Announcement by the Rector's Office

The University of Tartu is in deep mourning. Our Rector Professor Volli Kalm passed away yesterday. This is a loss difficult to put into words.

The University’s staff, students, alumni, collaborators, friends and supporters are all feeling bereft. The goals set by the Rector are in place and the University is firm in its resolve to move forward in the chosen direction. We are grateful for what he has done for the University and for the Estonian higher education, science and society.

Today, on the morning of 24 December, the Rector’s Office of the University of Tartu gathered to commemorate the late Rector and to decide on further steps regarding the University’s leadership.

According to the University’s Statutes, the University's Senate will appoint the Acting Rector. The Senate will hold an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday, 27 December at 10:15 am.

The Rector’s Office unanimously decided to propose the Senate to appoint Professor Tõnu Lehtsaar as the Acting Rector. Professor Lehtsaar, who currently serves as a counsellor-chaplain of the University of Tartu, has proved himself as a strong and level-headed academic leader, having also served as the Acting Rector in 2007. The Statutes prescribe that the Acting Rector can be appointed for up to one year. The decision on the announcement of the Rector's election will be made by the Council of the University of Tartu.

The funeral service will be held on Saturday, 30 December at 11 am in the University Assembly Hall.

You can leave your message of condolences in the book of condolences at the foyer of the University Main Building or electronically at the UT webpage.

Christmas is the time of the year to spend time with the ones you love and think about what is really important in life. We wish all the members of the University the peace of mind and fortitude!

The University of Tartu Rector’s  Office