Moody’s Lithuania: Support for Ukrainian Students at the Business School of Vilnius University
Moody’s Lithuania, a strategic partner of Vilnius University Business School, will provide over €40,000 in support to nine Ukrainians studying at the Business School, as stipulated in the support agreement that was signed today. This financial assistance will allow Ukrainian students facing financial difficulties due to the war to continue their studies.
€14,125 of the allocated support will be used to cover tuition fees for the spring semester of 2022. The company also undertook to pay the students a monthly scholarship of €502, to cover their living expenses for half a year. The total amount allocated for this purpose amounts to €27,108.
“Community solidarity and values are said to be truly tested in the face of adversity. We couldn’t just stand by, so we turned to our business partners seeking help for students. Our call was answered quickly and there was a strong desire to contribute, so I daresay that our community has passed this test with flying colours. More importantly, the students have witnessed an example of a real, rather than a declared partnership, and a demonstration of corporate social responsibility that they will be more likely to follow,” said Dr Birutė Miškinienė, Director of the VU Business School.
Eight of the Ukrainians to receive support are undergraduate students in the International Business programme, while one is a graduate student in International Project Management. After the war broke out, they all faced unforeseen financial hardships that they had not experienced before. The cost of studying and living abroad quickly became a difficult burden for their relatives back in Ukraine, with many losing the opportunity to work and earn money, as their property was destroyed and they had to take extra care of other family members.
“Moody’s is proud to be working with Vilnius University to help students from Ukraine to continue their studies and develop professional skills. This reflects our organisation’s commitment to contributing to public well-being and looking for new solutions. We believe that this support will allow the students from Ukraine and Lithuania to collaborate, share new ideas, learn from each other, and thus create inclusive and sustainable economies and communities for the future,” said the Head of Moody’s Lithuania, Mariano Andrade Gonzalez, as he signed the support agreement.
Expressing their thanks for the support, the students from Ukraine stressed that it is important not only financially but also psychologically. At such a difficult time, it is more important than ever to know that there are people who support you, and resolving their financial difficulties has allowed the students to regain at least some sense of peace, stability and security. Furthermore, it is a very strong incentive for the students to focus on their studies, and in that way express their gratitude for the support provided, and later contribute to the revival of Ukraine and in turn help others.
Financial support for the students from Ukraine is not the only VU Business School assistance initiative. The Business School has also employed a researcher from Ukraine. The Marius Jakulis Foundation helped her arrive in Lithuania and continue her professional activities here. Other members of the VU Business School community – for example, the owners of CargoGO and alumni of the VU Business School, Donatas Butinavičius and Jūratė Butinavičienė – are also contributing financial support to Ukrainian students.