University of Tartu announced rector elections

On 11 January, the University of Tartu published a notice in major Estonian media outlets announcing the rector election. The election meeting takes place on 20 April at 12 in the University of Tartu assembly hall.  

Eligible candidates are persons who have been elected as professors. Candidates can be submitted by faculty councils of the University of Tartu, councils of other Estonian universities, the board of the Estonian Academy of Sciences, 15 ordinary professors of the University of Tartu jointly, and the University of Tartu student union. 

The submission of candidates ends at 16:00 on 13 March 2023. To set up a candidate, a written proposal with the introduction of the candidate and the candidate’s written consent must be presented either in a digitally signed form to rektorivalimised@ut.ee or on paper to the academic secretary of the University of Tartu (Ülikooli 18–138, Tartu). 

The rector candidates’ public debate is held in the university assembly hall on 4 April at 15. The election meeting takes place on 20 April at 12.  

On 31 October 2022, the council approved the composition of the election commission comprising representatives of all faculties and a student representative: Professor in English Studies Raili Marling (commission chair), Professor of Comparative Politics Piret Ehin, Professor of Mathematical Analysis Rainis Haller, Professor of Human Movement and Exercise Biology Jarek Mäestu, and bachelor’s student of Law Kristin Randla. 

The rector is elected by an electoral council comprising members of the university council, the senate, faculty councils and the student union, as well as professors whose workload at the university as a professor is at least 20 hours per week. 

The elected rector takes office on 1 August 2023. The rector is elected for a term of five years. 

Additional information about the elections can be found here: ut.ee/en/rectorelections.