Joint support for Chernivtsi
HSD and HHU donate extensive IT equipment

Düsseldorf University of Applied Sciences has consistently expanded its partnership with Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University over the years. This year, HSD provided around 150 PC components – including laptops, desktop PCs and monitors – to modernise the digital infrastructure and for direct use in teaching, research and administration.

The guests also took special Christmas decorations back to Chernivtsi with them: At the university Christmas event, HSD employees designed and made their own decorations under the motto “wishes for Ukraine” – complete with personal greetings and cordial messages to colleagues in Chernivtsi. The handmade items are a token of solidarity and aimed at boosting morale and hope in the current situation.

“The dedication of many individuals on both sides has brought the partnership with Chernivtsi to life. With the IT components and personal Christmas greetings, we want to send a strong signal of support and boost the morale of our colleagues at a difficult time. The long-term partnership is of great importance to us,” says Jan Eden, Vice President for Organisational Development and Digitalisation at HSD.

Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf is also providing concrete support for its partner university in Chernivtsi: 48 professional-grade network switches and 110 PCs are being donated to Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University from the HHU IT inventory. The devices are intended to expand the digital infrastructure in teaching and administration at the university, for example to establish stable campus networks and for use in PC pools or central administrative areas.

HHU already donated six multi-function devices to its partner in 2024, which are now in day-to-day use at the university. Victor Roth from the HHU IT team was once again closely involved, coordinating the selection, checking and provision of the devices in collaboration with his colleagues Gentian Nikollaj and Tobias Löffler. The University also included Christmas items with the IT equipment – for example HHU chocolate “medals” and Christmas baubles bearing the likeness of Heinrich Heine.

Professor Dr Heidrun Dorgeloh, Vice President for University Culture and International Relations at HHU: “For us, the partnership with Chernivtsi is not only an academic exchange, but also a living expression of European solidarity. In times of war, it is particularly important to support affected universities, which are continuing research and teaching under extremely challenging conditions.”

Representatives from the university in Chernivtsi last visited HSD in January 2025 and HHU in May 2025, while students from Chernivtsi already participated in exchange formats in Düsseldorf in April 2024. The growing connections between the institutions are part of the twinning partnership between Düsseldorf and Chernivtsi, which was established in 2022. The cooperation between the universities already existed beforehand, but was deepened and provided with a formal structure in the course of the twinning process.

The support comes at a time when it is almost impossible for the university in Chernivtsi to procure IT hardware due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. At the same time and in spite of the difficult framework conditions, the university in western Ukraine has seen strong growth and is reporting significant increases in student numbers. Accordingly, the joint support from Düsseldorf is greatly appreciated.

The components donated by both universities are now on their way to Ukraine. The joint HSD and HHU initiative shows the strength of the connection between Düsseldorf and Chernivtsi. It is not only bolstering the digital infrastructure of the university, but also underlining the closeness of the partnership at a challenging time.