University of Tartu and City of Tallinn see more collaboration opportunities in research and development

On 13 December the Mayor of Tallinn Mihhail Kõlvart and the delegation of Tallinn City Government visited the University of Tartu to discuss ways to enhance cooperation between the university and the City of Tallinn.

The University of Tartu cooperates effectively with Tallinn in introducing learning opportunities. For example, the higher education event “Study in Tartu” is organised together with other higher education institutions of Tartu at the beginning of January, and in spring the traditional week-long event “The University of Tartu in Tallinn” is held. The curriculum of Law can be fully completed in Tallinn and in addition, the university offers continuing education courses for different target groups in the capital of Estonia. One in four entrants to the University of Tartu come from Tallinn.

According to Aune Valk, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs of the University of Tartu, both parties are willing to enhance the cooperation. “While the university is quite close to Tallinn in terms of teaching and studies, and nearly a third of the secondary school graduates of Tallinn choose to continue their studies at the University of Tartu, there still is a great potential in the area of research and development. That is why during the visit we focused on introducing the university’s research topics that Tallinn could benefit from.”

The university has engaged in research and development cooperation with the City of Tallinn in various fields, although in rather small-scale projects so far. During the visit Mihkel Solvak introduced to the delegation the work of the Centre of IT Impact Studies (CITIS), Margus Pedaste and Katri Lamesoo presented the services offered to schools by the Centre of Educational Innovation, and Tiit Tammaru spoke of the new trends and opportunities in urban and mobility studies. The city has got a lot of data; and the university has the competence to analyse them and thereby contribute to developing various policies and services.

During the meeting the parties also reviewed the 2020 action plan of the cooperation agreement between the City of Tallinn and the University of Tartu that was renewed in spring. The next meeting to discuss more specific development projects will be held in Tallinn.

Further information: Aune Valk,  UT Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, +372 737 6201, aune.valk@ut.ee