University of Tartu to expand its research and study-related cooperation in China

On Monday, 11 March 2013, the Rector of the University of Tartu Professor Volli Kalm and the Rector of China’s Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS) Professor Shiwei Pan signed a cooperation agreement in Shanghai. The agreement marks a mutual interest in developing research and study-related cooperation as well as student and teacher exchange, and provides a basis for implementing the cooperation.

The conclusion of the agreement was preceded by three years of negotiations, and the Faculty of Economics and Business Administration and Faculty of Social Sciences and Education have by now developed plans for furthering cooperation. The expertise of SASS is intended to be employed within the study module “Asian Societies, Economy and Politics” developed jointly by three Estonian universities, as well as in research on comparative politics, international economy, and European Union and Russian studies.

SASS is a notable research institution that contributes greatly to organisational social issues in Shanghai. Studies take place at master’s and doctoral level in SASS. According to Volli Kalm, the cooperation agreement is an important step in furthering the relations of the University of Tartu with the universities of the People’s Republic of China, as well as in developing Asian expertise in Estonia. The Vice Rector for Research Martin Hallik considers it important for the University of Tartu to have an active and vigorous partner in SASS with whom cooperation is essentially already ongoing.

The delegation of the University of Tartu which was led by the Rector Volli Kalm and also included the Vice Rector for Research Martin Hallik, the Professor of International Entrepreneurship Urmas Varblane and the Professor of Comparative Politics Vello Pettai made a week-long visit to the People’s Republic of China. In addition to SASS, the delegation also visited four partner universities in Shanghai, Beijing and Hong Kong with whom the University of Tartu already has a cooperation agreement and student exchange in place. In the course of the visit, Estonia’s Consul General in Shanghai and Honorary Consul on Hong Kong were also met.

With SASS included, the University of Tartu has a total of nine partner universities in China. There are 17 Chinese students currently studying at the UT, 11 of them in degree programmes and six as short-term exchange students.

For further information: Virve-Anneli Vihman, Advisor on Internalisation at the University of Tartu, tel: 737 6191, email: virve.vihman [ät] ut.ee.