, she says. Margareth Hagen is pleased that so many have wanted to study at the university. Photo: Jan Børge Leirvik / news The Ministry of Education has allocated study places to the largest educational institutions in Norway, and finances these places with an extra grant. A total of 1,000 study places have been allocated to various universities and colleges around the country. NTNU, UiB and UiO received the most of these. Hagen hopes the scheme will continue. – There will also be refugees in the coming years, she says. Being looked after Razapova and Beskoroviana are just two of a total of 78 students with a refugee background starting at UiB this autumn. 70 of these come from Ukraine. Now await the start of studies, sponsor week and follow-up from a mentor for the new students in the rainy city. Olena Mordas came to Norway in January, before the outbreak of the war, and is a member of the Ukrainian Student Union (USU) in Bergen. Olena Mordas is on exchange at the University of Bergen, and welcomes the new students. Photo: Jan Børge Leirvik / news She says that they will focus on supporting the new students, and take extra care of their mental health. – They come from very demanding situations, and may have lost their home in addition to the university, she says.
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Now Tatjana (20) and Marina (19) and hundreds of Ukrainian students are starting Norwegian higher education – news Vestland
