On 6 March 2025, an online workshop titled “Supporting Veteran Transition into Higher Education” was organised within the Erasmus+ project “Promoting Academic Freedom in Ukraine (FreeAc)”. The event brought together representatives of Ukrainian partner universities — Sumy State University, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, and the International Humanitarian University — to discuss how higher education institutions can better support veterans returning to university.

The workshop was led by Christian Lund Pedersen, a PhD researcher at the Danish School of Education, Aarhus University. His research examines veterans’ transition to higher education, focusing on the challenges they face and the support mechanisms universities can develop to facilitate their integration into academic life.

During the session, participants explored how Ukrainian higher education institutions can use research evidence to develop effective policies and strategies supporting veterans’ transition into higher education. The workshop provided faculty members and policymakers with an overview of international research on this topic, highlighting key concepts, common challenges, and proven support approaches. Combining an expert presentation with structured small-group discussions, the session aimed to build a shared knowledge base and encourage participants to reflect on how these insights could inform institutional policies and practices addressing veterans’ transition in their local university contexts.