Social services needs of students-IDP of institutions of higher education in Kharkiv in the conditions of the Russian-Ukrainian war

Abstract

The article is devoted to identifying the needs of internally displaced students of Kharkiv's institutions of higher education in social services in the conditions of the large-scale Russian-Ukrainian war. It was found that in the conditions of large-scale Russian aggression against Ukraine, the largest part of IDPs in 2022 comes from the Kharkiv region; higher education and school students make up a quarter of all internally displaced persons (IDP). Almost all state institutions of higher education (21 out of 24), some student dormitories in Kharkiv were damaged to one degree or another. The results of a pilot study conducted by the authors in November 2022 and covering 83 IDP students of Kharkiv institutions of higher education are presented. It was found that 74 respondents believe that they are in difficult life circumstances, and 9 need the provision of social services to prevent difficult life circumstances. It was found that among the urgent social services needed by the respondents in the conditions of the Russian- Ukrainian war, employment, socio-economic services and psychological assistance dominate. The second level of needs consists of the need to provide housing, social-medical, legal and social-pedagogical services. Almost a third of the respondents (29 people) whose houses were destroyed were identified. Some respondents have difficulties with registration due to lost documents. There are IDP students who need humanitarian aid (food, medicine, clothing). Among the problems with ensuring the rights of IDP students to educational services, in particular, preferential study conditions and free use of dormitories remain. Therefore, in the conditions of a large-scale war, obtaining educational services, unfortunately, ceased to be the main priority for IDP students of Kharkiv institutions of higher education. There is a justified need to increase the number of social services, systematic social work with the specified category of students. Despite being in difficult life circumstances, a significant number of respondents (57 people) expressed a desire to benefit society, to participate in public activities, which indicates the growth of solidarity in society.