University Education in Ukraine Amid Full-Scale Russian Aggression: The Case of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University

Objective: This study explores the institutional response of Oles Honchar Dnipro National University (DNU) to the challenges imposed by the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine. Using the lens of resilience theory, it analyzes how the university adapted its academic, organizational, and civic functions to sustain education and support its community during an extended national crisis.


Relevance: The war has severely disrupted Ukraine’s higher education system, leading to mass displacements, infrastructure loss, and academic fragmentation. In this context, DNU exemplifies how a university can act not only as an educational institution but also as a stabilizing force through proactive governance, digital adaptation, humanitarian support, and civil mobilization.


Method: The study is based on a qualitative case study methodology informed by resilience theory. It analyzes institutional documents, official reports, government policies, academic sources, and media coverage to identify key patterns of institutional adaptation during wartime.


Methodology: Through thematic content analysis and process tracing, the study identifies and interprets DNU’s strategic responses across several domains: digital transformation, individualized learning, civic resistance to disinformation, support for displaced populations, and wartime infrastructure innovation.


Strategies: DNU implemented flexible and hybrid digital education formats, engaged in national and international collaboration, supported displaced students and institutions, launched information resistance initiatives, and developed protective infrastructures such as Ukraine’s first smart educational shelter in eastern Ukraine.


Conclusion: The case of DNU demonstrates how a university can embody institutional resilience by safeguarding academic continuity, promoting civic responsibility, and adapting to existential threats. These findings affirm the strategic role of higher education institutions in national resilience, societal cohesion, and post-crisis recovery in times of war.