A chara, - Eventually, the fighting in Yugoslavia will have to stop and, whatever form the ensuing peace takes, the process of rebuilding shattered infrastructure and traumatised communities must begin. When that happens, there will be a great need for educated and informed decision-makers and policy-makers at all levels.
Sadly, in addition to the many displaced peasant farmers, the young and the elderly, the victims of the conflict in Kosovo will also include large numbers of people from professional, managerial, scientific, administrative and other sectors. Many will have perished, others will have joined the swelling ranks of the refugees, and many of those who were training to be the next generation of these professionals will have had their apprenticeships disrupted with no immediate prospect of resumption.
Ireland has traditionally styled itself the "land of saints and scholars". The saintly face has already shown itself, as much in the actions of individuals as in those of institutions and officialdom, in this country's response to the Balkan crisis. May I now suggest a role for the scholars of this land that goes beyond simply donating money (valuable and necessary though that may be)?
The first refugees have arrived on these shores; others wait their turn to travel. Would it not be possible for the relevant authorities, here and also on the ground in Kosovo and neighbouring states, to seek out those students whose careers have been disrupted by the conflict, and make special provisions for them to continue their studies in Irish colleges and universities when the new academic year starts in September?
This could include waiving the usual fees charged of overseas students, assistance in finding suitable courses, assistance with obtaining books and accommodation and, where required, perhaps even providing appropriate support structures including counselling and remedial English language classes. As a lecturer in UCC, I for one would be more than willing to see one or more such students on the courses I teach, and am sure that many, if not most, academic colleagues here in Cork, and in other third level institutions around the country would be of similar opinion. - Yours, etc., Darius Bartlett,
College Lecturer in Geography, University College, Cork