The resilience of the student community in wartime

Abstract

The study aimed to identify strategies for overcoming difficulties and enhancing student resilience. The methodology included the use of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis, student surveys, and a comparative analysis of student support strategies implemented in Ukraine, Poland, and Georgia during wartime. The research examined the resilience of the student community in wartime conditions, focusing on the impact of war on students’ psycho-emotional state, academic motivation, and adaptability to new learning environments. The study provided unique data on stress and anxiety levels among students, a decline in their ability to concentrate, and reduced motivation for learning. It was found that social and psychological support from universities, families, and community initiatives plays a crucial role in maintaining student resilience. Additionally, physical activity and participation in volunteer initiatives were identified as having a positive impact on students’ psychological stability. Compared to Ukraine and Poland, Georgia has developed student support strategies for crisis situations, including the introduction of psychological support programmes and scholarship schemes for students from affected regions. Georgian universities actively collaborate with international organisations to provide additional support for students in crisis situations. The need to strengthen social and psychological support for students during wartime has been identified, along with the development of programmes to promote psycho-emotional wellbeing and the provision of flexible and accessible learning formats in remote education settings. The findings also confirm that support from universities and community organisations is crucial in enhancing student resilience in challenging circumstances. The practical significance of the study lies in the potential application of its results to develop recommendations for the creation of effective student support programmes in wartime conditions. T he strategies developed can be implemented in Ukrainian universities to improve student adaptation to wartime challenges, reduce stress and anxiety levels, and enhance academic performance amid instability