On 6 March 2025, an online workshop titled “Supporting Veteran Transition into Higher Education” was held within the Erasmus+ project “Promoting Academic Freedom in Ukraine (FreeAc)”. The event brought together staff from Ukrainian partner universities (Sumy State University, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and the International University in Odesa) to discuss how higher education institutions can support veterans returning to higher education.
The workshop was led by Christian Lund Pedersen, a PhD student at the Danish School of Education, Aarhus University, whose research focuses on veteran transition into higher education, with particular attention to the challenges veterans face and the support mechanisms universities can develop to facilitate their return to academic life.
During the session, participants reviewed international research on veterans’ transition into higher education and discussed the challenges veterans may encounter when returning to university. The discussion also addressed possible institutional responses, including mentoring initiatives, support services, and approaches to creating more inclusive learning environments. The workshop further provided an opportunity for participants to share experiences and reflect on how Ukrainian universities can better prepare to support veterans entering academic life.