Since the beginning of Russia's military intervention in Ukraine, the Universitat de València, in application of the values set out in its Statutes, has positioned itself in favour of peace, in defence of International Law and Human Rights.

You can read the institutional statement here: https://links.uv.es/zyxNOY7

In solidarity with the Ukrainian people, the Ministries of Science and Innovation and Universities cancelled relations with Russia and Belarus on 10th March.

You can read this information here: https://links.uv.es/339RC7j

The Universitat de València is the first university in Europe in receiving Erasmus students and one of the first European universities in internationalisation, with double degree programmes, also with Russian universities.

In this context:

1. THE UNIVERSITAT DE VALÈNCIA FREEZES AGREEMENTS WITH RUSSIAN UNIVERSITIES

The Universitat de València joins the position of CRUE-Spanish Universities to freeze scientific cooperation agreements with Russian state institutions.

You can read the CRUE statement here: https://links.uv.es/r4kHbRt

However, in order to guarantee the academic development of students participating in double degree programmes with Russian universities, the Universitat is maintaining in force, on a provisional and transitory basis, the agreements that allow the correct development of these programmes.

2. THE UNIVERSITAT DE VALÈNCIA PARALYSES THE MOBILITY PROGRAMMES WITH RUSSIA FOR THE NEXT ACADEMIC YEAR

In this international context, the Universitat de València has cancelled academic mobility programmes with and from Russia, and is looking for personalised alternatives for all students enrolled in double degree programmes with Russian universities.

In this sense, and taking into account the circumstances of each person, a coordinated search will be made for an option that can meet their academic expectations.

This position has been coordinated with the other public universities participating in the Alliance of Russian and Spanish Universities.

You can read this statement here: https://links.uv.es/P1eUM4D

3. THE UNIVERSITAT DE VALÈNCIA HAS RECOMMENDED, AS A SECURITY MEASURE, VALENCIAN STUDENTS IN RUSSIA TO RETURN TO THEIR COUNTRY, BUT WE ERILL SUPPORT THE DECISIONS THEY TAKE.

At the beginning of the war in Ukraine, the Universitat de València had 3 Valencian students in Russia and 10 Russian students in València as part of the mobility programmes.

Sanction measures against the Russian government implemented by the governments of the European Union, especially those related to the closure of EU airspace for flights to and from Russia, as well as exclusion measures from the SWIFT system, and decisions to stop the activities of electronic means of payment companies in Russia may directly affect the personal situation of students participating in mobility programmes.

For this reason, from the beginning, the Universitat de València has been in contact with Valencian students in Russia, supporting their decisions.

In the case of Russian students participating in these mobility programmes, the Universitat de València is in contact with them in order to identify their needs and to help them as far as the institution can.

As a leading university in international mobility, the Universitat de València always recommends students participating in international mobility programmes to return to their home universities as a safety measure whenever there is an international crisis.

If people decide to interrupt their mobility programmes, the Universitat de València provides support in the corresponding curricular adaptations, administrative tasks before the corresponding authorities and even financing their return trips, if the economic circumstances of the people require it.

This has been the case in previous international crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, and has been the case in this situation, in which the University is in contact with these students.

The decision to interrupt the mobility programme, or to maintain the expected academic plans, corresponds to each student in an exercise of individual freedom, and under their own responsibility.

The Universitat de València respects all personal decisions of its students, and gives and will give support, within its possibilities, to these decisions, as it has always done, looking after the academic and human development of its students.