The Great Exodus: Ukraine is Losing Students at Catastrophic Rates.

The number of foreign applicants in Ukrainian universities has decreased from 83,000 to 8,000 due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This was reported by the Deputy Minister of Education and Science Mykhailo Vynnytsky during a speech at the public initiative project 'Needle - Bridges of Ukraine'.

'Unfortunately, we have lost foreigners who were enrolling in Ukrainian universities. Before the invasion, there were 83,000; now there are 8,000. This is an obvious financial loss. However, if we talk about the mission, which is to educate a nation of Ukrainians, the Ukrainian higher education system remains attractive to citizens of Ukraine,' emphasized Vynnytsky.

There is also a decline in the number of students in the 10th and 11th grades in Ukraine. However, many of these children are returning to the Ukrainian education system to obtain higher education. Vynnytsky also noted that there is an active demographic movement crossing the border in both directions.

Vynnytsky also expressed understanding regarding the choices of Ukrainians who went abroad due to the war. 'Each of us chooses our own path abroad. There is nothing wrong with people trying to find it, comparing life in Germany, Poland, Canada, the USA,' he explained.

However, he acknowledged that returning is particularly difficult for those who have lost their homes in occupied cities. 'Obviously, those who lost their homes in Mariupol or Berdyansk, or in the occupied territories, find it harder to return than those who left from Lviv region. I joke that there are a lot of refugees from Mostyska in Poland,' Vynnytsky added.

Also, let us remind you that the new mobilization rules may affect university students.