Philantrohpy: Solidarity with Ukraine
This philanthropy column by Donald Tillman was first published in ETH Zurich’s Globe Magazine in September 2022.
Normally, the impact of a donation to ETH Zurich takes time to materialise. Whether its purpose is to sponsor talent, provide start-up funding for a new professorship, or enable an important building project, the results typically take years to emerge. But when it comes to students escaping the war in Ukraine, the situation is very different. ETH has taken various steps to show its solidarity with those affected, including scholarships for students who have fled to Switzerland and who wish to start or continue their studies at ETH. The fact that their country is at war is bad enough, so these young people should at least be able to continue studying and thereby regain some semblance of normality.
Ukrainian applicants must still meet the same admission requirements as anyone else, but ETH has adopted a more flexible approach when it comes to deadlines and proof of academic achievement. The first students benefited from our fasttracked support back in the spring. The upcoming Autumn Semester will see the enrolment of a further 20 Ukrainian students, who will also benefit from scholarships thanks to the generosity of donors. Plenty more support will be needed in the future.
