Ukrainian researcher: ‘A privilege and an honour to visit Denmark and RUC’

“It is a privilege and an honour for me to be able to visit Denmark and Roskilde University. I have been interested in project-oriented work and learning for many years, implementing it into practice in Rivne State University of the Humanities, Ukraine. My students have a keen interest in project-based activities, particularly those involving intercultural international collaboration. I've learnt about project-oriented approaches like you learn about the Mona Lisa in primary school – through books, not in practice. At RUC in particular, I get to see the real deal – like if I finally visited the Louvre,” says Alla Fridrikh, who has a PhD in pedagogy and educational science.

She has been given the opportunity to be a visiting researcher at Roskilde University through the Scholars at Risk Ukraine which helps Ukrainian researchers continue their work in a safe and international environment at Danish universities.

Alla Fridrikh is affiliated with Rivne State University of the Humanities on a daily basis, but research and teaching are difficult due to the war in Ukraine.  

She says:

“We try to keep the flag flying high, but the safety of our children and our own is everyone's first priority – what we all think about all the time. It takes away the energy to think about other things. Continuing scientific research while under martial law and enduring persistent stress can be incredibly challenging.”

One of the lucky starfish

Alla Fridrikh had submitted an application to Scholars at Risk Denmark which ultimately led her to a postdoc position at the Department of People and Technology at Roskilde University.

“There's a story in mindfulness therapy: A man is walking up and down a beach. Because of a storm, there are thousands of starfish in the sand that can't get back to the life-giving sea. Further down the beach, a girl is throwing starfish into the sea – one by one. The man approaches her and asks: ‘Why are you throwing them into the water? You can't save them all, can you?’ To which the girl replies: ‘No, but I can still save a few’. I'm one of the starfish that gets to live on: filling my head with practical and theoretical ideas – not just the horrors of the news broadcast,“ Alla adds.

At Roskilde University, she continues her research into the intricate role of multilingualism in aiding the integration of Ukrainian refugees in Europe, as a medium of interaction and adaptation, facilitating the societal and cultural assimilation of these refugees. 

“I have finally managed to prepare my publications, which were delayed due to exhaustion, stress, and frequent power outages,” Alla Fridrikh says.

Alla Fridrikh's time in the country is almost over. She will leave RUC at the end of the year.