Free course launched for people supporting Ukrainians in the UK launched by OU

A free online course has been launched, aimed at people housing, caring for or working with Ukrainians in the UK. The course, 'Introduction to Ukrainian language and culture’, led by the WELS School of Languages and Applied Linguistics, focuses on Ukrainian culture and language and has been developed specifically for UK residents hosting refugees, and service providers working with people who have arrived from Ukraine.

Providing an insight into Ukrainian language, food, housing, and healthcare as well as other cultural elements, the course is hosted on the OU’s OpenLearn platform. Learners on the course will also have a chance to chat in the forums provided, to find out more about supporting Ukraine’s struggle and other Ukraine-related topics.

Dr Mirjam Hauck, Ukrainian Language and Culture course lead and Director of the OU's Open Centre for Languages and Cultures, said:

“So many people in the UK have reached out and opened their homes to people fleeing from the war in Ukraine. We hope this free course will be invaluable in helping them support their guests and understand Ukrainian culture, heritage and language.

“As well as supporting people in learning some basic Ukrainian, through the course you will also be able to find out about what Ukraine was like before the invasion, its geography, healthcare and education systems, history, and ethnic and religious diversity.”

Alongside the new course, the OU has also translated into Ukrainian its package of free online resources for Ukrainian refugees in the UK including courses from English language to articles on writing a CV.

The new course and translated resources are the next stage in the package of support the OU is providing for Ukraine, which includes:

• Fee waivers for existing students from Ukraine in the 2021/22 academic year/

• An opportunity to apply for one of 12 scholarships, complete with study starter pack and access to careers and employability services.
• Potential job roles posted on the dedicated sites for refugees jobs4ukr.com and Talent Beyond Boundaries
• A commitment to continued working with local and national partners, on how best to support refugees arriving in the UK, as well as supporting the Ukrainian higher education sector, their academics and students.

Find out more:

Access the new Ukrainian Language and Culture course.

Access the OpenLearn hub in Ukrainian.

Access the OpenLearn hub in English.

Read the full article on OU News.