My family and I have been residing in the UK since August 2022. We were forced to !ee the war in Ukraine, where our home remains. Regrettably, this was the second time we had to leave our place of residence, as we had previously lost our home in Donbas, which was occupied by Russia in 2014.
I have a strong desire to continue my scienti"c and educational career in the UK, as I have dedicated my life to university education. My most recent position in Ukraine was as a professor at the Department of Mathematics and Physics at Borys Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University.
My way to the Solidarity Programme began in October 2022. Through my participation in another Science for Ukraine programme, I had the opportunity to meet Colin Foster, a renowned mathematics education researcher from Loughborough University. With his support, I was later awarded a Solidarity Programme grant, and Colin Foster became my host professor at Loughborough University. We researched the challenges Ukrainian refugee students face in secondary schools in the UK. We deliberately chose this research topic not only to address the didactic aspects of mathematics but also to study the critical social and pedagogical issues related to the adaptation of Ukrainian refugees to UK schools. The "ndings of this research may contribute to the development of e#ective teaching practices for mathematics education for migrants and refugees in the UK.
Thanks to the Solidarity Programme, I could actively engage with scienti"c developments in the UK. I attended conferences and seminars at Loughborough University and other institutions, including regular participation in the British Society for Research into Learning Mathematics Conference and events hosted by the London Mathematical Society. I also had the opportunity to present the results of my scientific research at conferences in Germany, Italy and Poland.
One of the most memorable events in my life was when I had the chance to sign the LMS Members’ Book, which dates back to 1865.
Additionally, I was thrilled to participate twice in the Induction Course for New Lecturers in the Mathematical Sciences at the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences in Cambridge. Despite not being a young lecturer by age, I am new to the British education system. Therefore, I consider the knowledge gained from the esteemed lecturers in the UK to be extremely valuable and beneficial.
A webinar on job searches, organised by the Isaac Newton Institute speci"cally for the participants of the Solidarity Programme, was very helpful. In general, my time in the Solidarity Programme !ew by quickly. It was "lled with exciting activities, meetings with new people and getting to know the education and science system in the UK.
Thanks to the Solidarity Programme, I have been able to distract myself from thoughts about losing my native home and "ll my life with new ideas and plans for the future.
Today, I would like to thank the friendly staff of the Department of Mathematics Education at Loughborough University for their excellent support and positive attitude towards me. I give special thanks to the host professor, Colin Foster, who accompanied me at all stages of the implementation of the Solidarity Programme, and thanks to whom it was possible to implement our research on mathematics education.
Thanks also to the Isaac Newton Institute for Mathematical Sciences and the London Mathematical Society, which have introduced an excellent programme to support Ukrainian mathematicians and provide refugees from Ukraine with a unique chance for a professional future in the UK!