Anniversary of Estonia’s national university celebrated in Stockholm and Lund

Celebrations of the 100th anniversary of Estonia’s national university outside Estonia culminated in the visit of the rector and delegation of the University of Tartu to Sweden. On 11 December a ceremony and reception was held to mark the anniversary in the Estonian House in Stockholm.

Rector Toomas Asser greeted the representatives of the local Estonian community, many of whom have close connections with the university. Professor Birute Klaas-Lang held an academic lecture on the possibility of and need for research in the Estonian language.

Evelin Tamm, chair of the Estonian Learned Society in Sweden, talked about the history of the society and its strong ties with the University of Tartu. Kristel Engman, deputy head of the Embassy of the Republic of Estonia in Stockholm, emphasised the value of the University of Tartu and of higher education in exile. The ceremony and reception was organised by the Estonian Learned Society in Sweden, the Embassy of the Republic of Estonia in Sweden and the University of Tartu.

On 12 December the representatives of the University of Tartu visited Lund University, where they discussed collaboration in research and development and teaching with Stacey Ristinmaa Sörensen, the pro vice-chancellor for research of Lund University.

The University of Tartu physicists led by Professor Marco Kirm cooperate closely with the international synchrotron radiation facility MAX-Lab at Lund University. This facility together with the European Spallation Source make up part of Northern Europe’s largest research centre in Lund. Marco Kirm and Professor Leho Ainsaar, who takes office as the dean of the Faculty of Science and Technology on 1 January, participated in several meetings with partners at Lund University.

During the visit the University of Tartu representatives paid their respects to two former rectors who were buried in Sweden – Johan Kõpp’s grave in Stockholm Forest Cemetery and Edgar Kant’s grave in Lund Northern Cemetery.

Further information: Kristi Kerge, Head of International Cooperation, +372 737 6123, kristi.kerge@ut.ee