Securing knowledge, protecting values in a perilous world

The world is entering a new era of uncertainty with an unprecedented series of threats, risks and challenges that are hard to predict. Security concerns have become a predominant factor, determining daily life in societies at large and at all levels. Health and climate threats are compounded by the risk and reality of armed conflict across the globe.

Universities and their networks are increasingly aware that security issues are an integral part of academia, be they aggressive behaviour by individuals, cyberattacks or outright war. Security challenges may also concern soft aspects, such as the cross-cultural diversity of academic society, which might cause tensions and conflicts that can easily turn into serious problems.

Our experience shows that integrating a security component successfully into university missions requires the close involvement of a variety of stakeholders along the value chain: other educational providers, civil society, companies, public authorities, the health sector, the police and even the military.



Q-HELIX, a European University alliance in the making, has several partner universities operating in conflict zones. They have taken measures to mitigate risks and build resilience for their communities, drawing on both their local ecosystem and on international cooperation.

Let’s consider different scenarios for universities reducing risk in conflict zones.

Scenario 1: Building trust in a divided city

Mitrovica, Kosovo, is a divided city as a consequence of the Kosovo War in 1999, with the Ibar River as the unofficial border between the Albanian-dominated southern part and the Serb-dominated north.

Security issues at stake

Situated close to the heart of Europe, Kosovo represents a critical fault line, a subtle but potent crack in Europe’s geopolitical stability. History has consistently shown us that the Balkans, often underestimated, have been the catalyst for huge events.

The dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia gained momentum with the Brussels Agreement signed in 2013 and facilitated by the European Union, but dialogue has stalled at various points, with both parties accusing each other of non-compliance with the agreement’s terms. The disagreements often reflect broader geopolitical tensions, including EU-Russia relations and the rise of nationalist sentiments in the region.

Risk mitigation by the local ecosystem

The International Business College Mitrovica (IBC-M) has successfully navigated some security challenges by ensuring a secure and safe physical environment so it can act as an academic sanctuary. Safety measures at the two campuses have been integrated seamlessly into the academic infrastructure with the use of advanced security technologies and protocols, without impeding the free exchange of ideas.

The college has notably been successful in maintaining harmony within its diverse community of students and staff, skilfully integrating its educational objectives in an inclusive environment despite prevailing ethnic tensions. The active participation of ecosystem stakeholders in community initiatives, such as intercultural dialogues and conflict resolution programmes, was crucial for this success.

Building resilience through international cooperation

International networking has been pivotal in bridging divides locally and nurturing a shared European identity among students and academics. It helped to create a safe and intellectually lively ecosystem and demonstrated the positive role education can play in building peace and regional stability.

IBC-M has integrated EU values and principles, such as inclusivity, diversity and educational excellence, into its operations and academic frameworks. The EU office in Kosovo has acted as its main supporter for numerous years and helped the college, through participation in a series of EU-funded projects, to develop academic collaboration across the Balkan region and way beyond.

Participation in a European University will add a new dimension to international networking. The concept of academic sanctuary will be expanded to the whole alliance, helping to better protect cross-border collaborations in the face of rising geopolitical tensions.

Scenario 2: Upholding higher education in wartime

Security issues at stake

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation has changed all educational, scientific, behavioural priorities and security issues at the Dnipro University of Technology in eastern Ukraine.

Ukrainian higher education institutions were forced to adapt to the restrictions and threats they faced and confront the challenges of ensuring the safety, reliability and accessibility of education in the most difficult conditions.

The majority of employees and students experience emotional overload alongside exposure to physical dangers.

Risk mitigation by the local ecosystem

Firstly, the existing shelter provided by university buildings turned out to be the perfect instrument to overcome the immediate risks faced by the university community: the entire offline study process was displaced directly to the shelter available in the university.

Secondly, the digital educational space of the Dnipro University of Technology, developed over many years, has enabled the successful transformation of the educational process into remote formats. During March-May 2022 the digital space of the university was notably used by temporarily displaced students from Eastern and Southern regions of Ukraine.

Furthermore, the university’s Centre for the Professional Development of Staff, Tutoring and Mentoring organises training sessions and webinars on psychological support and how to create safe spaces online for students and staff.

The local ecosystem in Dnipro contributes significantly to education in war-affected areas through various initiatives. Civil society provides essential support for building the country’s resilience during these challenging times. Local citizen organisations, for instance, organise humanitarian actions in war-impacted regions.

NGOs in the region collaborate with private sector and non-polluting industry players like the Khortytsa Vodka Company to support environmental conservation efforts and promote public awareness of biodiversity issues.

Building resilience through international cooperation

The outbreak of the war has had drastic consequences for mobility and international cooperation. Air travel is prohibited and academic staff are forced to use ground transport, especially railways.

The introduction of martial law has meant restrictions on the movement of men, including students on exchange programmes and scientific and pedagogical workers. The university has therefore reoriented mobility towards female students and developed Ukraine internal exchange programmes.

Many foreigners are afraid to come to the country. The university makes maximum efforts to ensure the safety of their international partners, in particular, by introducing additional security measures on the territory of the university during meetings of international delegations.

Paradoxically, internationalisation has become more systematic and indicators of internationalisation have increased. Dispersed departments were reorganised into a Centre for International Cooperation as a single platform for interaction internally and externally.

Support by international partners turned out to be crucial. EU universities have accepted Ukrainian university data in their cloud storage so that information is protected during blackouts. Q-HELIX partner Reutlingen University in Germany, for example, has provided full access to mechatronic equipment for Dnipro students and staff in the joint project Lab4All, benefiting the students and staff of both universities.

Scenario 3: Operating a university in exile

The European Humanities University (EHU) in Vilnius, Lithuania, is a Belarusian university in exile, hosting Belarusian, Ukrainian and Russian refugee students and staff. EHU faces a mix of academic, financial and geopolitical challenges as it continues to champion liberal education and critical thinking.

Security issues at stake

EHU was forced to close its operations in Belarus in 2004 due to political and academic pressure and decided to seek recognition and accreditation in Lithuania. After the February 2022 invasion, the university started to offer scholarships and academic education not only to Belarusian students and academics but also to Ukrainians.

Frequent cyberattacks, personal threats and even physical violence against staff, students and family members are not uncommon.

Risk mitigation measures by the local ecosystem

The EHU responds in a non-military way to the threats, focusing on human rights protection, civil society development and the promotion of European values, academic excellence and critical thinking. The EHU Risk Management Plan follows the Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (hereinafter – FMEA) approach.

The EHU engages with the local ecosystem by means of research and analyses, promotion of cultural heritage, gender studies, coordination of an urban development network, independent media activities and work on constitutionalism and human rights.

The university’s Action Plan foresees a common hub for in-person and virtual engagement between internal and external stakeholders, the creation of a think tank and the roll-out of cultural events, conferences and seminars on Belarusian studies.

Building resilience through international cooperation

The EHU resumed its operations in Vilnius, Lithuania, and was granted official status as a Lithuanian university, thanks to political, administrative and financial support from the European Union, the Nordic Council of Ministers, the government of Lithuania and other European countries, the United States, NGOs and international foundations like the MacArthur Foundation and the Carnegie Corporation of New York.

The university draws on the cooperation available in European networks such as the Q-HELIX alliance which is based on the European University model and works closely with the Central European University (in Budapest, Vienna and New York) which is facing similar threats.

The role of European Universities

The scenarios above demonstrate that international cooperation and alliance building help to safeguard universities at risk and build resilience by nurturing an environment where academic and intellectual pursuits can thrive, even in the face of complex security challenges.

Universities in the European Universities Initiative represent strong examples of resilient alliance building. This year the EU Initiative will be extended to over 60 alliances, supported through the Erasmus+ programme. Classic activities include the opening up of respective educational offers and the creation of a common virtual campus.

Based on our experience, we recommend broadening this agenda to include the wider notion of comprehensive security for all actors in knowledge ecosystems. Partners in a European University can co-develop intelligence, build scenarios, execute security plans and strengthen resilience by sharing and pooling resources, complementing their academic cooperation activities.

Professor Dr Mihone Kerolli is rector of International Business College Mitrovica (IBC-M), Kosovo; Dr Paulina Polko is head of the security studies department at WSB University, Dabrowa Gornicza, Poland; and Vilius Šadauskas is chancellor and acting rector of the European Humanities University (EHU), Vilnius, Lithuania. The three universities cooperate in Q-HELIX, a European University in the making.