From 9–11 September, Christina Egelund, Denmark’s Minister for Higher Education and Science, undertook her first official visit to Ukraine. She was accompanied by Per Michael Johansen, Rector of Aalborg University, and Jens Ringsmose, Rector of the University of Southern Denmark.
The three-day visit included engagements in Mykolaiv, Kyiv, and Bucha, and provided an opportunity to strengthen cooperation between Danish and Ukrainian partners in the fields of higher education, research, and innovation.
In Kyiv, Minister Egelund took part in the 5th Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, which brought together international leaders to discuss the role of education and innovation in Ukraine’s recovery. She also held a bilateral meeting with Ukraine’s Minister of Education and Science, Oksen Lisovyi. The two ministers subsequently visited the Kyiv School of Economics (KSE), where they engaged in an open discussion with students. On this occasion, Aalborg University and the University of Southern Denmark signed Memoranda of Understanding with KSE, creating a foundation for closer academic cooperation, research collaboration, and student exchange. In parallel, the two Danish rectors visited Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute to explore opportunities for strengthened academic collaboration.
The Danish and Ukrainian ministers also laid flowers at the Memorial Wall at St. Michael’s Square to honour the soldiers who have lost their lives defending Ukraine against Russia. In addition, the delegation visited the site of a residential building in Kyiv struck by a Russian missile on 31 August, which claimed the lives of 28 civilians, including children. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine briefed the delegation on the rescue efforts carried out in response to the attack.
Beyond the capital, the delegation met with representatives of Ukrainian civil society and travelled to Bucha, where they paid tribute to the victims of the Russian occupation. The Mayor of Bucha, Anatoliy Fedoruk, and Father Andriy shared personal testimonies of the atrocities committed in the city. The delegation also met with the “Witches of Bucha,” a unit of the territorial defence consisting mainly of female volunteers, which recently received a much-needed vehicle donated by the Danish NGO Cars for Ukraine.
In Mykolaiv, Minister Egelund and the university rectors visited Admiral Makarov National Shipbuilding University and held discussions with Governor Vitalii Kim and Mayor Oleksandr Syenkevych. They also met with representatives of the company Nibulon, which highlighted the challenges posed by shortages of technically skilled labour.
This first official visit by Denmark’s Minister for Higher Education and Science to Ukraine underscored Denmark’s strong solidarity with Ukraine and its people. It also reaffirmed Denmark’s commitment to building long-term academic and research partnerships that will support Ukraine’s recovery and future development. Such cooperation will be mutually beneficial, creating opportunities for shared learning, innovation, and growth for both Danish and Ukrainian institutions — both in wartime and in times of peace.
