Supporting Ukraine’s IT professionals to help the country’s recovery
MSCA4Ukraine fellow Rostyslav (Ross) is studying the impact of the war on Ukraine’s IT workforce to help tackle the country’s challenges.
Work in times of war
Amidst the constant sirens and the impending power outages, it was close to impossible for Rostyslav to continue his doctoral research.
When his mentor at the Drahomanov National Pedagogical University in Ukraine told Ross about the MSCA4Ukraine programme, he knew that it would be an opportunity to help his country.
“In these stressful circumstances, the planning horizon was shortened to hours if not minutes and it was really hard to continue scientific work.”
Understanding IT professionals
Rostyslav was able to secure a fellowship at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands thanks to the MSCA4Ukraine scheme.
He decided to focus on how the war in Ukraine affects career-related decisions and behaviours of Ukrainian IT specialists.
His research is helping to understand the myriad factors that motivate individuals to venture into IT professions, and the impact the war is having on them.
“The outcomes of my project can be used to develop career resources and strategies to adapt to career shocks.”
His research could also help Ukrainian authorities decrease unemployment during the war.
Using Rostyslav’s findings, they could build strategic communication with Ukrainian IT specialists and students, to help them find new jobs or retain their current work, and better cope with the challenges posed by the current circumstances.
“The fellowship at the University of Groningen is an opportunity to work alongside the expert community working on career research and vocational behaviour and greatly expand my professional network. Most importantly, however, it enabled me to bring my family from Ukraine to the Netherlands so I no longer worry about their safety.”
About MSCA4Ukraine
MSCA4Ukraine, funded by the European Commission under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, is part of the EU’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and to the need for action to support displaced researchers from Ukraine.
It is enabling 125 fellows to continue their work in Europe, helping to safeguard Ukraine’s research and innovation system and the freedom of scientific research at large.
MSCA4Ukraine: standing with Ukraine’s research community
Two years after the start of the invasion, we spoke to five researchers supported by the MSCA4Ukraine scheme about their work and life away from home.