The 2024 orienteering course (re)introduces you to university dormitories

From 8 May to 20 October, all University of Tartu employees, students, alumni, their families and all others interested are welcome to complete the orienteering course and reconnect with the history of the University of Tartu dormitories.

Engaging and entertaining stories told by former and current students about living in the dormitory are characteristic of the university town of Tartu. Many people have special personal memories or experiences associated with the dormitory, so this year’s orienteering event will undoubtedly bring them the joy of recognition. The participants can see Tartu’s current and former student residences and read fascinating stories from Hillar Palamets, Juhan Peegel, Rein Lang and Ardi Liives.

“Student dormitories became an integral part of Tartu only after World War II when there were no longer enough rooms for students to rent in the war-battered city. Besides, it was easier for the Soviet authorities to keep an eye on young people living in the dormitories and boarding schools,” said Ken Ird, author of the orienteering course and Curator of the University of Tartu Museum.

In addition to orienteering, participants are also invited to visit the permanent exhibition “The University of Our Lives”, which features miniature dormitory rooms of different eras, at the University of Tartu Museum on Toome Hill. “The rooms are set up true to the period and built according to real descriptions. The time travel between the rooms starts with a 17th-century dormitory room and ends with one from the 1990s,” said Külli Lupkin, Head of Communication Office at the University of Tartu Museum.

In less than a month, on 18 May, there will also be the University of Tartu alumni get-together, “Back to the university”, where it is possible to meet one’s classmates and reminisce about dormitory life, among other things.

How to start orienteering?  

• Print the map or get it from the front desk of the main building (Ülikooli 18), the UT Museum (Lossi 25), the Delta academic and research building (Narva mnt 18), Biomedicum (Ravila 19), Chemicum (Ravila 14a), Physicum (W. Ostwaldi 1), Institute of Technology (Nooruse 1), UT Library (W. Struve 1) or the academic building at Lossi 36 or Vanemuise 46. You can also download the map to your smartphone.
• Before you start, make sure you know the map symbols.
• When you arrive at a checkpoint, scan the QR code with your phone. Make sure your phone has a QR scanner app. If not, download the app on your phone.  
• The course passes residential areas and runs in streets, green areas and other public places. Be careful in traffic! Please note that there are several objects on the course that you are not allowed to cross, such as fences, walls, flowerbeds or hedges. Similarly, do not enter private yards that are marked respectively. The “no entry” areas are marked on the map with a thick black line (fence, wall) and moss green colour.

Who wins?  

Orienteering is a recreational sports event for the whole university family. At the end of the event, a number of gifts will be raffled among all registered participants. To make sure you are one of the winners, let us know after completing the course that you went orienteering.

You are also welcome to share photos of your great moments on the orienteering course on the Facebook event page.