Ensuring educational continuity under armed conflict: The underground university model in Ukraine

Abstract

Russia’s prolonged full-scale war against Ukraine has triggered profound social and humanitarian crises, including the systematic degradation of the educational environment, which directly threatens the intellectual development and future prospects of Ukraine’s youth and makes timely, adaptive educational interventions critically necessary.

The purpose of this research is to investigate how Ukrainian higher education institutions, specifically Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, are adapting to the exigencies of ongoing armed conflict through the implementation of underground, shelter-based educational practices.

Methodology. In order to examine the transformation of educational practices under conditions of armed conflict this research employed a mixed-methods case study, combining the empirical basis (for investigating the emergence of the “Underground University”), descriptive statistical methods (to identify trends in student participation and preferences across different modes of instruction) and qualitative thematic analysis (to identify recurring themes related to safety, accessibility, educational continuity, psycho-emotional well-being, and student engagement).

Results. Over three years of full-scale war, Ukrainian higher education institutions have developed adaptive educational models shaped by regional security conditions. Instructional formats range from fully distance learning near active hostilities to blended and on-site delivery in safer areas. At Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University, underground facilities were converted into fully equipped bomb-shelter classrooms to ensure continuity and safety. Student choice data reveal fluctuating preferences between distance and blended learning, followed by renewed demand for on-site instruction. This shelter-based approach sustained educational quality, engagement, and psychological well-being under ongoing armed conflict.

Conclusions. This study demonstrates that the Underground University model enables higher education institutions to sustain academic continuity, safety, and quality under armed conflict. By integrating underground learning spaces with blended pedagogies and experiential practices, Ukrainian universities foster resilience, psychological stability, and meaningful educational engagement, offering a sustainable model for higher education in crisis contexts.