On April 22, 2025, Prof. Dr. Matthias Schmidt met with representatives of Zaporizhzhia National University in Ukraine under challenging conditions.

Zaporizhzhia is located just 35 kilometers from the current front line and is regularly hit by missile and drone attacks. Despite these circumstances, a working meeting was able to take place. Prof. Dr. Schmidt was received by Prof. Dr. Nataliia Shevchenko, Head of the Department of Psychology and Professor of Psychology, and Natalya Mosol, Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology and Deputy Dean for International Affairs. Zaporizhzhia National University is already active in various international programs, including the Erasmus program. The international exchange of academics was also a central topic of the meeting.

In addition to the discussions at the university, meetings were also held with various stakeholders from the region's oblast administration. The focus was on the question of what concrete and effective support the local people urgently need. The Department of Psychology at Zaporizhzhia National University is currently focusing in particular on strengthening the resilience (psychological resistance) of people in rescue operations - including police, firefighters and hospital staff. Almost every family in the region has already lost a member in the war or personally knows someone who died on the front line. In many cities in Ukraine, fallen soldiers are publicly commemorated in order to allow people to mourn together and strengthen social cohesion.

Prof. Dr. Schmidt is currently working together with the Brandenburg University of Technology and Zaporizhzhia National University on the implementation of a joint research project. This project is intended to give colleagues on the ground hope and a perspective. However, it is realistic to assume that only a stable peace will fully enable sustainable and viable cooperation.

This personal meeting is a sign of solidarity, hope and commitment to a future of peace and solidarity. Prof. Dr. Schmidt has been actively involved in Ukraine since 2017. From 2019, he held a lecturer position at the Odesa National Polytechnic University. Since then, he has been working closely with various business associations and the German AHK, particularly in the field of research transfer and the international exchange of skilled workers.