Are you passionate about making a positive impact in these challenging times? Then join us for the World-Café workshop “University empowering students and citizens for social action during crises: experience of the University of Tartu in crisis response and support of Ukrainian community in Tartu” on April 4th from 16:15 to 18:30 at Lossi 36-307. This event is open to all University of Tartu staff and students.
NB! Registration is required to participate in the event! If you’re interested in attending, please fill out the registration form by March 31st, 2023
04.04.2023, 16:15 – 18:30
Venue: Skytte Institute of Political Studies, Lossi 36 – room 307
Target audience: UT students (including UA student community), academic staff members, representatives of local civil society
The focus question: University empowering students and citizens for social action during crises:
Experience of the University of Tartu in crisis response and support of Ukrainian community in Tartu.
The World Café starts with a panel discussion, which includes representatives from the university and Ukrainian academic community. The purpose of starting the World Cafe with the panel discussion is the two-fold: firstly, to reflect on taken actions from various perspectives in retrospect; secondly, to inspire and spark the discussion that will take place in the framework of smaller table discussions. The panel discussion will be moderated and will last for about 45-50 minutes.
The field of expertise of speakers in the panel discussion include:
The role of students in response to crises (Anna Branets) Table host: Mike Cole
University as a psychological and legal support hub (Kristi Kerge, TBC) Table host: Fidan Vali
University empowering the general public to take action (Alina Paas) Table host: Dmytro Khutkyy
The role of research: which topics are most relevant and how to leverage the potential (Siim Siim Espenberg) Table host: Anselm Schmidt (Stefano Braghiroli)
Moderator: Anna Beitane (J. Skytte Institute of Political Studies)
After the panel discussion, the audience will be divided into 4 tables, which will consist of 5-6 participants. There are 4 rounds, in each question, discussion time for 15 minutes. Then there are 2 minutes to change the table, and another round, lasting 15 minutes. At the beginning, each round Table Host introduces what has been discussed in previous rounds, and what has been found already, moderates the discussion, and writes on a flip chart the main points. The questions in the rounds are:
How did UT involve Ukrainian and non-Ukrainian students and staff in crisis response? What challenges emerged, and what are the most significant initiatives so far? What can we learn from these experiences and what can be adopted? How can UT in the future involve more students in crisis response? What can be learned from students? (17:20 – 17:35)
How did UT identify the most significant needs for supporting Ukrainians in Tartu/Estonia and in Ukraine? What were the most important (in your opinion) crisis response initiatives undertaken by UT? What are other psychological and legal needs that the university could address in the crisis? (17:35 – 17:50)
What actions the university has taken to raise awareness about the crisis response to the public? What are the UT’s existing ties with and support to civil society organizations, focusing on supporting actions to Ukraine and Ukrainian community in Tartu/Estonia? How the synergy between the university and civil society could be improved? (17:50 – 18:05)
What type of research initiatives the university has taken since the start of the war to highlight its impact on Ukrainian community living in Estonia? What areas are most needed during a war or an influx of refugees? How can science prepare society for new challenges? (18:05 – 18:20)
Table Hosts introduce their results to everyone.
Program:
16:15 – 16:20 – Welcome words and introduction to the Baltics4UA project initiatives (Anna Beitane and Fidan Vali)
16:20 – 17:10 – Panel discussion with experts: reflecting on experience of the University of Tartu in crisis response and support of Ukrainian community in Tartu
17:10 – 17:20 – Coffee break with snacks
17:20 – 18:20 – World café group discussions
18:20 – 18:30 – Summarising results and reflections from the group discussions